Chicken Fried Steak Recipe (2024)

Published: Aug 12, 2019 by Kelly Anthony · 51 CommentsThis post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

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Leave it to Texans to take beef to the next level. Chicken Fried Steak is at the tippy top of the Southern comfort food hierarchy, and for good reason. Tender cube steaks, breaded and fried to golden perfection, topped with creamy Country Gravy, and served alongside a heaping pile of buttery Mashed Potatoes are fairly irresistible.

This is the Ultimate Chicken Fried Steak Recipe. Perfectly seasoned and boasting the idealbeef to batter ratio. A budget-friendly, quick-fix dinner the entire family will love!

WHAT IS CHICKEN FRIED STEAK MADE OF?

Just like fried chicken, Chicken Fried Steak (also known as Country Fried Steak) is made using the same process as fried chicken -- hence the "chicken fried" portion of the name. To make this dish you'll need tenderized cube steaks, a dredge, and oil for frying. If you want to stretch your cube steaks a little further, you can cut them into strips and make handheld, perfectly dippable Steak Fingers!

CHICKEN FRIED STEAK MEAT

The cut of meat used for Chicken Fried Steaks is packaged and labeled as cube steak. Cube steaks come from a much larger cut of beef called beef chuck.

Beef chuck hails from the neck and shoulder area of the cow. Because this is an area that gets a lot of action, beef chuck is a fairly tough cut of meat. Because of this, the beef chuck is cut into thin slices and tenderized. Thinly sliced, tenderized pieces of beef chuck are cube steaks.

CHICKEN FRIED STEAK BATTER

Chicken Fried Steak batter is very similar to fried chicken batter, and undergoes a dredging process before going into the oil. You'll start with seasoned flour and a milk and egg mixture.

For an extra crunchy breading, add crushed Saltine crackers to the dry mix! The crushed saltines give the batter an easy upgrade in the crust department, making it extra crunchy and completely addictive.

CHICKEN FRIED STEAK GRAVY

Chicken Fried Steak Gravy is also known as White Country Gravy or Country Gravy. It starts with a roux, but don't let that word scare you off. A roux is just a combination of butter and flour cooked together on the stovetop. You’ll also need milk,salt, andpepper.

The gravy is extremely easy to make: Melt the butter, whisk in the flour, add warmed milk a splash at a time, and allow the mixture to simmer. Once it has thickened, add the seasoning and serve!

HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN FRIED STEAK

Prep and Season the Steaks - Pat the excess moisture from the steaks using a paper towel. Sprinkle evenly with Kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Assemble Dredging Station - You will need 3 breading trays, shallow dishes or bowls for your dredging station. The first tray will consist of a simple seasoned flour -- flour, salt, and pepper. The second tray will milk, eggs, and a dash of hot sauce. Lastly, the third tray will consist of seasoned flour, as well as finely crushed Saltine crackers.
Heat the Oil - For the perfect Chicken Fried Steak batter, it's important that your oil is at the right temperature before adding your steaks. Add the canola oil to a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, and allow to come to temperature (350°-375°).
Bread the Steaks - One at a time, dredge the steaks in the seasoned flour, then submerge in the egg mixture, followed by a thorough coating in the cracker mixture.
Fry - Add the steaks to the hot oil, and take care not to crowd the skillet. Fry for 2 minutes on each side, until crispy and golden on each side. Then, transfer to a cooling rack over paper towels.
Make the Gravy - In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk until combined. Then, add milk a generous splash at a time, whisking after each addition until all of the milk has been incorporated. Allow the sauce to bubble for about 5 minutes.

TIPS FOR MAKING CHICKEN FRIED STEAK

Don't leave all the seasoning to the breading! Show a little love to those cube steaks as well! Season the meat before you begin the dredging process.
Use finely crushed Saltine Crackers in your batter for extra crunch and flavor!
Use a thermometer to ensure your oil is between 350° and 375° before adding your steaks to the pan. You could use a candy thermometer, a digital thermometer, or (our favorite) an infrared thermometer!
Nothing beats cast iron for even heat distribution, which is ideal for frying! The cast iron will ensure your oil stays as close to a constant temperature as it can get. Use a cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven for heating your oil and frying your Chicken Fried Steak!
Rather than placing your meat directly from the oil to a plate lined with a paper towel, place them on a cooling rack instead. The cooling rack will keep your breading from getting soggy while you make the gravy.
For a smooth and creamy Chicken Fried Steak Gravy, make sure you warm the milk before splashing it into the roux!

4.57 from 51 votes

Chicken Fried Steak with Country Gravy

Prep Time

25 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

40 mins

How to make perfect chicken fried steak. This recipe features breaded cube steaks, fried and topped with an easy homemade country gravy.

Course:Main Course

Cuisine:American

Keyword:Chicken Fried Steak

Servings: 6

Calories: 732 kcal

Author: Kelly Anthony

Ingredients

Chicken Fried Steaks Ingredients

2pounds tenderized cube steaks
2 ½cupsall-purpose flour, separated
3 ½teaspoonsKosher salt, separated
2teaspoonsblack pepper, separated
1teaspoongarlic powder
½ teaspoononion powder
2large eggs, slightly beaten
⅔cupwhole milk
3dasheshot sauce
16Saltine crackers, crushed
2 cupscanola oil

Country Gravy Ingredients

3tablespoonsunsalted butter
3tablespoonsall-purpose flour
2cupswhole milkpreferably warmed
1teaspoonKosher salt
½teaspoonblack pepper

Instructions

For the Chicken Fried Steaks

Pat the excess moisture from the steaks using a paper towel. Sprinkle evenly with 2 teaspoons Kosher salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon onion powder. Pat to adhere and set aside.
Prepare your dredgingstation by setting out 3 rimmed trays or pie plates.In the first tray, mix together 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and a ½ teaspoon pepper. In the second tray, lightly whisk together eggs, milk, and hot sauce.For the third tray, combine 1 ½ cup flour, finely crushed saltine crackers, ½ teaspoon salt, and a ½ teaspoon pepper.
Add the canola oil to a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, and allow to come to temperature (350°-375°).Have ready a large rimmed baking sheet, lined with paper towels. Place a cooling rack over the paper towels.
One at a time, dredge the steaks in the seasoned flour, then submerge in the egg mixture, followed by a thorough coating in the cracker mixture.
Add the steaks to the hot oil, taking care not to crowd the skillet. Fry for 2 minutes on each side or until crispy and golden-brown. Transfer to the cooling rack and make the gravy.

For the Country Gravy

In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk until combined. Allow to bubble for 1-2 minutes, but do not allow to brown.
Add milk a generous splash at a time, whisking after each addition until all of the milk has been incorporated. Allow the sauce to bubble for 5-7 minutes, just until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper. Serve and enjoy.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

To quickly warm your milk for the gravy, place it in a microwave safe measuring pitcher and heat for 45 seconds to 1 minute.

The cooling rack will help to prevent the bottom of the steaks from becoming soggy while you finish frying the others.

Nutrition Facts

Chicken Fried Steak with Country Gravy

Amount Per Serving

Calories 732Calories from Fat 324

% Daily Value*

Fat 36g55%

Saturated Fat 13g81%

Cholesterol 189mg63%

Sodium 1212mg53%

Potassium 779mg22%

Carbohydrates 56g19%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 43g86%

Vitamin A 485IU10%

Calcium 229mg23%

Iron 7mg39%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

Marlee says
January 08, 2018 at 8:18 pm
Chicken Fried Steak gives me the feel goods! I love this!
Reply
Gloria says
August 20, 2018 at 10:12 pm
I have NEVER tried chicken fried steak. What an interesting concept. I know for sure this would be a crowd pleaser for dinner. I will have to give this a try next time we have all the kids home for dinner.
Reply
Vanessa says
August 21, 2018 at 1:19 am
When I first moved to the US, I had no idea what Chicken Fried Steak was! My co-workers were laughing when I asked all confused "it's fried chicken but beef? huh? explain again please?" Presently, it is one of my favorite foods to eat! Thanks for the informative narrative and recipe. It looks delicious!
Reply
Dikla Fances says
August 21, 2018 at 1:55 am
I never tried Chicken Fried Steaks and was sure it is chicken....lol!
It looks so crispy and good! great idea for midweek dinner question! You made it seem very easy hope I can deliver! 🙂
Reply
- Kelly Anthony says
  August 21, 2018 at 6:15 pm
  I've no doubt you can! Thank you, Dikla!
  Reply
Michelle says
August 21, 2018 at 1:43 pm
MMMMM the kids love chicken fried steak, I am going to have to make this for them this weekend!
Reply
Amanda says
August 21, 2018 at 6:32 pm
That breading looks absolutely perfect! It's been way too long since I've had a good chicken fried steak. I'll definitely have to try this recipe ASAP.
Reply
- Kelly Anthony says
  August 22, 2018 at 3:55 pm
  Thank you, Amanda!
  Reply
Stine Mari says
August 21, 2018 at 7:46 pm
You painted a beautiful picture of what a Texan is, I loved it! And that chicken looks amazing!
Reply
Stacy Streuli says
August 21, 2018 at 8:12 pm
this Fort Worth native is always down for a good CFS! I gain about 10 lbs every time I head back to Texas 😉
Reply
- Kelly Anthony says
  August 22, 2018 at 3:55 pm
  Ha! I'm always down for Chicken Fried Steak as well 😉
  Reply
Tara says
August 22, 2018 at 1:45 am
It looks so crispy! What a great idea to use crushed saltines in the breading - that's not something I've seen before. I bet it adds that extra crunch!
Reply
- Kelly Anthony says
  August 22, 2018 at 3:54 pm
  It really does! Thank you so much, Tara!
  Reply
Linda says
August 24, 2018 at 4:34 am
Oh yum! I can see why this is the best chicken fried steak! My hubs is a huge fan of this dish and I can't wait to try this recipe from a true Texan 🙂
Reply
Adriana Lopez Martin says
August 24, 2018 at 4:29 pm
Indeed this is pure comfort all my favorites in one bite. Texan food is so good. I love the idea of using the cheese too. I am a cheese lover so pretty much I will need to make this asap. My family will love it!
Reply
Jacqueline Debono says
August 25, 2018 at 2:26 pm
Not being from US, I did think that this was a recipe for chicken when I read the title!Sounds so good. Have never breaded steak. Have to try it!
Reply
Stephanie Simmons says
August 26, 2018 at 1:21 am
See Also
The BEST Grilled Beef Tenderloin and Rub Recipe
I absolutely love fried chicken! This sounds perfect as we get into the fall weather - for some reason I just crave fried chicken in the fall! 🙂
Reply
Chef Mireille says
August 28, 2018 at 5:19 pm
I'll never forget the first time I had chicken fried steak at a southern style restaurant when I was attending college in Albuquerque - this is bringing me back to so many memories there!
Reply
Kate says
September 18, 2018 at 12:22 pm
Saltine crackers sound perfect for these chicken fried steaks! I love the thought of them with country gravy.
Reply
Claudia Lamascolo says
September 18, 2018 at 12:37 pm
Well doesnt this make anyones mouth water! Wow what awesome looking fried steak!
Reply
Lauren Vavala @ Delicious Little Bites says
September 18, 2018 at 1:12 pm
My fiance and I were just talking about what exactly chicken fried steak is - neither of us knew, but I want to try it! Just came across this recipe and bookmarking it for SOON!
Reply
- Kelly Anthony says
  September 18, 2018 at 1:38 pm
  Oh yay! Ha! Perfect timing 🙂 Love that!!!
  Reply
Lisa | Garlic & Zest says
September 18, 2018 at 1:24 pm
I've never had chicken fried steak before. I've heard of it, but never tasted it -- but it looks like it would be the ultimate comfort food. I'm gonna have to save up my calories for this one! Getting out my cast iron skillet!
Reply
Amy | The Cook Report says
September 18, 2018 at 3:24 pm
Can't believe how wonderfully crispy this looks!
Reply
dee says
March 04, 2019 at 9:54 pm
My family loves chicken fried steak but I alway manage to make it taste like rubber....so happy I found this awesome post!!!! Thank you for sharing!
Reply
- Kelly Anthony says
  March 04, 2019 at 9:57 pm
  Oh yay! Thanks, Dee!
  Reply
Lesli Schwartz says
March 05, 2019 at 12:15 am
Can you believe I live in the south and still have never had a chicken fried steak? That's insane! Will have to make this homemade, I'm sure it's better than anything in a restaurant! 🙂
Reply
- Kelly Anthony says
  March 05, 2019 at 1:33 pm
  Shocked! Oh, yes -- you definitely need to try! It's such a treat. Thank you, Lesli 🙂
  Reply
Gloria says
March 05, 2019 at 1:22 am
Looks like one super crispy chicken dinner. So much better than KFC!! I know my family would devour this in a flash.
Reply
Sophia says
March 07, 2019 at 12:12 am
Oh my gosh, this looks sooo good!! What a classic recipe, and the steaks are fried perfectly! Yum!!
Reply
- Kelly Anthony says
  March 07, 2019 at 10:11 pm
  Thank you, Sophia!
  Reply
Stine Mari says
March 07, 2019 at 12:01 pm
I have never tried chicken fried steak before, but it looks so crispy and delicious! Comfort food at its finest!
Reply
Danielle Wolter says
March 07, 2019 at 1:27 pm
I am from texas and love me a chicken fried steak. i live in CA now and it is so hard to find it in restaurants! I def need to start making it at home. great recipe!
Reply
- Kelly Anthony says
  March 07, 2019 at 10:10 pm
  Thank you, Danielle!
  Reply
Byron Thomas says
March 09, 2019 at 1:01 pm
I've never tried chicken fried steak before. I think it's predominately a southern American dish. Here in Canada, it's not something that is easy to find. It's absolutely something I would try to make at home though! I think I'd quite enjoy it!
Reply
Kacie Morgan says
March 09, 2019 at 2:41 pm
I'm always looking for new ways to get creative with chicken and this recipe has really taken my fancy! The crispy batter around the chicken looks so inviting.
Reply
Geetanjali Tung says
March 09, 2019 at 3:42 pm
The fried sticks look crispy and absolutely yummy. Me and my family love chicken so much. This will be definitely loved by them. Thanks for sharing!
Reply
Celeste says
March 10, 2019 at 2:49 am
This Chicken Fried Steak recipe takes me back to my childhood. I can remember having it for dinner with my family. This looks crispy and delicious.
Reply
- Kelly Anthony says
  March 12, 2019 at 12:15 pm
  Aw, I love that! Thank you, Celeste!
  Reply
Cheese Curd In Paradise says
March 10, 2019 at 4:25 am
The first time I had chicken fried steak I was hooked! I like the crispy texture and all of the flavor from the meat. I love a little gravy for dipping as well.
Reply
Jori says
March 11, 2019 at 4:07 am
Yum! I love chicken fried steak. My husband is from The South and he introduced me to them. Your recipe looks so simple and delicious. I'll have to taste test this with him 🙂
Reply
April says
March 11, 2019 at 12:37 pm
That gravy is usually working miracles for me! Especially when we are talking about chicken (yes, I said it!). This chicken fried steak recipe seems perfect - everything is just the way I like it!
Reply
Mimi says
March 11, 2019 at 12:38 pm
Bread cube steaks sound amazing! I think this recipe will work great for my party next week. Loving the texture and can only imagine the taste - it must be incredible!
Reply
Lathiya says
March 11, 2019 at 9:38 pm
The chicken fried steak is a must in my to do list now..it looks finger licking good...I love fried chicken and book marking this recipe
Reply
Maman de sara says
March 11, 2019 at 11:36 pm
I live in Texas and I have never tried Chicken fried steak (I thought it’s chicken though). That looks crispy and yummy.
Reply
Kari Heron says
March 19, 2019 at 3:05 pm
I see why it's called chicken fried steak... it LOOKS like chicken when its done! Like I had to read to know it was beef under that batter! Must be yummy and moist! Texans definitely do American soul food well. Been spending my last two summers in Texas and will be back for a third this year.
Reply
Geoffrey says
April 25, 2019 at 8:34 pm
WOW that fried coating on there looks soooo delicious. I can't wait to make this and sink my teeth into that piece of meat
Reply
ilona says
April 25, 2019 at 10:03 pm
I always remember chicken steak from the restaurant that I went long time ago. Such a delicious dinner, I should make it someday!
Reply
Stephanie says
April 25, 2019 at 10:13 pm
I'm all about comfort food but I've never had chicken fried steak... Didn't know what it was till now. But I'm sure it has to be tasty fried in the cast iron skillet.
Reply
Sharon says
April 26, 2019 at 12:03 am
One of my favorite comfort food dishes. I love how easy this is to make, looks so good!
Reply
Tisha says
April 26, 2019 at 1:36 am
This is calling my name! I am a huge comfort food eater and this is my favorite!
Reply

FAQs

How do you keep batter from falling off chicken-fried steak? ›

Pat the Steak Dry: Before coating the steak with flour or batter, pat it dry with paper towels. Excess moisture on the surface of the meat can prevent the breading from sticking. Season and Flour the Steak Properly: Season the steak with salt and pepper before dredging it in flour.

What is the secret to frying steak? ›

Only when the oil is shimmering and just about to smoke are you allowed to add the steak. Putting the steak in the pan before it's screaming hot will lead to overcooking and, you guessed it, a tough steak. — Let it rest. You've heard it a thousand times before, but it is always worth repeating.

Learn More ›

How do you keep chicken-fried steak from getting soggy? ›

What is this? Another very important tip is to place a cooling rack on a baking sheet and place the pan-fried steaks onto the rack before going into the oven. This will keep the bottoms from getting soggy while cooking the remaining steaks, and while finishing them off in the oven.

Why is my chicken-fried steak sticking to the pan? ›

Make sure the oil is hot or else the meat will stick to bottom of pan. Turn meat once, the more you play with it the more likely the coating will come off. Don't overload the pan, which cools the fat and you get poor quality. Once cooked, hold on wire rack in oven to keep crisp and hot.

Learn More Now ›

Should you let breaded chicken rest before frying? ›

Evenly-breaded fried chicken is best coated with a buttermilk mixture, then coated in a dry breading before frying. Now, that's no mystery, but what you might not know is that it's important to allow the chicken to rest before frying so the coating has a chance to hydrate and get a little sticky.

Show Me More ›

Which of the following will create the crispiest batter for frying? ›

Use Cornstarch or Rice Flour

Michael says that cornstarch or rice flour in combo with flour will give you the crunchiest batter.

Explore More ›

Why won t breading stick to chicken? ›

You don't start dry

The first step to breading chicken is crucial: Make sure the chicken is completely dry before starting the dredging process. Using a paper towel, pat the meat dry on all sides. Excess moisture will cause the flour to get soggy, meaning it will not adhere properly to the chicken.

Tell Me More ›

Why is my fried chicken batter fall off? ›

The more you touch the chicken with tongs, the more likely the breading is to fall off. The key here is to be patient. As soon as you see a golden rim appear around the side of the chicken that is submerged in oil, feel free to flip it. Be cautious not to touch or turn the chicken too much.

Keep Reading ›

Why does breading fall off chicken fried steak? ›

Breading falls off because of two reasons. Not allowing the batter to sit on the steak and adhere (transforming into an almost dough) before frying, and the frying oil not being hot enough. You should always use a thermometer to manage the heat of the oil in your skillet.

How do you keep batter from falling off when frying? ›

Seal the plate gently with a length or two of plastic cling wrap. Don't pull it too tight, but make sure that all of the edges are sealed. Place the plate into the refrigerator and let the food sit for at least 60 minutes. This helps the coating to harden a bit, which will keep it on the food.

Find Out More ›

How do you keep batter from falling off? ›

Always dip your chicken in beaten egg before coating

Dipping your chicken in egg helps the breadcrumbs, or whatever coating you use, adhere evenly to the outside of the cutlet. You should start with a thin layer of flour, which gives the egg a better surface to cling to, then the egg, then the coating.