Sh*t on a Shingle- What a name? The good news: there is no actual sh*t or shingles in this Chipped Beef on toast recipe! Even better news: Delicious!
Creamy white gravy with dried beef, hard boiled egg and a little spinach over crunchy toast. A delicious meal served hot.
Maybe not the most appetizing name- but it’s time-tested and nostalgic. Definitely a taste memory for so many people- and lovingly called S.O.S
Creamed Chipped beef recipes, also called ‘SOS’ go back to the early 1900s as a breakfast staple for military troops.
It doesn’t sound fancy- but actually not that different than the French BECHAMEL SAUCE . The “Shit on a Shingle recipe first appeared in the 1910 Manual for Army Cooks, which listed it as “stewed, chipped beef”.
Chipped Beef on Toast became a staple in all of the branches of the service because the jarred chipped beef had been dried, salted, pressed, and thinly sliced, making it a practical, compact, and shelf-stable food that’s an ideal source of protein for soldiers. Of course, so many veterans remember and still enjoy dried beef in a creamy gravy served on toast – Such an easy breakfast recipe.
My father was a WWII veteran who altered a baptismal certificate to enter the navy before he turned 18. He served in the Pacific sea – and ended up being pulled from the ocean twice. There were many memories he didn’t want to share with us- but Sh#t on a Shingle was one he did.
My mom made slight alterations to her original recipe over the years. She served it kids, grandkids, and great grandkids- a family tradition. It’s with loving admiration that I share her recipe. I think of her every time I prepare this for my family.
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Use quality ingredients: Choose high-quality bread, such as freshly baked bread or your favorite crusty brand. Biscuits and English muffins are also popular choices.
Thicken your white sauce or roux by stirring frequently to your desired consistency. Whisk int he milk a little at at a time.
Toast the bread: Toasting the bread before adding the SOS gravy will give the dish a nice crunchy texture and prevent the bread from getting soggy.
Serve hot: Shit on a shingle is best served hot, so make sure to serve it immediately after cooking.
Customize to your liking: Feel free to add other ingredients like green onions, or mushrooms to make the dish your own.
Garnish with fresh herbs: Top your shit on a shingle with fresh herbs like parsley or chives for a pop of color and extra flavor.
Make the Cuss Kitchen® SOS, a modern take on a beautiful comfort food.
This is a creamed Chipped Beef gravy, with egg, and spinach served over toast or biscuits. Feed a crowd, create a breakfast, brunch, or lunch tradition.
Easy meal to reheat. Have a few jars of the Buddig beef on a shelf, and it’s a easy to whip up a meal. Additionally, it’s a great recipe to upcycle your left over Easter Eggs!
Chipped Beef is a classic, and still a family & military favorite -No Sh#t!
‘Sh#t on a Shingle is a vintage war-time recipe made with dried beef and creamy white sauce much like Béchamel and toast.
Also called creamed or chipped beef on toast, the ingredients were easy to buy and store during times of ration, and the meal was simple and budget-friendly.
It is said that sailor’s ate so much of it they renamed the dish ‘affectionately’. The dish has many variations and upgrades- but many still love this nostalgic dish.
Corned beef and dried beef are different. They both have a high sodium content but the corned beef is brined cured and the dried beef is salt-cured. The flavors and textures are not similar. Dried beef is sometimes smoked for added flavor.
There are so many brands of dried beef. Use any dried beef and stock up. It’s great to have on hand for a quick and delicious meal.
The recipe starts with melting butter at a low heat, and adding the sliced beef. You continue to simmer on low heat until the edges of the chopped dried beef curl. Stir the flour into the dried beef mixture. Slowly add milk and continue stirring or whisking as the gravy thickens, and until you reach your desired consistency. At this point, you add Worcestershire, salt and black pepper, hard boiled eggs, and spinach (if desired).
Over the years families adapted SOS recipes to what they had available in the cupboard- especially during WWII, when supplies were scarce.
Some chipped beef on toast recipes feature ground beef or other meats. Some recipes feature a creamy white gravy with Worcestershire sauce, while some are more like a biscuits and gravy, sometimes even with a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Use our Béchamel style cream sauce with chopped beef and amp it up with spinach, hard boiled eggs, salt and pepper.
While traditional shit on a shingle is made with chipped beef, some use hamburger / ground beef, sausage, or even turkey as a substitute. Each type of meat will bring a different flavor to the dish.
To make a vegetarian version of shit on a shingle, you can use meat alternatives like tofu crumbles or tempeh instead of beef. You can also add mushrooms, green onions, or other vegetables to bulk up the dish. Garnish with herbs and spices.
Shit on a shingle is best served fresh, but you can prepare the components ahead of time and assemble the dish right before serving. Store the SOS gravy mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat before serving over freshly toasted white bread slices.
12 Responses
I remember eating ‘Chipped Beef on Toast’ as a kid- but this is better than I remembered
nice upgrade to nostalgic dish. fav!
A classic thats done right! perfect!
I love this and make it for my family often. Fast, easy, budget-friendly- and the leftovers are fought for the next day. I especially love the hard boiled eggs and Spinach in it- nice touch
THIS IS MY FAVORITE THING TO EAT! If I could eat this every morning I would. 10/10 try this if nothing else.
I enjoyed this recipe as a kid- but you have made it more delicious. I love the hard-boiled eggs and Spinach. Easy dish. Leftovers are great too.
Great upgrade to a classic dish. Enjoyed and will make again
Better than Mom’s. Really good
This has become a favorite and easy meal at our house. Ultimate comfort food
This is a recipe for Easy Sunday Mornings. Creamy and full of flavor
I love the creamy sauce -You list it for brunch- but I love it any time. This one is a classic A+ recipe
I love the added spinach-great twist