Here’s a classic recipe for Chicken Fried Steak—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and smothered in creamy gravy:
Ingredients (for 4 servings)
For the Steak:
- 4 cube steaks (about 4–6 oz each)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika (optional)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup milk or buttermilk
- Vegetable oil, for frying (about 1/2 inch deep in skillet)
For the Gravy:
- 2 tbsp pan drippings (or butter)
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Steaks:
- Pat cube steaks dry with paper towels.
- Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Set Up Breading Station:
- In one shallow bowl, mix flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- In another bowl, whisk eggs with milk.
- Bread the Steaks:
- Dredge each steak in the flour mixture, shaking off excess.
- Dip in the egg mixture, then coat again in flour. Press lightly to ensure it sticks.
- Fry the Steaks:
- Heat about 1/2 inch of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Fry steaks 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy.
- Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
- Make the Gravy:
- Remove all but 2 tbsp of oil from the skillet (leave pan drippings).
- Whisk in 2 tbsp flour over medium heat and cook 1–2 minutes.
- Slowly whisk in milk, stirring constantly until thickened.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve:
- Pour gravy over the chicken fried steaks.
- Serve with mashed potatoes and green beans for a classic Southern meal.
💡 Tips:
- Pressing the flour coating firmly helps it stay on during frying.
- Use a splatter guard while frying to keep your stove clean.
- Cube steak is tenderized beef, so you don’t need to pound it yourself.
If you want, I can also give a shortcut version of chicken fried steak in the oven that’s a bit lighter but still crispy. Do you want me to do that?
