Creamed chipped beef is one of those old fashioned dishes that when you have it again just reminds you of simpler times. Technically any meat and cream sauce served over bread can be classified as S.O.S., but it was during the first half of the 20th century that U.S. servicemen came to know this dish well. Since dried beef keeps well for a long time it became a staple of mess halls in the military, perhaps even a bit over-served since the servicemen came to call this dish by its rather unflattering nickname of S.O.S. (which stands for sh** on a shingle).
We’d never use the cruder name for this recipe, but we do love how it tastes and how it reminds us of the past. Both my grandfathers served in the army and I’m positive that they were all too familiar with this dish.
For an update to the classic, we now have the option of having S.O.S. as a casserole. We love this way of serving it because we don’t have to make biscuits or toast a bunch of bread and we can serve it on the table in one dish which makes it so easy to serve up for the family.
Serves 6
10m prep time
38m cook time
Contains gluten
INGREDIENTS
2 5-ounce jars of dried chipped beef
1 cup unsalted butter, divided
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups milk, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Dash of garlic powder
5-8 pieces white bread, chopped into 1â€-2†cubes
PREPARATION
Preheat oven to 375FËš. Cut dried beef into slices. Cook beef on stovetop over medium-high heat in 1 tablespoon of butter for 10 minutes (or until edges of beef pieces just begin to curl up).
Remove beef from skillet and set aside. In same pan melt 7 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in 2 cups of milk. Continue to whisk for 2-3 minutes as sauce begins to thicken.
Add in beef, remaining milk, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often. Melt remaining butter in microwave while sauce cooks.
Pour sauce into 9â€x13†baking dish. Place bread cubes on top of sauce. Drizzle melted butter over the bread cubes. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until bread cubes begin to brown.
