Chicken Fried Steak – Immaculate Bites

What Is Chicken Fried Steak?

Contrary to its name, Chicken Fried Steak, or CFS, has no chicken. Yep! Sorry, folks. It is a Southern favorite dish made with fried tenderized beef steak coated in seasoned flour and slathered with a creamy sauce.

Why is it called chicken fried steak, then? You might ask. Read along, and we’ll get to that later. 😉

Recipe Ingredients

This recipe is an excellent alternative to expensive steak if you want to enjoy steak without the hefty price tag. Such a winning dish, indeed!

1. Cube Steak – It’s the best choice for this recipe as it has already been mechanically tenderized, making it tender even with minimal cooking time. You can also tenderize any beef cut with a meat mallet.
2. Breading – I prefer using a mix of all-purpose flour and cornstarch for the breading to get the superior crispiness – crunchy yet light to bite. Gluten-free all-purpose flour will also work.
3. Seasoning – Complete the CFS’s Southern flavors with Creole seasoning, paprika, thyme, parsley, onion, and garlic powder. A little cayenne pepper will give you extra sassiness. 👌
4. Milk – It moistens and tenderizes the steak while keeping the breading intact. Plus, it gives a nice golden color when fried.
5. Gravy – Save the drippings and extra breading because throwing them out is a waste when they have all the additional flavors you need for the creamy sauce. Mix them with milk, and we’re all set for a luscious fried steak gravy. ❤️

How to Make Chicken Fried Steak

Make the Chicken Fried Steaks

• Dry and Cover – If making your own cube steaks, pat the steak dry with paper towels. Then place one steak at a time on a chopping board covered with a plastic bag.
• Flatten and Season – Pound with a meat pounder or small skillet until it reaches an even ⅛-¼-inch thickness. Season with salt and then Cajun seasoning, and set aside.
• Flour Mixture – Whisk the flour, cornstarch, paprika, onion and garlic powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, thyme, and parsley in a large bowl. (Photos 1-2)
• Coat – Dredge the cube steak in the flour mixture, followed by milk. Then again, in the flour mixture. Coat steak well, pressing seasoned flour all over to help it adhere to the meat, and shake off any excess flour. (Photos 3-6)
• Heat the Oil – Pour enough oil into the skillet to cover the bottom by about a ¼ inch. Heat the oil to 350°F/177℃; it’s ready when it sizzles. Oil should be smoke-free. Adjust heat temperatures to accommodate temperature.
• Fry – Gently place the floured steak into the oil. Fry for about 2-3 minutes per side or until the edges of the steak turn golden brown. Remove with a large spatula; hold for a few seconds to let the oil drain. Remove from pan; drain on paper towels. Keep warm. (Photo 7)

Make the Gravy

• The Roux – Pour the oil out of the pan and clean the pan if desired. Then add about 3 tablespoons of oil back to the skillet. Whisk in ¼ cup of leftover flour. Continue whisking until flour is thoroughly mixed with oil, then cook for about a minute to eliminate the flour taste. (Photo 8)
• Add Milk– Slowly add milk a little at a time; you do not want the mixture to form lumps. Bring to a simmer, then turn down to medium heat so it simmers gently and thickens into a cream sauce – about 8 to 10 minutes. (Photo 9-10)
• Serve – Pour warm gravy over country-fried steaks. Sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired.

Recipe Variations

1. Meat Swap – Aside from cube steak, sirloin tip, bottom round, and eye round steak also work for this recipe. It also works on pork, chicken, and seafood. You’ll be surprised how versatile this recipe is. Creamy gravy for the win!
2. Buttermilk – For extra tenderizing effect and flavor, go for buttermilk instead of milk.
3. Irresistibly Cheesy – Yay for cheese lovers! Adding grated parmesan, cheddar, mozzarella, or any of your favorite cheeses on top will instantly elevate this dish.
4. Add Veggies – Because why not? Toss in some mushrooms, carrots, green peas, bell peppers, and potatoes. Hearty and tasty! ❤️

Tips and Tricks

1. Let the steaks rest on a wire rack for a couple of minutes before frying them so the coating sets and stays intact.
2. You can either deep-fry these babies or pan-fry them if you want to cut back on oil. It works either way.
3. Whole milk or 2% milk works fine for this gravy.
4. Cubed steaks are a tougher and more economical cut of beef, so pound them with a tenderizer for a fabulicious steak dinner.

Make-Ahead Instructions

Prep the beef steak by tenderizing it ahead before placing it in the freezer. But if you prefer storing breaded cube steak instead, you may do so by flash-freezing them on a cookie sheet in a single layer. Then transfer them to an airtight container or freezer-safe resealable bag once frozen. They will keep in the freezer for three months.

When ready to serve, fry them straight from the freezer – no need to thaw them. 😉

Serving and Storage Instructions

Serving – Chicken fried steaks are best served straight from the pan to enjoy the lovely crackle sounds of its crispiness while soaking in their incredibly creamy gravy. Yum!

Storing – Store the steak and the gravy separately so the steaks won’t get soggy. The steaks will last in the fridge for four days and 3-4 months in the freezer. Same with the gravy.

Reheating – Magically restore its crispiness by reheating it at 350℉/177℃ for about three minutes in the air fryer and about 20 minutes in a 400℉/205℃ oven. At the same time, you can reheat the gravy in a skillet or microwave. Add more water or milk if needed.

FAQs

What to Serve With Chicken Fried Steak

This chicken fried steak with creamy, milky gravy is great on special occasions or regular family weeknight meals. Don’t forget to pair it with these fabulous side dishes below for a satisfying and comforting combo.

1. Mashed Potatoes
2. Green Beans and Bacon
3. Southern Fried Corn
4. Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
5. 3-Ingredient Biscuits
6. Brown Gravy

More Mouthwatering Steak Recipes to Try

1. Pepper Steak
2. Steak Tips
3. Grilled Flank Steak
4. Hamburger Steak and Gravy
5. Spicy Grilled New York Steak

Conclusion

With this recipe, you can enjoy chicken fried steak as much as you like without spending much. Do you have more meal money-saving tips to share? Let me know in the comments! ❤️

Watch How to Make It

This blog post was originally published in August 2018 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.