This Is The South's Most-Searched For Fall Weeknight Dinner

When it comes to getting dinner on the table, we have the world at our fingertips. With a few clicks we can summon almost any supper recipe we desire, from Mississippi Pot Roast to Memphis Dry Rub Barbecue Ribs. When we were searching for the answer, we figured it must be a chili or a chicken recipe. In fact, it had to be chicken, right? Readers love our chicken recipes, especially in the fall. Is there anything more comforting than our Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie? But nope, neither made the cut.

Creamed Chipped Beef and Toast Is A Nostalgic Recipe

Our most-searched for fall weeknight dinner is a nostalgic throwback—Creamed Chipped Beef & Toast. It rose to popularity in the early 20th century thanks to the U.S. military—for its ability to quite literally feed an army.

I can remember my grandfather, a World War II veteran, talking about this dish—but he had a name for it that's not appropriate for Southern Living. I’ll just say its initials are S.O.S., and leave you to search it and find out for yourself.

What Is Creamed Chipped Beef & Toast?

Chipped beef is beef that's been salted, dried, and pressed into thin slices. This shelf-stable snack served as an incredible source of protein among emigrants traveling along The Overland Trail during the mid-19th century.

It eventually found its way to the U.S. military in 1910, first making an appearance in the Manual for Army Cooks, where a recipe for stewed chipped beef with cream sauce was served on toast, enough to feed 60 men.

Also called dried beef, chipped beef is typically made from a leaner cut of meat, such as beef round. The meat is brined and left to cure for several days before being drained and air-dried. You can now also find chipped beef that's been smoked while it dries, adding additional flavor to the meat.

Making Creamed Chipped Beef & Toast Is Easy

To make Creamed Chipped Beef & Toast, simply make a white gravy, add the chipped beef, and serve it over toast. It's that simple.

Why Readers Love Creamed Chipped Beef & Toast

The more I think about it, the less I’m surprised that so many folks are searching for this recipe.

• It's comfort food: The nostalgia factor is high, and the history behind the dish is very compelling.
• It's easy and versatile: Not only is it simple to make, you can serve it on anything—Texas toast, white bread, English muffins, even buttermilk biscuits. It’s humble, comforting, and deeply satisfying. Is this dish a looker? No ma’am, it is not. And that’s OK. Some foods are not for splashing all over social media—they’re for eating, plain and simple. And there’s nothing wrong with that.