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.
Same!! We ate this all the time growing up in the Air Force!
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 loved both creamed hamburger and chipped beef as a kid and am going to make this tonight!
I have purchased the dried beef and it appears to be available from different vendors, including Walmart. Hormel makes it, it comes in a jar maybe 2.5 oz. and I’d guess it would be near Spam. It’s quite salty but totally delicious with a white gravy. I love peas in the hamburger version. Dinner tonight!!!!
I never had this while growing up, but once I joined the Army, it became my favorite breakfast meal. Thank you for the memories.
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!