Chicken Fried Steak with Gravy has never been this good! This Southern classic is easy to make and perfectly seasoned. Enjoy with mashed potatoes and green beans for a savory dinner any night of the week.
Homemade Chicken Fried Steak with Gravy
This easy chicken fried steak with gravy recipe is one of my favorite Southern comfort food recipes. It’s easy to make and so flavorful, with tender cube steak dredged in seasoned flour and fried to golden crispy perfection. The white gravy on top just takes it to a whole new level. This is better than anything you’ll order in a restaurant!
I love to serve this for dinner with some mashed potatoes and green beans, though you can go the breakfast route and serve it up with some eggs instead. Either way, it will become a staple in your recipe box!
Why Is It Called Chicken Fried Steak?
The name “chicken fried steak” simply refers to how the dish is prepared. Cube steak is seasoned, battered, and deep fried – just like chicken. There’s not actually any chicken in the recipe!
What’s The Difference Between Chicken Fried Steak and Country Fried Steak?
Chicken fried steak and country fried steak are two very similar dishes featuring seasoned, battered, and fried beef. What makes them different is the gravy. Chicken fried steak is usually topped with a white gravy, while country fried steak features brown gravy. Though notice I said “usually” because some restaurants will use the two names interchangeably with the same gravy.
Recipe Ingredients
Both the steak and the gravy require just a few ingredients. See the recipe card below for measurements.
For the steak:
- Cube steaks – Cube steaks are steaks that have already been tenderized at the store. The texture looks a bit like ground beef but it’s still steak. If you can’t find any, you can use flank or skirt steak but you’ll need to use a meat tenderizer on it first.
- All-purpose flour – For breading the steak.
- Spices – Salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and paprika season this classic dish.
- Eggs – For the egg wash.
- Milk – I used whole milk. You could use half & half or heavy cream instead.
- Vegetable oil – You can use any frying oil, like grapeseed, canola, peanut, or sunflower oil.
For the gravy:
- Butter – Adds a rich flavor to the gravy.
- Flour – Helps to thicken the gravy.
- Whole milk – Gives the gravy a creamy white base.
- Salt & pepper
How to Make Chicken Fried Steak with Gravy
Here’s how to make this Southern classic in a few easy steps.
- Prepare the egg wash. Whisk together the flour and seasonings in a bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk.
- Dredge the steak. Dip the steak into the flour mixture, pressing it in a bit. Shake off any excess. Dip into the egg mixture then again into the flour.
- Fry the steak. Heat the oil to 350F in a cast iron pan. Fry one or two steaks at a time for 2 to 3 minutes per side. Place on a paper towel-lined plate and repeat with the remaining steaks.
- Make the gravy. Melt the butter over medium-heat. Stir in the flour. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then whisk in the milk. Cook until thickened. Stir in the salt and pepper.
- Enjoy. Serve the steaks with gravy. Enjoy!
Tips for Success
Here are a few helpful tips and suggestions for making the best chicken fried steak.
- Add an even layer of flour. When dredging the steak in flour, you can use your fingers to press it in a bit. You want a pretty thick but even layer of flour to get that classic breading texture.
- Don’t crowd the pan. Never fry more than 1 or 2 steaks at a time as you won’t get the crispy outside or golden brown color you’re after if the pans are crowded.
- Flip the steaks only once. Before flipping your chicken fried steak, be sure that it’s nicely browned on the first side.
- Keep the steaks warm. The easiest way to keep the steaks warm is simply to loosely cover them in foil while you finish cooking the rest and make the gravy.
What to Serve With This Easy Chicken Fried Steak
The classic way to serve chicken fried steak with gravy is with mashed potatoes and vegetables, like green beans or broccoli. Amish brown butter potatoes are a tasty twist on basic mashed potatoes and scalloped potatoes are another option.
Some diners will serve chicken fried steak with gravy as a breakfast dish, with some fried eggs and hashbrowns. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or breakfast for dinner!
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
You’ll want to store the leftovers separately. Chicken fried steaks are best when enjoyed freshly cooked but they can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to maintain the crispy outer layer.
Gravy can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days. Reheat on the stovetop or the microwave, adding a splash of milk if needed to thin it out a bit.
More Comfort Food Classics:
- Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits
- Crockpot Chicken and Gravy
- Stovetop Stuffing Meatloaf
- Beef Tips and Rice
Chicken Fried Steak with Gravy
Ingredients
For the steak:
- 4 Cube Steaks (About 1 ½ lbs)
- 1 ¼ cups All Purpose Flour
- ½ tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 tsp Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
- ¼ tsp Cayenne Pepper
- ½ tsp Paprika
- 2 eggs beaten
- ½ cup whole milk
- Vegetable Oil for Frying
For the gravy:
- 3 Tbsp Butter
- 3 Tbsp All Purpose Flour
- 2 Cups Whole Milk
- ½ tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 ½ tsp Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
Instructions
For the steak:
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and seasonings and set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and whole milk.
- To bread the cube steaks, first dredge in flour making sure to press into the flour to coat, shake off any excess and dip into the egg mixture, then dredge into the flour once more, pressing in to get an even coating, shake off any excess and set aside. Repeat with remaining cube steaks.
- In a cast iron pan or dutch oven, pour enough vegetable oil in the pan so that it is at least 2 inches deep. Heat the pan over medium high heat to bring the oil to 350℉ for frying.
- Fry the steak one or two at a time, until the edges look golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove the steaks from the oil and rest on a paper towel lined plate, repeat with the remaining steaks. Keep the steaks warm by loosely covering in foil white you make the gravy.
For the gravy:
- In a non-stick pan, melt the butter over medium heat and stir in the flour. Continue cooking the flour over for 2-3 minutes to take out the flour taste. Whisk in the milk and continue cooking over medium heat until thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the salt and pepper.
- Serve the steaks with the gravy and enjoy! Best served with mashed potatoes and vegetables.
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1 thought on “Chicken Fried Steak with Gravy”
Perfection!