Clicky
health meal, low carbs meals, keto meal
All Recipes

Classic Chicken Fried Steak Recipe

Classic Chicken Fried Steak is a Southern comfort food staple that features tenderized beef cutlets coated in a seasoned flour mixture, fried until crispy, and smothered in creamy country gravy. This dish is perfect for a hearty dinner that brings warmth and satisfaction to the table. Serve it alongside mashed potatoes and green beans for a true Southern feast.

Table of Contents

Ingredients

For the Chicken Fried Steak

  • 4 beef cube steaks (about 1/2 inch thick)
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • Vegetable oil, for frying

For the Country Gravy

  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Steaks

  1. Place the beef cube steaks between two sheets of plastic wrap and use a meat mallet to pound them to about 1/4 inch thick if necessary.
  2. In a shallow dish, whisk together the flour, salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper (if using).
  3. In another shallow dish, whisk together the eggs and milk.

Step 2: Coat the Steaks

  1. Dredge each cube steak in the seasoned flour, then dip it in the egg mixture, and dredge it again in the flour mixture, pressing the flour onto the steak to ensure it is well coated. Set aside on a plate.

Step 3: Fry the Steaks

  1. In a large skillet, heat about 1/2 inch of vegetable oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C).
  2. Carefully place the coated steaks in the hot oil, frying 2-3 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through.
  3. Remove the steaks from the skillet and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.

Step 4: Make the Country Gravy

  1. Drain all but 2-3 tablespoons of the oil from the skillet, leaving the browned bits in the pan.
  2. Stir in the flour and cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until lightly browned.
  3. Gradually whisk in the milk, stirring constantly until the gravy thickens, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Step 5: Serve

  1. Serve the chicken fried steaks smothered in country gravy. Enjoy with your favorite sides!

Cooking Tips & Notes

  • Cube Steaks: Cube steaks are typically used for chicken fried steak because they are tenderized, but you can also use round steak and tenderize it yourself with a meat mallet.
  • Oil Temperature: Maintaining the oil temperature at around 350°F (175°C) is crucial for getting a crispy coating without making the steak greasy.
  • Gravy Consistency: If the gravy is too thick, add a little more milk until the desired consistency is reached.

Variations

  • Spicy Chicken Fried Steak: Add extra cayenne pepper or a few dashes of hot sauce to the egg mixture for a spicier version.
  • Buttermilk Soak: Soak the cube steaks in buttermilk for an hour before coating to add extra tenderness and flavor.
  • Herbed Gravy: Add 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme or rosemary to the gravy for an herbal twist.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I Use Chicken Instead of Beef?

Yes! You can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Pound them to an even thickness, and follow the same coating and frying process.

2. How Do I Store Leftover Chicken Fried Steak?

Store any leftover chicken fried steak in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until warmed through to maintain crispiness.

WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?

Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox.

Plus you'll get great new recipes from us every week!

3. Can I Make the Gravy Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can make the gravy ahead of time and reheat it on the stovetop, whisking in a little extra milk if needed to reach the desired consistency.

4. What Is the Difference Between Chicken Fried Steak and Country Fried Steak?

Chicken fried steak is typically served with a white, creamy gravy, while country fried steak is often served with brown gravy.

Serving Suggestions

  • Mashed Potatoes: Serve the chicken fried steak with creamy mashed potatoes to soak up all the delicious gravy.
  • Green Beans: Pair with sautéed or steamed green beans for a well-rounded meal.
  • Biscuits: Freshly baked biscuits make a perfect accompaniment to this classic dish.
  • Coleslaw: Add a side of coleslaw for a refreshing contrast to the rich flavors of the steak and gravy.

Classic Chicken Fried Steak is a beloved Southern dish that’s perfect for any comfort food craving. The crispy coating, tender beef, and rich country gravy make this recipe a favorite for both family dinners and special occasions. Serve it with mashed potatoes, green beans, and biscuits for a hearty meal that will have everyone coming back for seconds. Give this recipe a try, and enjoy the comforting flavors of Southern cooking at its best!

WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?

Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox.

Plus you'll get great new recipes from us every week!

 

27,015 Comments

  1. Just wanted to say this was useful and leave a small note of thanks, and a quick visit to apricotharborvault earned a similar nod from me, the small acknowledgements add up over time and represent the real economy of trust that good content runs on across the open and increasingly fragmented modern internet.

  2. Came back to this twice now in the same week which is unusual for me, and a look at apricotharborvault suggested I will keep coming back, the kind of post that earns repeated visits rather than one and done reading is the gold standard for content quality and this site clearly hit that standard.

  3. A nicely understated post that does not shout for attention, and a look at zencoveoutpost maintained the same quiet quality, understatement is a stylistic choice that distinguishes serious writing from attention seeking writing and this site has clearly committed to the understated approach as a core editorial value rather than just a phase.

  4. Adding this to my list of go to references for the topic, and a stop at woodmeadowoutlet confirmed the rest of the site deserves the same, definitely the kind of resource that earns its place rather than getting forgotten the moment the next interesting article shows up in my feed somewhere else on the web.

  5. Closed the tab with a small sense of finality rather than the usual rushed exit, and a stop at zencoveoutpost produced the same considered closing, when reading ends with deliberate satisfaction rather than impatient skip you know the time was well spent and this site is producing those satisfying endings consistently across what I read.

  6. Started imagining how I would explain the topic to someone else after reading, and a look at woodmeadowoutlet gave me more material for that imagined explanation, content that improves my own ability to discuss a topic is content that has actually transferred knowledge rather than just decorating my screen for a few minutes.

  7. Reading this in my last reading slot of the day was a good way to end, and a stop at mythmarket provided a satisfying close to the reading session, content that ends a day well rather than agitating it before sleep is the kind I value increasingly and this site fits that role for me consistently now.

  8. A genuine compliment to the writer for keeping the post focused on what mattered, and a look at quartzorchardvault continued that disciplined focus, focus is a editorial choice that compounds across many small decisions and this site has clearly made those small decisions consistently across what I have read so far this week here.

  9. Worth recognising the absence of the usual blog tropes here, and a look at violettrailartisanmarket continued that fresh quality, sites that avoid the standard moves of the medium read as more original even when the content is on familiar topics and this one has clearly chosen its own path through the conventional terrain skilfully.

  10. Абстинентный синдром обычно начинается после снижения дозы или полного отказа от спиртного. Его характер зависит от стадии алкоголизма, стажа употребления, состояния психики и сопутствующих заболеваний. Особенно важно обратить внимание на резкий тремор, выраженную бессонницу, скачки давления, рвоту, спутанность сознания и необычное поведение. При серьезных нарушениях нужна экстренная медицинская помощь, поскольку тяжелая алкогольная интоксикация и абстиненция могут сопровождаться осложнениями.
    Ознакомиться с деталями – помощь вывод из запоя

  11. Now thinking about how this post will age over the coming years, and a stop at mythmarket suggested the same durability, content built to age well rather than to capture the attention of the moment is content with a different kind of value and this site has clearly chosen the long horizon over the short one.

  12. Found this through a friend who recommended it and now I see why, and a look at mythmarket only strengthened that recommendation in my own mind, word of mouth still works for content that actually delivers and this site is clearly earning recommendations the old fashioned way through quality rather than marketing.

  13. Halfway through reading I knew this would be one to bookmark, and a look at quartzorchardvault confirmed that early intuition, when bookmark intent forms before finishing a post you know the writing has cleared a quality bar that most content fails to clear and this site has cleared it on multiple visits already.

  14. Really grateful for content like this, it does not waste my time and it does not insult my intelligence either, and a quick look at quartzorchardvault was the same, balanced respectful writing that makes a person feel welcome rather than rushed through pages of forced engagement just to keep clicking around.

  15. Took me back a step or two on an assumption I had been making, and a stop at violettrailartisanmarket pushed that reconsideration further, writing that gently corrects the reader without being aggressive about it is a rare diplomatic skill and the team here clearly knows how to land critical points without turning readers off.

  16. Felt the writer was being honest with the reader which is rare enough that I want to acknowledge it, and a look at violettrailartisanmarket continued that honest feel, content built on actual knowledge rather than aggregated summaries is something I value highly and rarely come across in regular searches on the open internet these days.

  17. Started reading expecting to disagree and ended mostly nodding along, and a look at foreststoneemporium continued the pattern, content that wins agreement through evidence and reasoning rather than rhetorical force is the kind that actually shifts minds and this site clearly knows how to do that across what I have read so far.

  18. Once you find a site like this the search for similar voices begins, and a look at foreststoneemporium extended the search energy, finding a high quality reference point makes the gap between it and adjacent sources visible in a way it was not before and this site has provided that high reference point across multiple recent visits.

  19. Easily one of the better explanations I have read on the topic, and a stop at foreststoneemporium pushed it even higher in my mental ranking of useful resources, the kind of site that beats the average not by trying harder but by simply caring more about what it puts out daily which always shows.

  20. I usually skim posts like these but this one held my attention all the way through, and a stop at brighttrailartisanbazaar did the same, that is a strong endorsement coming from me because I am usually quick to bounce when content gets repetitive or fails to deliver on its initial promise made in the headline.

  21. Вывод из запоя в Красноярске — медицинская помощь человеку, которому тяжело самостоятельно прекратить длительный прием алкоголя. Несколько дней непрерывного употребления спиртного могут привести к абстинентному синдрому, нарушению сна, обезвоживанию, тревоге, слабости и ухудшению работы внутренних органов. При многолетнем алкоголизме очередной запой бывает опасен даже тогда, когда раньше больной выходил из него без врача. Поэтому профессиональный вывод из запоя начинается с оценки состояния пациента, а лечение подбирается индивидуально.
    Ознакомиться с деталями – вывод из запоя на дому круглосуточно

  22. Even from a single post the editorial care is clear, and a stop at baytrailartisanmart extended that care across more pages, the kind of attention to quality that shows up in every paragraph is what separates serious sites from the rest and this one has clearly invested in that paragraph level attention across what I have read.

  23. The headings made navigating the post simple even when I needed to find a specific section quickly, and a look at canyonmeadowoutlet continued the same thoughtful structure, small details like clear headings show that someone is actually thinking about how the reader uses the page rather than just filling it for length alone.

  24. Useful information presented in a way that does not feel like a sales pitch, that is what I appreciated most, and a stop at wildorchardvault was the same, no upsell and no fake urgency just steady content laid out properly for someone trying to actually learn from it rather than just be sold to.

  25. Honestly this was the highlight of my reading queue today, and a look at brighttrailartisanbazaar extended that across more pages I will return to, ranking what I read against what else I read each day is something I do informally and this site keeps moving up in those rankings the more I explore it.

  26. I usually skim posts like these but this one held my attention all the way through, and a stop at brighttrailartisanbazaar did the same, that is a strong endorsement coming from me because I am usually quick to bounce when content gets repetitive or fails to deliver on its initial promise made in the headline.

  27. Now planning to come back when I have the right kind of attention to read carefully, and a stop at baytrailartisanmart reinforced that plan, choosing the right moment to read certain content is a quiet form of respect for the work and this site is generating those careful planning behaviours from me consistently as a reader.

  28. Reading the writers other posts after this one suggests the quality is consistent rather than peak, and a stop at canyonmeadowoutlet confirmed the consistent quality reading, sites that hold the same level across many pieces rather than peaking on a few are sites with sustainable editorial discipline and this one has clearly developed that.

  29. The clarity here is something I really appreciate, especially compared to sites that pile on jargon for no reason, and a look at packandpost was the same, simple direct sentences that actually deliver information instead of dancing around the point for paragraphs at a time which wastes reader patience.

  30. Quietly enthusiastic about this site after the past few hours of reading, and a stop at baytrailartisanmart extended that enthusiasm, the calibration of enthusiasm to evidence is something I try to maintain and this site has earned a calibrated quiet enthusiasm rather than the loud excitement that usually fades within a day or two of finding something.

  31. Skipped past the first paragraph thinking it was setup and had to come back when the rest referenced it, and a stop at wildorchardvault similarly rewarded careful reading from the start, content where every paragraph carries weight is content I now know to read from the beginning rather than skipping ahead.

  32. Now recognising that the post handled the topic with appropriate technical precision without becoming dry, and a stop at canyonmeadowoutlet continued that balance, technical precision and readability are often in tension and this site has clearly figured out how to maintain both at once which is one of the harder editorial achievements in the form.

  33. After reading several posts back to back the consistent voice across them is impressive, and a stop at wildorchardvault continued that voice consistency, sites that maintain a single coherent voice across many pieces by potentially many writers represent serious editorial discipline and this one has clearly developed the institutional consistency needed for that.

  34. A thoughtful piece that did not strain to be thoughtful, and a look at quickharborvault continued that effortless quality, when thinking shows up in writing without the writer drawing attention to it you know you are reading something genuinely considered rather than something performing the appearance of consideration which is also common online.

  35. Thanks for the readable length, I finished it without checking how much was left, and a stop at crowntrailartisanoutlet kept me reading the same way, when I stop noticing the length of a piece because the content is engaging enough to sustain attention without willpower the writer has done their job well today.

  36. Honest opinion is that this is the kind of post that builds long term trust with readers, and a look at packandpost reinforced that perception, the slow accumulation of trust through consistent quality is the only sustainable way to build a real audience and this site is clearly playing that long game.

  37. Now planning to share the link with a small group of readers I trust, and a look at packandpost suggested more material to share with the same group, recommending content into a curated circle requires confidence in the recommendation and this site is making me confident in those personal recommendations on multiple separate occasions now.

  38. The whole experience of reading this was pleasant from start to finish, no pop ups and no annoying interruptions, and a look at quickharborvault continued that clean experience, technical choices about page design matter for the reader and this site clearly cares about the small details that add up to comfort across multiple visits.

  39. Generally I do not leave comments but this post merits a small note, and a stop at quickharborvault extended that comment worthy quality, the urge to actively contribute to a sites community rather than passively consume from it is something specific content provokes and this site has provoked that engagement urge from me today.

  40. Liked the way the post got out of its own way, and a stop at crowntrailartisanoutlet extended that invisible craft, the best writing you barely notice while reading because it is doing its work without drawing attention to itself and this site has clearly mastered that disappearing act across the pieces I have read.

  41. Took the time to read the comments on this post too and they were also worth reading, and a stop at crowntrailartisanoutlet suggested the community quality matches the content quality, when the conversation around a piece is as good as the piece itself you know you have found a real corner of the internet.

  42. I appreciate the clarity here, everything is explained in simple terms without unnecessary detail, and after a quick stop at florastoneoutpost the points came together nicely for me, the writing keeps things straightforward and respects the reader from start to finish without ever talking down to anyone.

  43. Вывод из запоя на дому подходит пациентам, у которых врач не выявляет тяжелых осложнений. Человек остается в привычной обстановке, а нарколог проводит первичную диагностику и определяет план лечения. Помощь на дому особенно удобна, когда пациенту тяжело самостоятельно приехать в клинику или родственники хотят организовать обращение анонимно.
    Подробнее – вывод из запоя капельница на дому Красноярск

  44. Now realising the topic deserved better treatment than it has been getting elsewhere, and a look at florastoneoutpost extended that broader recognition, content that exposes the gap between actual quality and average quality elsewhere is doing the quiet work of raising standards and this site is contributing to that elevation in its own corner.

  45. A piece that did not lean on the writer credentials or institutional backing, and a look at florastoneoutpost maintained the same focus on substance, content that earns trust through quality rather than through name dropping is the kind I find most persuasive and this site is clearly playing on the substance side of that distinction.

  46. Started reading without much expectation and ended on a high note, and a look at meadowridgecollectivemart continued that arc, content that builds rather than peaks early is a sign of a writer who knows how to structure a piece for sustained reader engagement rather than relying on a strong hook to do all the work.

  47. Now appreciating that the post did not require me to agree with the writer to find it valuable, and a look at auroracovevault maintained the same useful regardless of agreement quality, content that informs even when it does not convince is content with broader utility and this site reads as useful even when I disagree.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *