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!
WHAT IS S.O.S.?
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. 😉
HOW DO YOU MAKE HAMBURGER GRAVY?
So all we’re doing here is making a creamy hamburger gravy. This is the exact same way I would make a sausage gravy. The only difference between this and sausage gravy is we would substitute the ground beef with a spicy pork sausage. It is somewhat similar to GROUND BEEF STROGANOFF.
WHAT DOES S.O.S. STAND FOR?
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. 
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
ground beef
milk
salted butter
all-purpose flour
salt
freshly ground pepper
bread
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE S.O.S.:
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 stir until butter/flour mixture is bubbly. Add milk, salt, and pepper. Stir constantly until thick and bubbly. Add meat and stir.
Taste and adjust seasoning as needed (I usually like a bit more pepper). Serve over toast or biscuits.
Cook’s Note: this is the exact same recipe I use for sausage gravy. Instead of ground beef, I substitute with hot, ground breakfast sausage.
Enjoy!
S.O.S. (CREAMY HAMBURGER GRAVY)
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 cups milk, 2% or higher
- 4 tbsp salted butter
- 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 12 slices bread toasted
Instructions
- 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 stir until butter/flour mixture is bubbly.
- Add milk, salt, and pepper. Stir constantly until thick and bubbly. Add meat 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.
- Note: this is the exact same recipe I use for sausage gravy. Instead of ground beef, I substitute with hot, ground breakfast sausage.
Video
Nutrition
WANT MORE CLASSIC FAVORITES LIKE THIS ONE? TRY THESE!
HAMBURGER STEAKS WITH TOMATO GRAVY
GROUND BEEF STROGANOFF
SALISBURY STEAKS
Love hamburger gravy!! We put it over mashed potatoes. I’ve never heard of it over toast, but I’m sure it’s good!
My mom would brown the ground beef with chopped onion, then add a can of cream of mushroom soup (with maybe a bit of water?), then served over toast. Loved it!
Not the same recipe
You have to try this over toast. My Dad was in the Air Force and this was one of our favorite food he made. I still make it but have more gravy.
My Navy Dad, put it over anything, for us kids. Toast, rice, mashed potaties, hashbrowns, noodles….literally anything lol……he also added onions and sometimes, mushrooms.
So so so good ! Makes me remember him !!
My Dad did the same thing and it tasted great no matter what you put the gravy over.
Gotta take the military for passing on tradition… Even S.O.S.
Not only is this a good recipe and way to eat a quick meal, but so glad it helps you to remember your father. How sweet…take care..
Me, too! Alwzys had it that way at school!
Yes! Boy does that bring back memories of my navy dad. Sometimes my mom would make it with dried chipped beef. It was also a fav of my late husband, and he was army (ret). Thanks for the memories 🙂
Yea my Dad would use chipped beef too, but I like both
My grandmother used to make this for her kids back when they made recipes that tried to stretch a pound of meat a lot further –40’s and 50’s–her gravy would be a little thinner. My mom would make it sometimes, too, when I was a kid, but we always added a slice of cheese on top.
This is the definitive meal of my childhood tho my mother would use whatever bread she had on hand, including the last few hot dog buns or leftover biscuits. We eagerly lapped it up! Thanks for the reminder – I need to make it soon. (:
Another great memory of my mom. We had this often and we all loved it. I actually made it a week ago because I was thinking of her. Thanks for the retro recipes, love memories of a simpler time.
This recipe is a favorite in Central PA but made with the dried beef. Love it for any meal.!
Love this recipe! I often put it over rice and its sooo good!! So versatile, you can put it over biscuits, add cheese to it – what ever your imagination can think of. Thanks for sharing!
According to the Navy’s 1952 recipe for Minced Beef on Toast, the commissaryman braised ground beef and chopped onions in a “steam-jacketed kettle.” He then added flour to the meat and cooked until it browned. Shortening was used if the meat was lacking in fat content.
Canned tomatoes, mace or nutmeg, salt, ground black pepper and water was added. The mixture was then simmered 10 to 15 minutes.
This recipe is from a copy of the Navy’s commissary handbook of recipes given to me by a former Navy cook.
Sounds yummy! My dad was Navy, as well, in the early 60s. He remembers hamburger gravy like the posted recipe AND the minced beef recipe you refer to . He cannot decide which one he likes best!
Yes! I was trying to explain to someone that chipped beef and gravy is different from this. Both are good but they are basically two versions of the same recipe. I love them both!! Please tell your Dad that we thank him for his service!
I recall my Air Force days (1956-60) when I’d frequently stay up late just to catch midnight chow in order, to enjoy the SOS. Poured the gravy over a piece of toast and topped it off with a pat of butter. Ahh, those were the days!
This sounds more like the SOS I remember. I joined the Navy in 55
I love this with hamburger & chipped beef. The only thing I add is a dash of Worchestershire as a little extra flavor to the hamburger recipe.
It isn’t the same without the Worcestershire!!!!
My mom used to make this for us with chopped up hard boiled egg added and it was really good.
I had never even heard of hamburger Harvey until about a month ago, I got the recipe out of a friends family cook book. My husband and I loved it! We froze half and ate it again a week later ???? I’m 63 yrs old, I thought SOS was creamed chipped beef on toast or creamed tuna … still learning new/old things!
LOVED IT AS A CHILD GROWING UP. WHEN I WAS DIVORCED AND BROKE WITH 2 LITTLE KIDS WE ATE CREAMED TUNA ON TOAST OR RICE.
Sharon we were 2 struggling people in college in the 60’s and did good to afford a can of tuna, but this was so yummy whenever we could. we had 3 babies and one on the way..Wish the kids now a days could see and enjoy the sweet pleasures of life and survival. We made it!!! have a great year! I commend you!
Harvey ??? Gravy
We make it with chipped beef, fry the chopped chip beef in butter, when brown add flower and milk. stir over medium heat until bubbly. great on toast, fried potatoes, even french fries in a pinch!
My mom this for us. There were 5 children. We loved it over waffles!
Golly, I remember this dish. I made it a lot because my son always loved it. It was an easy dish to make too. My mom would make it a lot, too. I still do.
My grandpa was in Vietnam so this is a regular dish in our family, though we serve it over mashed potatoes. Delicious!
Try it over crinkle-cut French fries!
Oh that sounds delicious!!
I’ve only heard of this being made with chipped beef. That is what I grew up with! But I’m gong to try this one, too! I, too, am going to make a big batch and freeze it! Thanks for the memories.!
Love hamburger gravy and love your pic of it beautiful plated on toast, brought back a wonderful childhood memory, toast was the only way mom mad it!
Oh yes, I remember this from my elementary school days. The only difference was they would serve it over mashed potatoes – I loved it. I think I will be making this real soon for my family. Thank you for sharing & also, thank you for the memories.
I grew up I rural Ohio. Our school cafeteria cooled many of your recipes! Brings back a lot of memories. We moved from a large city to the country when I was a teen. I loved living in the country. I still do! And I’m loving all your recipes!!
I grew up on SOS on toast. Still make it for my kids. I love it.
I love creamed hamburger over toast or mashed potatoes!
I add peas or mixed veggies.
Go to any chow hall on any military base and you can have a big helping. quick meal just ad a veggie.
we called this hobo gravy when growing up
my mom served it with creamy mashed potatoes, yummy
Growing up in the 30′ and 40’s SOS was chipped beef gravy on toast and Hobo Stew was hamburger gravy served on toast or mashed potatoes.. You cannot get the old fashioned chipped beef anymore. I asked my butcher why and he said it’s against the law to make it anymore like they used to. Love both types though and still make the hamburger gravy. Thanks for the reminder. I haven’t made it in a while, now I want to.
You can still buy it anywhere. It comes in a small jar.
Dried chipped beef is still available in many stores and is in a small glass with a metal lid
Yes but it’s very salty.. pork sausage.. or want beef. Try, chopped up fine sirloin steak ..
That works too. Love it.
I make mine with Cream of Mushroom soup. 3 cups of milk and salt and pepper.. Put it over mashed potatoes for supper. Put leftovers in the fridge for S.O.S. in the morning for breakfast. Awesome!!!
Me too!
Every time my grandma and I get to talking about what we are making for dinner, SOS comes up. It’s still one of her go-tos, though she uses chipped beef instead of ground. My dad made it in college a lot too, and he’d throw in a can of veggies to make it a complete meal 😉
My daddy was a Marine and he made this for us all the time. My children loved when papa would make them S.O.S and boiled eggs. We miss him so much as he passed in 2010. I try to make this for at least twice a year.
My family made sos the same way. But we also did it with bacon,peas and hard boiled eggs. These where 2 of our favorite meals even today and passed it down to our children and childrens, children.Everyone loves it.
This brings back memories. My mother made this with Chipped beef. When I was in the Marines I had it both ways. Then I became a Marine’s wife and to stretch our grocery budget it was made often. When I got divorced and was a single Mom I fixed it, again to stretch the grocery budget. I haven’t made it for a while but I think I will soon. Great comfort food and I need to stretch that budget again.
I have this same recipe I found in an old cook book, the only difference is mine uses canned evaporated milk. My husband was in the Army and he wanted me to make some, my kids loved and I still make it. It is great when camping or on vacation, freeze it and take it with you.
Made this tonight served over cheddar mashed potatoes and it was great. My dad was a single parent and made this and a couple other meals he learned from his days in the army. He changed the chipped beef to hamburger cuz my brothers and I didn’t care for it that way but it was one of my favorites even after he learned how to cook ???? thanks for a great recipe.
Love hearing this Kymberle! And I love that it brings back so many good memories for so many of us!!
I love this dish, I use to eat it all the time in the Air Force but didn’t know how to make it until now. I’ve made it about eight times since finding the receipe and it turns out wonderful each time.
Hi Jim! First of all, thank you so much for your service to our country! Secondly, thank you for coming back and leaving your feedback. It means the world!
I make this for my husband, it’s the only gravy he will touch. He has his over baked potatoes. I usually have mine over saltines. I tried white rice once, didn’t work out well.
My husband brought this recipe into our home from the U.S.Army. Only he never used hamburger, He always used chopped chipped beef. That is the way we always had it and loved it. Even though he has passed, I still make it for myself.
I grew up on this (my Dad was an Army vet), but he always added chopped onion. It’s what makes that SOS taste (doesn’t it taste bland without it?) I always add a little garlic powder or minced garlic when Browning the meat and onions….good stuff!!!
That’s how my stepfather made it, too. He was a veteran of Korea and Vietnam. We miss him terribly.
All this time I thought my dad was joking about the name! Sorry dad! He was a cook for the National Guard. We ate it over mashed potatoes when he or mom would make it, though. Brings back memories of him and mom in the kitchen cooking together. God rest their souls! I still love it and actually think I will be making this tomorrow….yummy!
I learned about this from my WWII Army cook father. The only difference is we used corn starch mixed in a little cold water, for thickening. Still have this every once in a while
Hi Darla,
I use cornstarch as well, but as I’m browning my meat I add. a package of Lipton onion soup mix. Yummy!!!
Love hearing about recipes from the past…please keep them coming!
Delicious but like my mom I added worsteshire .. needs a little more salt, but over biscuits or toast it’s amazing comfort food
Havent had this in so long and come across this recipe today. So guess what i made! 4 year old loved it! Thanks.
My dad was a Army cook, during the Korean war. He used to make SOS quit a bit at home. Thats where I got my love for it. And Im a 14 year Army vet. I ate it every time it was offered to me or on the menu at the mess hall. I put it on my eggs my potatoes, my biscuits, and my toast.I LOVE IT!!! Ive also always used a tbl spoon of Worcestershire sauce when I make mine.
My mom always made this. My dad of course was a Navy man! Sometimes she made it with ground beef, sometimes tuna and my favorite was canned fish flakes! All three were delicious! We often had it for supper when we would get home late because of some activity we were at!????
for a better flavor, fry a few pieces of bacon first. use the drippings from the bacon as a substitute for the butter when making the ‘gravy’ (some might think it’s more of a roux, frankly i don’t know the difference). if you haven’t munched the bacon during the cooking, you can crumble it up and add it with the ground beef.
I still make hamburger gravy,but when I was in the army I stumbled upon the gravy after I had french toast on my plate and of course I didn’t use any syrup just some butter on it,you had to get to the end of the serving line to add your condiments ,but when I got towards the end I saw the hamburger gravy and said put it on my french toast and it was even better than just on butter toast,both ways are good but I believe to me anyways its way better on french toast my kids love it not so much on regular toast but french toast is better so give it a try,ifin you unsure just make one piece if you dont like it no harm but I reckon you’ll change your mind once you try it that way,but just make the french toast just milk and egg kind no powder sugar just plain I’ve been eating it that way since 1980,and my kids ask for it alot,sorry for so long,give it a try and you won’t be disappointed
My mom use to make this when I was a kid. She would use half and half instead of milk and put peas in it because I would not eat vegies
Thank you for this. My Air Force dad used to make this for us kids when my mom had to work. This was always a special treat for me. He died twenty years ago and I never knew how to make it. I really crave it in the winter. Even my now 24 year old daughter remembers eating this.
In my active duty Army days this was served at breakfast and I ate it over an omelet. Found it in a couple delis over the years and still like it.
Wow this isn’t just a recipe it’s about memories going back to parents and grandparents. My dad was NAVY in WWII and Korea and had many stories of his 14 years in the service. I passed this recipe along to family and friends too. Thanks to wqall that served.
I loved eating [email protected]$t on shingles. When I was very young and my step dad was dating my mom he came over for dinner and I asked my mom if we could have [email protected]$t on shingles! Hahahaha he looked at me with such a surprised expression and exclaimed, “Creamed beef on toast!” My 4 year old self preceded to argue with him that it was in fact called [email protected]$t on shingles!!! Hahahaha oh goodness. Gotta love growing up army!
I add diced onion with the beef and end with cream of mushroom soup ( new addition to an old favorite). Just add the soup right from the can until you get the right constancy.
My Air Force dad taught my scandalized French mother how to make this dish. Being French, she insisted on sauteed onions and garlic as well as herbs. We loved it! As an adult, I have added a couple of teaspoons of Worcester Sauce. Still love it. And yes, over toast.
This is my favorite childhood recipe. We always called it creamed beef on French toast, AKA SOS. Many people think SOS is chipped beef but it’s not. The way my Mom made it, and the way I make it now, is like the recipe above. The only difference is that I make it with French toast. Mix up eggs and milk and dip some bread in and fry in butter. Serve the beef mixture over the warm and soft French toast. I”m drooling just thinking about it!!!
Just made this dish this morning. My wife, the picky eater of the family, loved it! I was brought back to fond memories of my service in the Army. Mostly fond anyway ????. I would recommend this to anyone that buys the boil in a bag sos. I plan on trying it with some chipped beef next. Thanks for sharing!!
This was just called Hamburger Gravy where I grew up in NC and we’d put it over mashed taters. SOS was made with Chipped Beef which we put on toasted white bread.
S.O.S. is hamburger gravy. Had that for breakfast every morning over a ham, cheese & mushroom omelet on toast, when I was in the Army. My mom used to make chipped beef gravy on toast also but never called SOS. I am also from NC.
Hi Bob! Yes, I am used to calling the other kind Chipped Beef Gravy on Toast too. To me, that is a totally separate recipe. 🙂
I grew up in the midwest and my dad and uncle served in World War II in Germany and the Philippines respectively and they both referred to SOS as chipped beef on toast because the chipped beef was dried rations and always available. Later, My late husband, and father-in-law, were in the Korean war where again SOS was chipped beef on toast. In the early 70’s, my current husband went to a prestigious private military school where again SOS was chipped beef on toast! The Gulf war years was still in the chipped beef on toast mode when my twin boys served their country. So actually Tina is correct, SOS is chipped beef over white toast.
However, growing up on a farm, we ate a lot of ground beef and had what we called hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes or biscuits. SOS was strictly chipped beef over toast.
Perhaps Bob and yourself are of the younger generation where the military did not have to use rationed food like chipped beef.
Perhaps in the last 20 years, fresh ground beef was used at military installations…so that is why you believe the ground beef version rather than the chipped beef version. I am sure during the war, our guys were not eating ham and mushroom and egg omelets for breakfast as Bob (below) was so fortunate to have By the way, I am 76 years old.
Nope – definitely NOT the younger generation – ha! My Grandfather was a cook in WWII and later the Korean War (God rest his soul) – both times – always with ground beef. He was a Midwest boy and they worked hard to get protein into their guys. He even has a story once of having to use goat meat in the Philippines during a troop transition period. Ick! My Grandfather actually taught my father how to make it (who served in Vietnam and the Gulf War.) We are a very strong military family (all the way back to the Revolutionary War.) My aunts, Grandmother and sister-in-laws have all served and I speak with personal experience as well. I suppose there are different versions of it and they can all be called S.O.S. – just because someone’s memories and recipes are different doesn’t mean they are wrong. We can enjoy it all no matter what it is called. 🙂
That is the same memory that I have, made with hamburg my mother called it hamburger gravy and served it over mashed potatoes. But when made with chipped beef my Dad called it Sh** on a shingle and it was served on toast. My Mom also made “Cream Tuna”. It was made the same way, but used canned tuna and she added a small can of peas and served it over what ever bread product in the bread box, usually on a Friday night.
Excellent recipe and a big hit at my house! I made one small change, which was adding one tablespoon of worcestershire sauce (or soy sauce would work, too) for added umami flavor. We like to put this gravy on mashed potatoes, but next time well do toast to change it up a bit!
I’ll definitely be making this again!
Thank for this recipe. My stepdad cooked this for us in the Philippines and enjoyed it very much. When I asked him what it’s called, I remember almost choking when I heard his answer.
It is also good over hashed browns and scrambled eggs.
Yes!! So true, James!
The best hamburger gravy I’ve made in a long time I’ve been trying different recipes but this is been my favorite by far unless my mother makes her hamburger milk gravy some things you just can’t duplicate and that’s one that I haven’t been able to
I love hearing that!! No one can ever create the way Momma made things. Ever. But I am so thrilled you still enjoyed this recipe. Thank you!
My mother’s milk or “cream” gravy was made by putting a stick of butter or margarine in a pan with a 12 ounce can of evaporated milk and a can of water and heating until a gentle simmer. Then she would mix together a few tablespoons of cornstarch and water and slowly, stirring constantly, stir it into the milk and butter. It thickens up very quickly. This was also my grandmothers’ recipe.
Excellent. This is the exact recipe my USMC Dad made for breakfast. I would rarely eat this as a kid, now I love it.
He always called it S. O. S. or Sh** On A Shingle
Thanks Jim! I love hearing everyone’s memories of this dish!
Glad to see finally someone knows what SOS really is, see a lot of recipes for SOS and it is really Creamed Chip Beef
Hi Linda – the creamed chip beef was always a separate dish – but not S.O.S. Made the same way but with dried beef. I am learning that it probably depends on which branch of the armed forces you were in and what type of meat your canteen could procure. My grandfather was an old army cook and it was always ground beef but I am sure all of these recipes are special in their own right. 🙂
Breakfast in the military was an awesome thing. I’d get the s.o.s. right over my 2 egg, cheese and mushroom omelette. Fuel for a busy day!
Going to start whipping this up around here. I miss it, and it looks pretty easy to make.
Thanks for the recipe!
Well done! Thank you for sharing this. It totally reminds me of my childhood Saturday mornings!
Grew up on this as a breakfast staple since my Grandpa made it as a cook in the Army. My mom passed the recipe to my sister and I with these changes to the above: corn starch vs flour, add garlic salt, over SOURDOUGH bread.
Used to eat this as a kid made with dry canned dried beef slices. Think it was a Hormel brand. It came in a small (2-4 oz) glass jar with a metal lid on it. Once used, you kept the jar because it could be used as a glass. Perfect for little hands is why my parents kept them as there were 6 of us kids. And, yes, it would be my Dad who made this. My Mom hated it.
Ha! I loved reading your memories Phyllis!
I also grew up eating Stuff on a Shingle, as my Dad would call it! He was in the army, stationed in Bienna at the Palace of Justice. He would always kid about the ‘Stuff’, sometimes calling it the real name to shock us kids! He would add a little bit of garlic powder or salt which gave it a little extra flavor, and it was so good. I sure miss you Dad….I love you…
That should be, Vienna, Austria!
Thank you for this recipe. Simple & good. Navy generally use dried beef because of availability on the ship.
I have been using Nutra Thik (Hormel product) for a thickening agent instead of flour or cornstarch. Very easy to use.
So glad I stumbled upon this, this recipe always reminds me of my dad. He would make it for breakfast when my mom worked in the mornings on the weekend. The only difference is he would put a lot of garlic in it. I knew he was making strictly by the smell.
My daddy (WWII) and husband (Vietnam) said SOS was served everyday for breakfast. I serve it with butter biscuits, I like to put a couple slices tomato with mine. I’m southern from AL and like tomatoes with everything.
My dad was in the army and was a cook. Your recipe is the exact recipe that he used and that I use to this day. He called it SOS and that’s what I call it. Love making it because it always reminds me of my dad and what a great cook he was. I’m so glad I have a lot of his recipes since he is no longer with us. It tastes good over biscuits and an over easy egg to the side. If you don’t have biscuits then over toast is great too.
I add some A-1 steak sauce!!!
Hooooooorraaaaa.
This is easy to fix and easy to personalize each time it’s made. also, it tastes great and reminds me of home.
What fun that you put this recipe out there for posterity!! I love it! My mother cooked it when we were kids, but it was my Marine Corps dad that taught her to make it. When we were a young one income household in the late 60’s and 70’s, this was a super economical and easy to feed our family. My mom has since passed 11 years ago, but I will share this recipe with my dad. I’m sure he still knows how to make it at 79, but it might change it up for him a bit in his normal dinners. Thank you so much for sharing!!
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I’m an AF brat and always enjoyed SOS when I was a kid. Still enjoy it now as well. This is exactly how my mom prepared it!