S.O.S. also known as Creamy Hamburger Gravy is an old-school meal. This is a classic, simple and tasty meal that is reminiscent of military cooking!
If you have a military background or a military family member, then you are probably very familiar with this meal. It was my Navy Dad’s specialty. Of course, I know military families from all the branches who know exactly what you are talking about when you say “S.O.S.”. We always knew when my Mom was working late because Dad would be cooking this dish. And luckily, my brother and I enjoyed it. It’s a very simple, completely unpretentious dish. And although most of us can make this while blindfolded with one arm tied behind our backs, I figured it needed to be shared here for posterity.
So all we’re doing here is making a creamy hamburger gravy. This is very similar to the way I make my HOMEMADE SAUSAGE GRAVY. The only difference between this and sausage gravy is we would substitute the ground beef with a spicy pork sausage. It’s also somewhat similar to GROUND BEEF STROGANOFF.
I grew up only ever eating this over toast. The acronym “S.O.S.” means “Sh** on a Shingle”. Yup. Really. So the “shingle” part is the toast. Some folks like it over biscuits but plain ole simple toast is how I like it best.
S.O.S. (Creamy Hamburger Gravy) +Video
S.O.S. also known as Creamy Hamburger Gravy is an old-school meal. This is a classic, simple and tasty meal that is reminiscent of military cooking!
Prep: 5min
Total: 25min
Serving Size: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts: calories 478 kcal, Carbohydrate 35 g, Protein 21 g, Fat 27 g, Saturated Fat 12 g, Cholesterol 82 mg, Sodium 831 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 7 g, servingSize 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 cups milk, (2% or higher)
- 4 Tablespoons salted butter
- 4 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 12 slices bread, (toasted)
Instruction:
- In a medium sauce pan over medium high heat, brown the ground beef. Season with a little salt and pepper. Drain excess grease and set aside.
- Melt butter in the same sauce pan. Add flour and whisk until butter/flour mixture is bubbly.
- Add milk, salt, and pepper. Whisk continuously until thick and bubbly.
- Add cooked ground beef back in and stir.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed (I usually like a bit more pepper). If necessary, add a little more milk until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Serve over toast.
Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast (S.O.S.)
Prep: 5min
Total: 15min
Ingredients:
- 1 jar of dried beef slices (rinsed well & chopped)
- 4 tbsp butter
- 4 tbsp flour
- Pinch of cayenne
- 2 cups milk
- Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper (to taste)
- Bread (toasted)
Instruction:
- Rinse the slices of dried beef really well – they are VERY salty! Once you have rinsed well, pat dry with a paper towel.
- Chop the beef into small bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
- Heat the butter in the large saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the flour and pinch of cayenne pepper to the melted butter and whisk until well combined and cooked through, about 45 seconds.
- Very slowly add the milk while whisking continually.
- Once the milk has all been added, add the chopped dried beef.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, for a few minutes until thickened.
- Taste and season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste, if needed.
- Serve on top of dry toast immediately. Enjoy.
US Army Hamburger Gravy (SOS)
I made this SOS recipe more times than I can count when I was a cook in the army, albeit in much larger quantities. It’s always been a favorite of military, veterans, and civilians alike. It will quickly become a favorite of yours. It’s true comfort food.
Prep: 5min
Total: 30min
Yield: 6
Nutrition Facts: calories 202 cal
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 2 cups milk (may need more)
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 cube beef bouillon
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
Instruction:
- Crumble and cook ground beef in a large skillet on low medium heat until it is no longer pink.
- When beef is cooked, do not drain. Sprinkle flour over the top of the beef and stir to coat meat evenly with the flour and soak up the fat in the pan.
- Add milk and bouillon cube. Stir until milk has thickened and bouillon cube has dissolved and has been evenly distributed in the gravy. If gravy is too thick, add more milk a bit at a time until desired consistency is achieved.
- Stir in Worcestershire sauce.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot over biscuits, toast, grits, hash browns, or whatever else suits your fancy.
S.O.S. – Cowboy Kent Rollins
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. ground beef (Certified Angus Beef preferred)
- ½ yellow onion (chopped)
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups milk
- Red River Ranch Original Seasoning or salt and pepper
- 4 slices thick-cut bread or garlic bread (toasted)
Instruction:
- In a large cast iron skillet, begin browning the beef over medium-high heat. As it begins to cook, stir in the onion until the beef has completely browned and the onions are tender. Season to taste with Red River Ranch Original or salt and pepper. Drain any grease if needed.
- Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour with a spatula until smooth. Slowly pour in the milk. Continue cooking until the mixture thickens to a gravy. Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour the gravy mixture into the hamburger skillet and stir to combine. Continue cooking 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more milk, if needed, if the mixture becomes too thick.
- Evenly spoon the mixture over the slices of bread and serve immediately.
S.O.S. (Quick Version) The Hillbilly Kitchen
FAQ
What is the food SOS made of?
What does the food SOS stand for?
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How to make air force SOS?
- 1 pound ground beef.
- 2 cubes chicken bouillon, crumbled (or Beef)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper.
- 1 teaspoon salt.
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder.
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour.
- 2 1/2 cups whole milk.
Why is creamed chipped beef called SOS?
This meal was a traditional army recipe that was super easy to make, cheap, and incredibly filling. Chipped beef on toast – otherwise known by soldiers as S.O.S, which stood for “Save Our Stomachs,” “Same Ole Stuff,” or another acronym we’d rather leave out…