Chicken Fried Steak Recipe
on Aug 04, 2023
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Today, I’m going to introduce you to one of my all-time favorite Southern dishes: Chicken Fried Steak! Now, if you’re wondering, “Wait, is that chicken or steak?”, you’re not alone. Despite its name, this dish is all about tender steak coated in a crispy batter, similar to fried chicken, and it’s downright delicious.
In the realm of comfort food, few dishes can rival the heartiness and satisfaction of chicken fried steak. A classic with deep roots in Southern cuisine, chicken fried steak has won the hearts and palates of people all around the world. At its core, chicken fried steak is a simple yet delectable dish. Tenderized beef cutlets are dipped in a seasoned flour mixture, often including salt, pepper, and other spices, and then fried until they develop a crispy, golden-brown coating. Despite its name, there’s no chicken involved in the dish; it’s called “chicken fried” due to its similarity in preparation to fried chicken.
Chicken Fried Steak
At its core, chicken fried steak is a simple yet delectable dish. Tenderized beef cutlets are dipped in a seasoned flour mixture, often including salt, pepper, and other spices, and then fried until they develop a crispy, golden-brown coating. Despite its name, there’s no chicken involved in the dish; it’s called “chicken fried” due to its similarity in preparation to fried chicken.
The magic of chicken fried steak lies in the contrast between the crunchy exterior and the succulent, juicy meat within. The initial bite reveals a burst of flavors – the savory beef melded with the delightful crunch of the coating – a combination that has enchanted taste buds for generations.
To elevate this hearty dish further, chicken fried steak is commonly served with a generous ladle of creamy country gravy. The rich, smooth gravy complements the crispy steak, adding another layer of flavor and indulgence. Additionally, traditional side dishes such as creamy mashed potatoes, buttery cornbread, and steamed vegetables often accompany the chicken fried steak, creating a wholesome and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
- Cubed steaks
- Flour
- Eggs
- Whole milk
- Sour cream
Keep scrolling to find a full, printable recipe with a detailed ingredient list.
Recipe Instructions
- Prepare the steaks: Unpack the cubed steak, pat dry with a paper towel, and pound between plastic wrap until they are about 1/4 inch thick. Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of the steaks.
- Coat the steaks: In a shallow bowl, mix flour, salt, paprika, ground black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. In a separate shallow bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, and sour cream until well combined. Coat each steak in the flour mixture, then dip it in the egg mixture, and coat again in the flour mixture. Shake off excess coating.
- Fry the steaks: Pour frying oil into a pan, about 1/2 inch, and heat it to 350 degrees F. Fry the coated steaks, 1 or 2 at a time, for 2-4 minutes on each side until the coating turns deep golden brown. Don’t overcrowd the pan to ensure crispy results.
- Drain excess fat: Place the cooked steaks on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat.
- Make the gravy: In a medium-sized saucepan, melt the butter on medium heat. Whisk in the flour to create a paste. Slowly pour in the milk while whisking until the gravy thickens to your desired consistency.
- Serve and enjoy: Pour the gravy over the chicken fried steak, and it’s ready to be served. Enjoy your delicious and comforting meal!
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicken fried steak is a classic dish made from tenderized beef steak coated with seasoned flour and fried until crispy, resembling the texture of fried chicken.
Despite its name, chicken fried steak does not contain chicken. The dish got its name because the preparation method is similar to that of frying chicken.
Chicken fried steak is different from regular steak due to its preparation method. It involves tenderizing the meat and coating it in seasoned flour before frying, which gives it a distinct crispy texture.
Traditional side dishes served with chicken fried steak include creamy mashed potatoes, country gravy, buttery cornbread, and steamed vegetables.
More Recipes
- Crispy Fried Pork Chops
- Classic Homemade Mashed Potatoes
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
If you’ve tried this Chicken Fried Steak recipe or any other recipe on Bless This Mess, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some pictures of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories.
Chicken Fried Steak Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cubed steaks, (about 1 pound total)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup milk, (whole milk recommended)
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- Oil for frying, (about a quart)
For the Gravy
- 4 tablespoons butter OR oil from the frying pan, (I prefer using butter as it will be a thicker sauce and sometimes the cooking oil tastes a little old after frying the steaks)
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 1 ½ to 2 cups milk
Instructions
- Unpack the cubed steak and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Place the steak between 2 layers of plastic wrap and using a mallet (or a rolling pin), pound the steak until they are about 1/4 of an inch thick.
- Add a light sprinkle of salt and pepper on both sides of the steaks. Place the steak on a plate. Set aside.
- In a shallow bowl large enough to fit your pounded out steaks, mix the flour, salt, paprika, ground black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Mix well. Set aside.
- In a second shallow bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, and sour cream. Whisk until they are well combined.
- Take one steak, put in the flour mixture, and coat on both sides. Shake excess off.
- Transfer to the egg mixture and coat on both sides. Shake excess off.
- Finally, put the steak back in the flour mixture and coat on both sides. Shake excess off.
- Place the steak on a plate while you re-do steps 6,7, and 8 for each steak.
- Pour frying oil into a pan, about 1/2 inch.
- Heat the oil to 350 degrees F.
- Place the steak, 1 or 2 at a time, in the oil. Fry for 2-4 minutes on each side. The coating should deep golden brown.
- Depending on the size of your pan, don’t overcrowd the pan, it will decrease the oil temperature too much, which may result in a soggy, not crispy steak.
- Place the cooked steak on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat.
- You can place the cooked steaks in a 200 degree F. oven to keep warm while you make the gravy.
- In a medium-size saucepan, add the butter.
- Melt the butter on medium heat. Add the flour and whisk to create a paste.
- *NOTE* You can use the same pan you just fried in, just pour the oil out first. You can also use 4 tablespoons of the cooking oil instead of butter.
- Pour the milk slowly while whisking. (1 ½ cups if you like the gravy a bit thicker)
- Cook on medium heat until the gravy thickens.
- Pour the gravy over the chicken fried steak.
- Serve and Enjoy!
Notes
- If the oil is not hot enough, it may result in a soggy steak.
- Side dish: Serve with mashed potatoes or steamed vegetables.
- Storage: Once it has cooled off, place it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Re-warm: In the air fryer at 330 degrees F for 3 to 4 minutes
- In the egg mixture, I add milk and sour cream, you can substitute this with buttermilk as well.
- Have fun with the recipe: Make it spicy: Add some chili powder or red pepper flakes to the flour mixture.
Nutrition
Chicken fried steak is the epitome of comfort food, capturing hearts with its irresistible blend of crispy texture, savory flavors, and nostalgic appeal, making it a beloved classic that continues to bring joy to countless tables across the nation.
