The Best Chicken Fried Steak Recipe

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This Chicken Fried Steak Recipe is pan fried to golden perfection then smothered with a rich, creamy gravy. Ready in just over 30 minutes, this is the ultimate comfort food.

plates of chicken fried steak with gravy on top of it, with mashed potatoes and green beans.

Table of Contents

I think a lot about how the recipes we make are largely shaped by family traditions and where you reside. That’s the ‘rut’ I think we all fall into, different holes so to speak but common causes. One fix is to think of the foods you loved while travelling, or foods served to you by other people that made an impression.

For this Northerner, there’s something truly and uniquely special about southern food. I once ate my way through Texas (for reals), and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Every single day I had the most memorable and delicious meals.

So when I want comforting and hearty, I look to a southern dish like this tender steak inside a crispy crunchy coating and topped with creamy gravy. In fact, some say the gravy is the best part.

This restaurant-quality dish is easily made at home, and comes together quickly. Wholesome great food, different than the usual, and a bit of nostalgia – either way, it checks all the boxes, just like Jalapeno Mac and Cheese would with Chocolate Pecan Tart for dessert.

What is Chicken Fried Steak?

Chicken fried steak is not chicken, at all. It’s a tender thin steak that is breaded and (pan) fried the same way you would a piece of chicken. Topped with creamy gravy, it’s a way to dress up (and flavor up) inexpensive and usually boring cube steak.

Is Chicken Fried Steak for Breakfast or Dinner?

While we love to serve this with mashed potatoes and vegetables for a lovely dinner, it can also be a heart and delicious breakfast when served with eggs and hash browns or Bisquick Sausage and Egg Casserole.

chicken fried steak with a bowl of gravy on the side, on a plate with mashed potatoes and green beans.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Crispy fried meat topped with a smooth heavenly gravy. Now that’s completely satisfying, filling, and flavorful.
With simple ingredients mostly found in your pantry, it’s an easy recipe that quickly comes together.
Restaurant quality without leaving home!

Total Time: 35 Minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients and Variations

ingredients to make chicken fried steak including steak, flour, spices, milk, buttermilk, egg and oil.

Cube Steak – Cube steak is a thin cut of meat usually from the round or sirloin. The meat is tenderized by being flattened and pounded, leaving small indentions in the meat. For even cooking, pound the meat a few times with a kitchen mallet or rolling pin, to even ¼-inch thick cuts. You can also use minute steak.
Seasonings – Season the meat and flour mixture with salt and pepper to bring out the flavor. For a delicious breading the flour mixture is seasoned with a mixture of garlic, onion, and cayenne powder. Add extra cayenne for a spicy kick, or even add in some hot sauce.
Buttermilk & Egg– The cutlets are breaded in three steps, with the buttermilk mixture being the second step. The milk and egg acts as a glue for the outer breading to stick to. Allow the excess to drip off to prevent a soggy coating.
Baking Powder – Mixed into the buttermilk mixture, baking powder makes the mixture a little lighter, resulting in a light and crispy coating when fried.
Oil – Use a flavorless oil with a high smoke point to fry the steaks. Vegetable, canola, peanut, or avocado oil could all be used.
Chicken Broth – Chicken broth adds additional flavor to the gravy. Beef or vegetable broth can be substituted if preferred.
Milk – Use whole milk or 2% milk for the gravy.

As always, the full ingredients and recipe is on the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

Tips for Success

Pat the steaks dry right before breading. Excess moisture on the surface of the meat can prevent the breading from sticking to the meat.
No need to deep fry, and deal with excess grease and calories. Just shallow fry to a golden perfection.
I use a cast iron skillet but any large, heavy skillet will work when making southern chicken fried steaks.
Don’t have buttermilk on hand? Mix a scant cup of milk with 1 tablespoon of vinegar, stir and allow to set 1-2 minutes for a quick homemade version.
Do not flip the steaks more than once. You don’t want to disturb that crispy coating too much, so wait until one side is nice and golden brown before flipping..
Use pan drippings and leftover seasoned flour mixture from the breading for the gravy to give it extra flavor.

How to Make Chicken Fried Steak

1 pieces of cube steak on a baking pan next to a bowl of flour and spices.

STEP 1 – Season cube steaks with salt and ground black pepper, set aside.

a glass bowl with milk and egg beside another glass bowl with flour and spices inside.

STEP 2 – In two shallow dishes, add the buttermilk, egg, and baking powder to one, whisking to combine. To the second shallow bowl add the flour, three teaspoons salt, one teaspoon pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.

a piece of cube steak in a glass bowl with an egg mixture inside, and a bowl of flour next to it.

STEP 3 – Working with one steak at a time, dredge steak in the flour mixture, dip both sides in the egg mixture, allowing any excess to drip off. Then return to the flour mixture, pressing gently to help the breading adhere. Place breaded steak on the prepared wire lined baking sheet until ready to fry. Repeat with the remaining steaks.

chicken fried steak cooking in a cast iron pan of oil.

STEP 4 – Heat 1 inch of oil to 375 degrees over medium-high heat, I like to use an instant-read thermometer for this yet it’s optional. Line two baking sheets with a wire rack. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.

Fry steaks in batches 4-5 minutes per side. Remove steak from the hot oil and place on the second wire rack lined sheet to drain any excess oil. Place fried steaks in the preheated warm oven.

a cast iron pan with gravy inside and green onions.

STEP 5 – Carefully pour the oil from the large skillet, reserving 2 tablespoons for the gravy. In the same pan over medium heat, whisk together the oil, ¼ cup of flour, ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper, continue to cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and fresh thyme, cook until fragrant, 30-45 seconds.

a cast iron pan with a white gravy mixture in it beside chicken fried steak and spices.

STEP 6 – Add the broth and milk, whisking until combined, continue to heat and whisk regularly until the gravy has thickened, makes 2 ½ – 3 cups of gravy.

cut open chicken fried steak with gravy on top of it, on a plate with mashed potatoes and green beans.

STEP 7 – Serve homemade chicken fried steaks warm with gravy, with your favorite side dishes like those you’d serve with Air Fryer Fried Chicken.

What to Serve with Chicken Fried Steak

Serve each steak with a generous portion of creamy white gravy over them. When serving this as an easy dinner, I like to include some southern favorite sides. Suggestions are:

Storage and Reheating

Leftover steaks can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through. For a crispy breading, reheat in the air fryer or in the oven until heated through.

Recipe FAQ

What cut of meat is used for chicken fried steak?

Chicken fried steak is usually made with pre-tenderized cut of steak cube steak that is a cut from top round steak, or top sirloin. Realistically though, you can use any cut of steak and tenderize it yourself by pounding it with a meat mallet or rolling pin.

What is the difference between country-fried steak and chicken fried steak?

Chicken fried steak is always served crispy with a white, peppery gravy.
Country fried steak is usually just floured and pan fried, then served with a rich, brown gravy that might include onions.

How do you get batter to stick to chicken fried steak?

Make sure to pat the steak dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Then when you dredge the steak in flour, use your fingers to press it into the meat well. The double dredge method of dipping it into the buttermilk and eggs, then back into the flour, will help the batter to adhere best.

More Steak Recipes

If you’ve tried this Chicken-Fried Steak Recipe or any other recipe on my blog please let me know how it went in the comments below. I love hearing from you. Finally, consider leaving a 🌟 star rating while you’re here. Thanks!

The Best Chicken Fried Steak Recipe

This Chicken Fried Steak Recipe has tender steak inside a crispy crunchy coating, pan fried to golden perfection then smothered with a rich, creamy gravy. Ready in just over 30 minutes, this is the ultimate comfort food. This restaurant-quality dish is easily made at home.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 25

Total Time: 35

Servings: people

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Author: Tammi

Ingredients

4 cube steaks
2¼ cups all purpose flour
4 tsp salt
1½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1 tsp baking powder
2 garlic cloves
1 tsp fresh thyme
½ cup chicken broth
2 cups milk
vegetable oil (for frying)

Instructions

Season cube steaks with salt and pepper, set aside. In two shallow dishes, add the buttermilk, egg, and baking powder to one, whisking to combine. To the second add the flour, three teaspoons salt, one teaspoon pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.
Heat 1 inch of oil to 375 degrees over medium-high heat. Line two baking sheets with a wire rack. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. While the oil heats, dredge the steaks.
While the oil heats, dredge the steaks. Working with one steak at a time, dredge steak in the flour mixture, dip both sides in the egg mixture, allowing any excess to drip off. Then return to the flour mixture, pressing gently to help the breading adhere. Place breaded steak on the prepared wire lined baking sheet until ready to fry. Repeat with the remaining steaks.
Fry steaks in batches 4-5 minutes per side. Remove steak from the hot oil and place on the second wire rack lined sheet to drain any excess oil. Place fried steaks in the preheated warm oven.
Carefully pour the oil from the skillet, reserving 2 tablespoons for the gravy. In the same pan over medium heat, whisk together the oil, ¼ cup of flour, ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper, continue to cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and thyme, cook until fragrant, 30-45 seconds.
Add the broth and milk, whisking until combined, continue to heat and whisk regularly until the gravy has thickened, makes 2 ½ – 3 cups of gravy.
Serve steaks warm with gravy.