Description
Whipping up classic chicken fried steak with country gravy brings Southern comfort right to your dinner table, where crispy breaded beef meets creamy, peppered gravy for a truly satisfying meal that feels like a warm hug from home.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 beef cube steaks
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup milk
- Vegetable oil
Support Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Gravy Ingredients:
- ¼ cup pan drippings or butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Mix 1 cup flour with 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder in a shallow dish to create your seasoned coating.
- Whisk 2 large eggs with ½ cup milk in a separate shallow dish to prepare your dipping liquid.
- Thoroughly coat each beef cube steak in the flour mixture, then dunk into the egg mixture, and roll again in flour for a thick, crispy exterior.
- Pour vegetable oil to ¼ inch depth in a large skillet and heat to 375°F over medium-high heat until oil shimmers and looks glossy.
- Carefully place steaks into hot oil, cooking 3-4 minutes per side until exterior turns deep golden brown with a crunchy texture.
- Transfer fried steaks to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil and keep the coating crisp.
- Without cleaning the skillet, add ¼ cup pan drippings or butter and melt over medium heat for 1 minute.
- Sprinkle ¼ cup flour into the drippings, whisking constantly for 2 minutes to create a smooth roux.
- Slowly stream 2 cups milk into the roux, stirring continuously until gravy thickens to a creamy consistency, about 5-7 minutes.
- Season gravy with salt and pepper, then generously ladle over the crispy steaks just before serving.
Notes
- Tenderize the cube steak by pounding it gently before coating to ensure a more delicate texture and even cooking.
- Use buttermilk instead of regular milk in the egg wash for extra tenderness and a subtle tangy flavor.
- Keep the oil temperature consistent around 350°F to achieve a crispy, golden-brown crust without burning the breading.
- For a gluten-free version, swap wheat flour with rice flour or cornstarch and use gluten-free milk alternatives in the gravy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Fried
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 180 mg