Chicken Fried Steak (Printable)

Crispy breaded steak with creamy white gravy, a beloved Southern comfort dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ For the Steak

01 - 4 beef cube steaks (about 5-6 oz each)
02 - 1 cup (4.4 oz) all-purpose flour
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 1 cup (8 fl oz) whole milk
05 - 1 cup (2.1 oz) breadcrumbs
06 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
08 - 1 teaspoon paprika
09 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
10 - 1 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
12 - Vegetable oil, for frying

→ For the Creamy White Gravy

13 - 3 tablespoons pan drippings (from frying) or unsalted butter
14 - 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
15 - 2 cups (16 fl oz) whole milk
16 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ For the Garnish

17 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Pat the cube steaks dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
02 - Arrange three shallow bowls: first with flour mixed with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper; second with beaten eggs and 1/2 cup milk whisked together; third with breadcrumbs.
03 - Dredge each steak in the seasoned flour, shaking off excess. Dip into the egg mixture, then coat with breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere.
04 - Pour vegetable oil into a large skillet to reach about 1/2 inch depth. Heat over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking.
05 - Cook steaks in batches for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Keep warm in a low oven if necessary.
06 - Pour off all but 3 tablespoons of oil from the skillet. Add flour and whisk constantly for 1 minute over medium heat to create a roux.
07 - Gradually whisk in the milk while scraping up browned bits from the bottom. Continue whisking and cook for 3-5 minutes until gravy thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
08 - Plate the chicken fried steaks immediately, generously topped with creamy white gravy. Sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • That magical shatter when your knife breaks through the crispy coating into tender beef inside
  • The gravy transforms everything it touches into pure comfort food heaven
02 -
  • Letting the breaded steaks rest for ten minutes before frying helps the coating actually stay put instead of sliding off
  • Your gravy might look too thin at first but it will thicken as it cools, so do not panic and keep whisking
03 -
  • Ask your butcher to run cube steaks through the tenderizer twice for extra soft results
  • Season your final gravy generously because unseasoned gravy breaks my heart
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