Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast {#SundaySupper} (2024)

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March 8th, 2015 · 26 Comments

Do you ever flip through vintage cookbooks and marvel at the things people used to eat? I recently saw a blue cheese jello mold that was pretty frightening. Of course, you have to be cautious about looking through them with kids, who might suddenly want to make something they see. But sometimes vintage recipes stand the test of time. Sunday Supper is celebrating retro recipes this week and I thought it would be fun to make an old comfort food recipe my mother used to make — Creamed Chipped Beef.

Now, I always assumed this was a New England recipe — my mother’s parents hailed from there and from Washington, DC, and many of the recipes she used to make were, well, rather bland. Not that this was entirely her fault — my early childhood coincided with the glory days of the microwave, that magical device that made it possible to cook chicken without fat, or flavor. But I don’t remember being particularly adventurous in my eating anyway, more partial to bread and pasta than anything. So getting to eat toast with a creamy beef gravy for dinner always seemed like a treat to me.

It seems this was a classic diner dish in New England and the Mid-Atlantic, though maybe not as popular as the Southern version, sausage gravy. As I searched the web to see if chipped beef was still a thing (turns out the plastic packs are still sold in the grocery store), I spotted a few recipes that seemed to attempt to make it a little more gourmet. Adding fresh herbs seemed too fancy, but I did add just a little chopped shallot. And we try to eat only natural meat, so I compromised with thin-sliced corned beef. Of course, everything’s better with a fried egg so I ate mine that way, but I served it straight-up to the foodie kids. One liked it enough to ask for seconds, one just ate the toast with the tiniest of dabs in the gravy.

As for me, I think I prefer my occasional sausage gravy over biscuits — but I may make this again some time when we have extra lunch meat on hand.

Recipe: Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

8 slices wheat bread
1 tablespoon chopped shallot
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
dash paprika
2 cups milk
4 ounces corned beef, chopped
optional: eggs

Instructions:

1. Melt butter in sauce pan over medium low heat. Add shallot and cook for 1-2 minutes until soft. Add flour, salt and paprika and cook, stirring, until smooth and bubbly. Let simmer for 1 minute.

2. Add 1/2 cup milk and whisk until smooth, then add remaining milk and increase heat to medium. Stir until sauce is thickened and smooth. Reduce heat to low and stir in chopped beef. Cook several minutes more while preparing toast.

3. Toast bread. Serve with chipped beef gravy over top (and optional fried eggs), season with black pepper.

***

Get more Retro Recipe inspiration from these Sunday Supper bloggers!

Bodacious Breakfasts and Appetizers:

Classic Chex Party Mix from Peanut Butter and Peppers
Healthy Green Goddess Dip from Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
Homemade Doughnuts from Cosmopolitan Cornbread

Made in the Shade Main Dishes:

26 responses so far ↓

1Renee // Mar 8, 2015 at 6:42 am
I have to admit I’ve never had creamed chipped beef and I’ve lived in the south my whole life. I’ve seen it quite often and yet for some reason it simply didn’t appeal to me. But I’m re-thinking that because the version you have plus the egg on top looks good.
2Hezzi-D // Mar 8, 2015 at 7:18 am
The kids have this at school twice a month and rave about it. I haven’t been brave enough to eat it in the cafeteria, but I’m definitely trying your version!
3Diana @DandelionGreens // Mar 8, 2015 at 9:51 am
Delicious comfort food! And I love the idea of the egg on top, too!
4Deanna Samaan // Mar 8, 2015 at 9:56 am
This one my mom’s favorites!!! Yum!!!
5Constance Smith // Mar 8, 2015 at 10:18 am
This is one of my favorite “go-to” meals when I need a dish in a pinch.
6Liz // Mar 8, 2015 at 1:42 pm
So beautiful topped with a fried egg! My mom used to buy us chipped beef on occasion, but we always made plain old sandwiches with it 🙂
See Also
Vegan Sweet Potato Pancakes (Gluten-free)
7Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm // Mar 8, 2015 at 3:09 pm
I have never had chipped beef. It seems to be almost like a hot beef sandwich but with a milk gravy. Interesting, thanks for sharing.
8Laura // Mar 8, 2015 at 3:49 pm
I have never heard of such a dish. But then again the first time I saw white gravy in the south I was confused by that too. Very interesting sounding.
9Sue Lau // Mar 8, 2015 at 3:51 pm
My Dad used to crack jokes about the S.O.S. they used to serve when he was in the Navy. I think it was really popular in the days when shelf-stable dried beef was more common than freezer beef.
10Mary Ellen // Mar 9, 2015 at 2:23 am
This has always been one of my faves!
11Cindys Recipes and Writings // Mar 9, 2015 at 12:40 pm
Interesting choice using corned beef. I’ve only ever made it with dried beef!
12Valerie Cathell Clark // Mar 10, 2015 at 9:27 am
Oh my goodness, does this bring back memories! And you’ve seduced me even further with the egg on top!!! I HAVE to have this very soon! Love it!
13Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen // Mar 10, 2015 at 11:06 pm
Oh yes, my childhood was haunted by the microwave too LOL As much as I love biscuits and gravy, I am sure I would love this 🙂
14Anne @ Webicurean
Twitter: webicurean
// Mar 13, 2015 at 10:43 am
I thought this only came from the grocer’s freezer! My mom used to get this all the time as a quick meal–I think it was Stouffers. I can’t wait to try the homemade version–it was always such a treat when I was a kid!
15Julie @ Texan New Yorker // Mar 13, 2015 at 3:39 pm
I’ve never had this dish, but I did grow up eating sausage gravy, so I’m sure I’d love it! Thanks for posting this recipe, I’m going to have to give it a go sometime!
16Lauren @ Sew You Think You Can Cook // Mar 13, 2015 at 4:24 pm
Great time to share – leftover corned beef is sure to be in most fridges with St. Patrick’s Day fast approaching.
17foodietots
Twitter: foodietots
// Mar 22, 2015 at 2:06 am
Too funny — I didn’t know you could buy it in the freezer section till I researched this post! My mom used to get us the occasional frozen tv dinner as a treat, but this one she made herself.
18foodietots
Twitter: foodietots
// Mar 22, 2015 at 2:07 am
True — it’s a great way to use up those last bits of corned beef!
19foodietots
Twitter: foodietots
// Mar 22, 2015 at 2:08 am
I never had sausage gravy till I was in college — it was part of my grandmother’s strategy to break me of being a vegetarian!
20foodietots
Twitter: foodietots
// Mar 22, 2015 at 2:08 am
Sometimes you just need a little gravy over carbs. 🙂
21foodietots
Twitter: foodietots
// Mar 22, 2015 at 2:09 am
Felt a little bad fancying it up with the egg, but it was so good!
22foodietots
Twitter: foodietots
// Mar 22, 2015 at 2:12 am
I read that the dried beef really needed gravy to soften it up — was interesting to see Liz’s comment above that she used to eat it straight on sandwiches.
23foodietots
Twitter: foodietots
// Mar 22, 2015 at 2:12 am
I loved it as a kid, but had forgotten all about it!
24foodietots
Twitter: foodietots
// Mar 22, 2015 at 2:13 am
Yes, seems some military folks have less fond memories of it — I had heard that saying but never realized this was what it referred to!
25foodietots
Twitter: foodietots
// Mar 22, 2015 at 2:17 am
How funny, have never seen it on a school menu but I agree, I think it’s one of those things I’d rather eat homemade!
26foodietots
Twitter: foodietots
// Mar 22, 2015 at 2:17 am
Thanks Renee, hope you give it a try!