No other recipe makes me more nostalgic than Creamed Chipped Beef. While my mom did all the cooking it was my dad who loved making this for breakfast or dinner. I can still remember, my mom and I watching him cook…he put on a comedy show for us. He was happy and singing silly songs and we laughed and loved every minute of it. He would serve it over toast or biscuits for breakfast and sometimes Mom re-heated it and served it over mashed potatoes for dinner. As an adult I make it often and still call it one of the great comfort foods.
It is so easy to make and so delicious. Its just a simple bechamel sauce so creamy and rich. If you use beef in a package or jar, you want to rinse it first as it tends to be salty. I like to use Beardsley's dried beef in a jar as I find it the most tender and lean. My second choice if you can’t find it in a jar is Knauss brand in a pack. Most people use Buddig beef as it’s less salty.
Creamed Chipped Beef Over Toast
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk or half and half (half cream/half milk)
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 (4.5-ounce) jar or package of dried beef, sliced or chopped
In a large skillet melt butter over medium heat.
When it starts to sizzle add flour and whisk for a full minute. Continue to move around in the skillet and don’t let it brown. You want it to stay white.
Continue to whisk as you pour in the milk. Stir continuously until it starts to thicken. Turn down the heat to low and let simmer.
Add in the beef and stir to combine. Continue to stir until gravy has thickened. Remove from heat and stir in sliced dried beef. Add the pepper… no need to add any salt as the beef has enough in it.
Make your toast and lay in on a plate. Spoon creamed beef on top.
Serve immediately over toasted or un-toasted bread, biscuits, waffles, English muffins or mashed potatoes!
So good! Serve for breakfast, lunch or dinner!
