HAMBURGER CREAMED GRAVY OR SOS
This hamburger creamed gravy is wonderful over toast, biscuits, rice, pasta, potatoes and grits! I love it over mashed potatoes. Some people make this with chipped or dried beef, too. This was an Army staple, thus the SOS name. I can remember having this gravy for breakfast over toast when I was a child. An easy and economical dish.
Hamburger Creamed Gravy ingredients needed:
Ground beef
Onion, chopped
Minced garlic
Flour
Salt
Black pepper
Worcestershire sauce
Milk (I use one 12 ounce can of evaporated milk and enough water to make 2 cups)
This recipe is dear to many people as you can see from the comments below. I am going to share some of our favorites! If you have followed our site for any amount of time, you know we love recipes that hold beautiful memories and this is definitely one.
“I can’t wait to make this! My father passed away when I was 14 and this sure does bring back memories. He served in the Army during the Vietnam War. Being from a large family, he was asked to cook sometimes and this was one of his most popular dishes. I have fond memories of waking up to the smell of this gravy cooking. He made it with chipped beef and also at times used ground beef. It was served over toast. I’m getting tears just thinking about my brother and I scooting up to the table, eager to dig in to a yummy plate full on a cold weekend morning. Well, I’m making this for my kiddos this week. Thank you for the recipe!!!” – Steff
“Reading these comments and realizing no one eats it over mashed sweet potatoes! That’s the only way we enjoyed hamburger gravy growing up (and I never heard it called sos). Maybe the sweet potatoes is a Pennsylvania Dutch thing. Anyway it was always one of my favorites growing up. My husband likes his on toast better even though we grew up in the same area. Maybe it’s a Mennonite thing!” – Amber
“I wasn’t born in the south by grew up here, my parents were Northern transplants, so while my Mom cooked mostly northern food my Dad embraced Southern living and made SOS quite often. Oh so good…especially for us little girls who loved being able to say “SOS” We got such a giggle out of it! Thanks for sharing!” – Deb
Hamburger Creamed Gravy
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup onion chopped
- 1 clove minced garlic
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups milk I use one 12 ounce can of evaporated milk and enough water to make 2 cups
Instructions
- Brown ground beef, onion and garlic until beef is cooked. Drain. Put hamburger back in skillet and add flour, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce and milk. Simmer until gravy thickens. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
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My Mother tried to class it up or at least not have the 5 kids running around yelling “Shit on a Shingle for dinner!” She called it “Cowboy Gravy” and it was served over toast. She also used the nasty soup out of the can but we all loved it. This recipe truly classes it up and it was served over both sourdough toast and homemade mashed potatoes!
This hamburger gravy reminds me of my grandmother. We ate it when I was Child. I have never heard of anyone else eating it. I was glad to see this recipe. Teresa Davis
I like to add one or two jalapenos in for a kick. Been eating this for many years now. SOS is Sh*t On a Shingle in the service:) Filling and holds you to lunch some good old Army
black coffee and I’m home again!.
I grew up with (Amish) shredded dried beef gravy served over “buttered” toast. Can’t wait to try your recipe first.
Since you have so many great reviewer’s suggestions, might also try some of them.
Good on a camping trip–I always added some sour cream
Growing up my Mom only made this over mashed sweet potoatoes. It was a meal I often requested. Now that I’m married I have to have biscuits or toast as well because my husband isn’t a big fan of eating it on sweet potatoes lol.
I can’t wait to make this! My father passed away whenI was 14 and this sure does bring back memories. He served in the Army during the Vietnam War. Being from a large family, he was asked to cook sometimes and this was one of his most popular dishes. I have fond memories of waking up to the smell of this gravy cooking. He made it with chipped beef and also at times used ground beef. It was served over toast. I’m getting tears just thinking about my brother and I scooting up to the table, eager to dig in to a yummy plate full on a cold weekend morning. Well, I’m making this for my kiddos this week. Thank you for the recipe!!!
What wonderful memories! Thank you so much for sharing!
My dad made this all the time when I was a kid and it was one of my favorite breakfast meals but he called it S… on the shingles he finally started calling it hockey on the weather board so we could say it and ask for it we thought it was a funny name but a delicious meal.
Reading these comments and realizing no one eats it over mashed sweet potatoes! That’s the only way we enjoyed hamburger gravy growing up (and I never heard it called sos). Maybe the sweet potatoes is a Pennsylvania Dutch thing. Anyway it was always one of my favorites growing up. My husband likes his on toast better even though we grew up in the same area. Maybe it’s a Mennonite thing!
This was a staple for us growing up and all five kids LOVED SOS. My ex-Marine dad told us it stood for, “save our stomachs.”
Mama didn’t put onions or garlic but did use Pet milk – such a distinctive flavor. This is still one of my most favorite comfort foods. Always on buttered white bread toast preferably, just like home. Thank you for this special memory.
Thank you so much for sharing!
We grew up eating this.! My parents called it “Creamed Beef and Gravy on Toast”.
However, they never used garlic, onion or Worcestershire. We cooked the ground beef, added added salt and pepper. Then added the flour/pet milk/water mixture.
One thing we’ve never seen anyone do that we did, was sprinkle chili power over each serving. My family loves it that way. You should try it! It’s very delicious! I’m going to try your recipe and see if it’s just as tasty. Thanks for sharing!!
My mother used to make this with chipped beef when I was a child. I made it for my husband when we were first married and he wouldn’t even taste it. Years later, when he finally tasted some I made for our children, he loved it. When we had a large family with very little money, I used to make it for our children and just put a can of Veg-All in it. I served it over baked potatoes. It made a good filling meal for very little money.
Perfect example of stretching this for the children. I do it even when I don’t need to because it’s good!
why use the evaporated milk vs fresh? just wondering if there is a true difference.
Trish, for some reason using canned milk gives the gravy a richer flavor. I personally always use Milnot and it seems to have a richer flavor than plain milk. Hope this helps.
This regularly on the menu, growing up. I haven’t thought of it in years! Does this dish freeze well?
I’ve never froze it but I would think it would be fine. So glad this recipe made you think of your childhood!
Eat as quickly as possible after cooking. Won’t be enough left to freeze.
the simple things in life make me the happiest. followed recipe (did butter the toast) and it was delish!
So glad you enjoyed it!!
Hello
I cook hamberger cream gravy
My husband love it ! , he Ukrainian and very picky. I have medical problems so it nice to be able to cook an easy meal
We live in alberta canada and love to try southern cooking
My son learned to make SOS in Boy Scouts, and made it for us years ago. We were from Michigan, and never had heard of it. We loved it on biscuits or toast. Tomorrow I will serve hamburger on homemade mashed potatoes. I will skip the garlic and onions .
I have made this for years and my kids loved it on toast when they were growing up. I never added anything but salt and pepper to mine, however I was taught to add the flour to the ground beef before it got completely browned so the flour would cook some with the beef. Browning the flour a little gives more flavor to the gravy and eliminates the raw flour taste. I also freeze it with great results. Since I live alone I can make a batch and get several meals out of it.
The original SOS had two versions; Army & Navy. The Army version was creamy hamburger gravy over either toast or biscuits. The Navy version has tomatoes included with hamburger but no biscuits or toast and is served in a bowl. If you look at the original military recipes, they start with 35 lbs of hamburger. lol I’m not sure how chipped beef over toast ever got included in these SOS recipes?
The term SOS or more accurate SOSOS is a distress term meaning Save O Save Our Ship!
Terrie, I don’t know if you’re still looking for an answer almost six years later, but I’ve been making this for around 57 years, and about the time I was 12, my father suggested I put in some ground sage, and some ground curry, just about a level teaspoon of each. Both are “warm”-flavored spices, and both add a fabulous taste that isn’t overt or obnoxious, but does make the gravy seriously delicious. I still add those two spices to it to this day, and everyone who gets to eat it loves it 🙂
So easy, so good! I served it with Shredded Potatoes. A quick and delicious meal
Wonderful!
My boyfriend calles it “Spoonburger”. 🙂
I never drain any meat that I’m using for gravy. Usually add a little butter as leaner meat doesn’t have enough grease to make a good gravy..yes I’m from the south
I didn’t use garlic, I’m not fan of it, other then that I made the recipe exactly. I have only one comment, I think that 1 teaspoon of pepper is a bit much. It came out really spicy and hot. I did what I could to salvage it, I added more milk and flour and a little hamburger grease. It came out okay , I will keep this recipe for sausage gravy as well hamburger but be warned, cut down on the pepper and as you go….
This is the only thing I would eat for breakfast growing up. Now my Yankee of a husband loves it too.
I grew up eating SOS on toast. My kids eat it on rice. Its a yummy quick meal after we’ve had a lofng hard day at work. It is one of my daughter’s favorite meals.
Roughly how much does this make?
It says 6 to 8 servings, Jasmine. A serving is considered about a cup or a little less.
Another dish called SOS is chipped beef. I use the dried beef that comes in the glasses, make a white cream sauce using corn starch.. I serve it over crisp toast with grated hard boiled eggs on top.
Love SOS. My kids liked it when they were growing up. Might fix some next week.
My husband was 21 yrs. Army So every now an then he’d make SOS. His comment was always we’re eating Army style tonight. I still make it once in awhile. So this brought back some memories Thanks !
He used chipped beef not ground beef.
enjoyed it as a kid ,, it was what we called one of our
poor meal before my dad got paid dinners…
I served for 25 years in the military service and have eaten tons of SS. What I observed during military breakfasts, men complained in every manner possible about how awful SOS was while shoveling it into theor mouths as fast as possible and often asking for seconds.
My Mama always made this with fresh green peas and pearl onions added and she served it over mashed potatoes. To me this reminds me of summer. Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes with the world. I enjoy your site so much. I have learned so many new things from you as well as having been reminded of things I had long forgotten about.
Thank you so much Stacy. So nice to have you on the site.
A really easy version that I make that everyone raves about is take one pound or 1 1/3 pound of hamburger, brown in the pan, then add one can of Campbells cream of mushroom soup with the one can of water, then cook to a boil and let simmer a little bit. It comes out a really good hamburger gravy. You don’t taste the mushroom soup that much. It is so easy.
My Grandma always made this and we ate it over biscuits (homemade of course) and I loved it! My Mother also made it and taught me how to make it..
Just taught my daughter, 15, to make this. She ;loves making it. Last weekend, she made it for dinner. while her boyfriend was here. She also made home made mashed potatoes, and cowpeas. She’s a very good student.
please…what are “cowpeas”?
I believe they are also called “black-eyed peas.”
My mom used to make this for us as kids only she would add canned sweet peas to it.
My father used to make this back in the 1960’s. He added chopped hard boiled eegs to it. Thanks for the memories.
When I was in the Air Force, I used to attend midnight chow and normally sos was served with toast. Brings back memories of wolfing it down and going back to work. Had alot of this when I was in Southeast Asia. I still enjoy it today. Thanks
Have been making this for years but have never used onion in it. My husband would not eat it. I love it but am trying to be careful with what I eat.
Mother fixed this a lot when we were kids. I have offered it on a baked potato bar and guys ate it up. We have substituted sausage, bologna, boiled eggs, baked turkey or chicken as well as ham or chipped beef. Usually served it over toast or biscuits.
I have also made it with bacon then crumbled the bacon up in the gravy for extra flavor.
I still make gravy for breakfast using bacon and a big pan full of biscuits. My family was from Tennessee and homemade biscuits and gravy and a big bowl of scrambled eggs were on the table every morning and lots of home made jams.
My mom and Dad raised nine of us and it took a lot of gravy and biscuits and eggs to keep us satisfied. But, back then we had our own chickens laying eggs, we had our own milk cow for fresh milk, buttermilk and freshly churned butter, and every November my dad butchered a hog….. so bacon was plentiful.
To be even more proper, I’d call it ‘stuff’ on a shingle these days, lol. Being from the east coast of Virginia, it was served up in cafeterias mostly on toast, and served a lot with chipped beef as the meat.
I wasn’t born in the south by grew up here, my parents were Northern transplants, so while my Mom cooked mostly northern food my Dad embraced Southern living and made SOS quite often. Oh so good…especially for us little girls who loved being able to say “SOS” We got such a giggle out of it! Thanks for sharing!
One of these comments said something about $**% on a shingle, but I think I can use me some SOS right now.
can you make a batch of this up and freeze it? If so,how long can it stay in the freezer?
I have never tried freezing it. Maybe, someone else can tell you.
It freezes well but if you let it thaw completly before heating it up in a pan, it will get a little watery. Keeps for quite a while in the freezer.
I usually make large batches and freeze it in ziploc baggies by the serving. The guys throw the baggies in boiling water and shazaam, instant warm breakfast! When it’s done this way, it stays as thick as I make it.
My mom made this weekly – served with fried potatoes. Between that and 6 years in the Navy I see it and want to make it. I’ll have to ask my husband what he thinks – he did 20 years in the Navy!
My mom use to make this and would add fried potatoes (usually leftover) & green peas. We always had it over toast or sometimes biscuits. We called it S@%# on a shingle. I make it for my family quite often because we all love it. It’s comfort food for me. I’ve never tried it with chicken, but I’m going to next time I make it for a nice change. It’s great with sausage (sweet & spicy kinds).
Wow I was amazed when I passed your page and saw “SOS”
My dad used to make this for me when I was a child and it was soooo good. I make it once in a while when I want to remember those good ole days! Thanks for posting this receipe!
My Dad was a Marine in WWII and he told me the term “SOS” meant sh$t on a shingle. I’m sure you already knew this.LOL! Suzie
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I’m from Florida and we always had SOS with chipped Beef.
Kenny G
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We call it SOS as a shortened, and more ‘proper’ name for ( blank ) on a shingle. I have always used dried beef torn up in it, but look forward to trying this. I have also cut up left over ham for the meat, a little chopped up green pepper, and added chopped up hard boiled eggs to the gravy.
as a Navy brat, you are correct. SOS is typically made with chipped/dried beef. I grew up with the hamburger version as my father was an NCO with 4 children and could not afford the dried beef. I will say, however, that I prefer SOP. The P stands for pile. Or in other words, mashed potatoes. Home made, of course.
I’m an army vet who has made this for years. My dad was in wwII and said it was made with chipped beef (probably due to refrigeration issues)
I don’t drain the hamburger. Icook burger and add flour and cook it like a roux. Add milk, bring to boil and adjust thickness with more milk or cornstarch &water
LOVE SOS!!
Sometimes the simplicity of a recipe DOES result in a great meal!! Thank you for posting, I send all these recipes to my daughter, she loves them!! Keep it up!!
I LOVE SOS..I MAKE IT ALL THE TIME! OMG…WE HAD THIS ALL THE TIME WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL. I ONLY WISH I COULD RECAPTURE THE FLAVOR MY DADDY HAD IN HIS!!!!! Still to this day I can’t figure out exactly what he put in his! Thanks for Sharing!!!!!
I had forgotten all about this recipe. We use to eat it all the time as kids.
We did too! Going to try it and see if my family will eat it. It sure brings memories back to me!
My mom made this with sausage (like the ground meat) and it was delicious. I am 62 yrs old and still remember how wonderful it was.
I must be hungry! This looks good to me!
I had biscuits and gravy for the first time in Wichita – over here we call the bicuits scones – so it was a bit strange because we eat scones with strawberry jam and cream – but pretty delicious for a breakfast!