S.O.S. (Creamy Hamburger Gravy)
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 and his Army Dad before him. 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 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.
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. In addition, some people also call Creamed Chipped Beef “S.O.S.” but this is how we make it and have for the last 80 plus years.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- ground beef
- milk
- salted butter
- all-purpose flour
- salt and pepper
- bread
HOW 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.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
- Creamed Chipped Beef
- Chicken a la King
- Ground Beef Stroganoff
- Crock Pot Meatloaf Meatballs
- Ground Beef and Gravy
- Hamburger Steaks with Tomato Gravy
- Slow Cooker Hamburger Potato Soup
- Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak
- Crock Pot Meatloaf
- Air Fryer Meatloaf
- Hamburger Hash
S.O.S. (Creamy Hamburger Gravy)
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
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 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.
Video
Notes
- Note: this is the exact same recipe I use for sausage gravy. Instead of ground beef, I substitute with hot, ground breakfast sausage.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
My dad made this for us growing up. It was something he ate in the Airforce. Absolutely LOVE this. Thank you for posting this. We do like more pepper also..
Learned this in Scouts. I like to add chopped onion and minced garlic to the recipe.
I just used this recipe and it was absolutely amazing!! we will definitely be having this again!!
i used a few differnt receipes, this one is so darn good its ridiculous, took me back to Boot Camp in San Diego, simple and tasty, Thank You
Justin
Love hearing that Justin! Thank you for taking the time to come back and comment!
My family likes this on mashed potatoes.
My mother taught me this about 45 years ago still making it and enjoying
very good easy
Creamy and delicious. Came out so much better than I was expecting.
I’m retired military and I made this recipe and could just about hear the non-coms yelling again! Loved it and will be making it regularly now that I have the basics. Thank you.
Thanks so much Chief! I appreciate you coming back to comment – means a lot!
Sounds good to me, like my mother used to make it.
Perfect
I grew up eating this and it was my favorite. We didn’t have alot of money and my mother would sometimes receive government assistance for food in the form of a hamburger log and a giant brick of cheese that was about ten-twelve inches long and five inches wide/thick. Mother would get up early so she could be among the first to stand in what was referred to as the cheese line. Also, on many occasions she used canned evaporated milk if we did not have milk. It was delicious. I’m so glad to see that you are sharing this recipe and I really enjoyed reading the comments from people who love it just as much!
love this recipe. Just how I remember it.
We pull out this old family classic a few times a year. When I was taught this dish, we used mushrooms, onions, and fine cubed potatoes also. This is a real comfort food. I am quite confident that my grandpa, and his brothers, come home from the US Navy demanding more of this.
Good memories of my Grandpa making this. Made it for my kids today. Tasted just like he used to make!
My grandpa was in the Air Force and made this every Christmas morning for over 50 years. His included chopped onions and Worcestershire, and most of us added Tabasco to it. When he was in his late 80’s, he forgot how to make it, so I took over. He passed away in 2021 at the age of 92. So happy these recipes are living on.
Yummy! Just like my mom used to make when I was young, over 50 years ago!
We called this Hamburger Gravy as well. But it was more commonly referred to as Gravy Train after the dog food. It was delicious when I was a kid and it’s delicious now. I love this recipe.
I think I might like your version much better.
Super yummy for a rainy Arizona night.
I was raised with this army version (ground beef) we called the chipped beef version which we didn’t eat often F.O.R F*reskins on a raft.
This was my favorite meal growing up and always begged for it when I went to my grandparents. They made it with water though not milk but I’m sure they had.some bouillon in it although back then meat had so much more flavor it seems and they served it over boiled potatoes with the skins on. I still love it! Great memories. Thanks for the flashback! 🙂