Keto Creamed Chipped Beef

Creamed Chip Beef is one of those comfort foods that I absolutely love and, believe it or not, it's really easy to make it keto friendly! You only change one ingredient! The flavor is exactly like the traditional version made with flour and I serve it over scrambled eggs, or it would be wonderful over keto biscuits.

There are only a few ingredients in Keto Chipped Beef Gravy and it's so quick to make that it's perfect for busy mornings or even when you want breakfast for dinner! You can also use the same technique to make sausage gravy or hamburger gravy!

If you are interested in other low carb/keto recipes, here are some of my favorites!

Frequently Asked Questions

Ingredients & Substitutions

Chipped Beef

I purchase chipped beef in a bag that is found in the refrigerator section at the grocery store. I always use the Esskay brand, but make sure to get the beef only and not the prepackaged beef with gravy.

I will say that in Tennessee, I can't find it, but they do have dried beef in a can. I haven't tried that yet (I picked up some when visiting Maryland), but I think it will work the same. You may want to taste it to see if it's too salty and, if so, soak it in some water for about 10 minutes to draw out the salt.

Heavy Cream & Butter

Heavy Cream

I used a combination of heavy cream and water in this recipe because heavy cream is the most keto-friendly of the dairy milks. However, you can use a combination of heavy cream and whole milk or half and half or low fat milk that you like. Just keep in mind that the richness comes from the cream, so if you use all skim milk it will have a different flavor and texture. You also may need more thickening agent.

You can also use Greek yogurt, sour cream or cream cheese in place of part of the heavy cream, but the flavors will be different.

If you are dairy-free, I would use a soy-based cream or milk. While you certainly could use coconut cream, it will change the flavor quite a bit.

Butter

I use salted butter to sauté the beef in, but you can use unsalted, if you prefer. You can also use bacon grease or olive oil or avocado oil if you are dairy free.

Seasonings

I use black pepper and some Worcestershire sauce to season the creamed chipped beef. The amount of Worcestershire sauce is so minimal, I don't worry about it not being fully keto. However, you can skip it if you want.

This is one of the few dishes where I don't add salt because the chipped beef is plenty salty, but go by taste and if it needs a little salt, add it in. You can also add some onion powder or garlic powder if desired.

You can also add other things like finely diced onion, green onions, or green bell pepper to the chipped beef gravy. If you want it spicy, add a few slices of jalapeno peppers.

Thickening Agent

Since we aren't using flour like in traditional creamed chip beef, we do have to thicken the gravy. I use xanthan gum as my thickener of choice, but there are many other ways to thicken the creamed chipped beef. You can simply use cream cheese, but the flavor will change. You can also use arrowroot or whatever thickening agent you like.

I like the simplicity of xanthan gum because I can thicken during the cooking process or after, if needed. Xanthan gum doesn't need to be heated to activate.

Another option if you are not following the ketogenic diet, but need gluten free alternatives is to use a cornstarch slurry. You will probably need 1-2 Tablespoons of cornstarch mixed with 1 Tablespoon of warm water. Add it right after you add the cream and begin to warm everything up. You will have to heat the mixture to a nice simmer for it to thicken. You may want to start off with adding half of the slurry and see if that works and then add the remaining half if it is not thick enough.

What to Serve with Creamed Chip Beef

Depending on if you are following keto, gluten free, or other eating plans will change how you serve the creamed chip beef.

Keto Options

Scrambled egg bowls is a great way to serve keto creamed chip beef. Whip up 1 egg and pour it into a preheated skillet with some butter. Let it sit on low heat covered while you make your keto chipped beef gravy.

Once the egg has set completely, flip it and remove from the heat. Keep covered to keep it warm.

When you are ready to serve it, put the egg into a bowl or ramiken and then pour in the chipped beef gravy.

Many people pour their chipped beef over a chaffle. I have never made chaffles, but if you want to learn how to make them then here is a recipe by the Pioneer Woman: How to Make Chaffles I am sure she has an easy chaffle recipe.

You can also serve the chipped beef with these keto pancakes: The BEST Keto Pancakes Recipe

Other Options

Personally, my favorite way to serve creamed chipped beef is over a toasted English Muffins or toast. There is something about the velvety texture of the white sauce and beef that goes so well with the crunch of toasted bread!

How to Make Keto Creamed Chipped Beef

Start by heating your skillet over medium heat and adding in 2 Tablespoons of butter. Remove the chipped beef from the bag and you will see that it is rolled. Leave it in a roll and slice into strips.

Gently break apart the strips and add to the skillet. Toss with the melted butter and sauté for 2-3 minutes.

Add in the Worcestershire sauce and cream. If you want to add pepper, you can do that now or wait until you are ready to serve it. Stir to combine and reduce the heat to low.

Add in the water and stir. Mix 2 Tablespoons of heavy cream or melted butter with ¾ teaspoon xanthan gum until it forms a paste. Add to the creamed chipped beef and stir until incorporated. It will become thick and velvety.

If you need to add more xanthan gum, just mix more up with some cream and add it in. I started off with ½ teaspoon of xanthan gum mixed with 1½ Tablespoons of cream and needed to add another ¼ teaspoon of the xanthan gum when I made the recipe video.

Serve & Enjoy!