Chicken Fried Steak is a southern classic made with tender marinated cube steaks that have been breaded and pan fried until golden. And don’t forget the creamy white pepper gravy on top! Restaurant-quality, but made easily at home.
This is one of my Beef recipes I know you’ll want to keep on hand!
A staple in Southern cuisine and in down home restaurants around the United States, chicken fried steak is a classic for a reason.
It’s delicious! The steak gets ultra tender from the buttermilk marinade, and then seasoned flour breading adds plenty of savory flavors.
Once fried, it’s perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. And don’t forget the creamy white gravy to slather allllll over the top!
We love to serve chicken fried steak alongside some creamy mashed potatoes, roasted corn, and either roasted asparagus or green beans.
How to make chicken fried steak?
This is just an overview; the full ingredients and directions are in the recipe card toward the bottom of this post.
- Mix marinade. You’ll want something flat enough to keep the steaks from piling on top of each other.
- Add steaks. Make sure you pat the steaks really dry, then add them to the marinade and turn to coat.
- Add oil and heat. Use a thermometer to make sure the oil is heated to the proper temperature.
- Combined seasoned flour ingredients.
- Coat in flour. Shake off excess buttermilk, then turn steak several times in the flour, ensuring it’s well coated. Gently shake off excess flour.
- Fry. Cook the steaks, one or two at a time, until golden brown on both sides.
- Add cooked steaks to baking sheet and keep warm in oven if desired.
Helpful Tip!
To keep your chicken fried steaks warm and crispy, preheat the oven to 225°F. Add a metal cooling rack to a baking sheet, then place your steaks on the rack. Slide the baking sheet in the oven and keep them there until the gravy is finished cooking.
Variations of this recipe
- Air fryer – if you own an air fryer, you can have chicken fried steak that’s nearly as crispy as the traditional method, but with less mess! The air fryer directions will be right below the recipe in the “Chef’s tips” section.
- Oven – this method won’t be as crispy, but in case you don’t want to pan fry, and don’t have an air fryer, I’ve included the oven directions down below.
- Oil – when frying, you want to use an oil that has a high-smoke point, which means it can be cooked at higher temperatures without burning. For the best flavor, I prefer to fry in peanut oil. However, if you have allergies, vegetable, canola, or sunflower oil are great alternatives.
- Buttermilk substitute – if you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can make your own! Add 2 Tbsp of lemon juice or white vinegar to a liquid measuring cup. Pour in enough whole milk to reach 2 cups. Stir and let it sit about 10 minutes. It may look a bit curdled, but that’s okay. Stir and use in the recipe.
- Double breading – for even extra crunch, coat the buttermilk marinated steaks in the flour, then dip them back into the buttermilk, then back into the flour again.
FAQ’s
Despite the very first word in the recipe name, there is no chicken in this recipe. It’s all beef. The name comes from the way the steaks are prepared. They’re breaded and fried, very similarly to the way classic fried chicken is made.
A lot of people think the two are the same, but according to my research, country fried steak is just dredged in flour (rather than breaded), and once cooked, it’s smothered in a brown gravy. Both are equally delicious though!
This recipe uses cube steak, which is a cut of meat that’s been tenderized. This leaves the meat with little dimples all over it, making is resemble ground beef. You can use other types, but you’d have to do all the tenderizing yourself, otherwise it’d be tough and chewy.
Making chicken fried steak ahead of time
This recipe, like all fried foods, tastes best when made fresh.
You really don’t want to coat the steaks in the flour mixture ahead of time, because the buttermilk can work it’s way through the flour, and that can lead to a soggy breading.
However, the flour mixture can be whisked together ahead of time. This cuts down on some of the prep time involved.
Plus, the steaks themselves have to marinate in the buttermilk mixture for at least an hour or so, but this can be done overnight if you prefer!
Storage
Leftover chicken fried steak should be refrigerated in an airtight container and eaten within 3-4 days.
Reheating leftover fried foods can be tricky, but I recommend baking the steaks in a preheated 400°F oven. Lightly top them with a sheet of foil and bake for about 15-20 minutes.
Steaks will crisp up a bit as they cool.
Other Comforting Beef Recipes:
My Favorite Pan to Fry in!
I love using this enameled cast iron pan to fry in. It’s heavy bottomed, holds heat evenly, is shallow enough to be able to work in, yet deep enough so you don’t get splatters of oil all over your stove!
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!
Ingredients
- 4 cube steaks around 1/3 lb each
- enough peanut or vegetable oil to fill your frying pot/pan about 3/4 – 1" up
- white gravy (click on the ingredient name for the recipe for our favorite white gravy!)
Buttermilk Marinade
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 Tbsp Tabasco or hot sauce
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Seasoned Flour
- 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp smoked or regular sweet paprika
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
Instructions
- Add marinade ingredients (buttermilk, eggs, tabasco sauce, salt and pepper to a large dish (I usually use a baking dish) and whisk to combine.
- Pat cube steaks dry with paper towels, then add the steaks to the marinade, turning to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, up to overnight.
- Add enough oil to be 3/4 – 1” deep in a heavy bottomed pot (I use a shallow dutch oven or deep cast iron skillet), and heat over MED heat until oil reaches 350°F. The amount of oil needed will depend on the size of your pan.
- Get out a rimmed baking sheet and top it with an oven-safe metal cooling rack. Set close by the frying pan. This will be where you place the fried steaks once they’re done.
- Combine seasoned flour ingredients (flour, cornstarch, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and dried thyme) in a shallow bowl and whisk to combine well.
- Preheat oven to 225°F. This is to keep the fried steaks warm until they’re ready to be served.
- When the oil is ready, coat one cube steak in the seasoned flour, then carefully add it to the hot oil. Fry for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown. Use a frying spider to remove steak from oil and place on prepared baking sheet/cooling rack.
- Repeat with remaining cube steaks, frying one or two at a time (depending on the size of your pan).
- When all the steaks are fried, place the baking sheet/cooling rack with the steaks on it to the preheated oven to keep warm while you make the peppered white gravy.
- Serve chicken fried steaks with gravy poured over the top, sprinkled with a bit of extra pepper.
Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!
Chef Tips
Air Fryer Directions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
- Bread steaks as directed, then add to air fryer basket, in a single layer. Spray liberally with cooking spray.
- Air fry for 4-5 minutes, then flip steaks over, spray the other side with cooking spray, and air fry another 4-5 minutes.
Oven Directions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with an oven-safe metal cooling rack.
- Bread steaks as directed, then add to prepared baking sheet/cooling rack. Spray with cooking spray.
- Bake for 5-6 minutes, then flip steaks over and spray other side with cooking spray.
- Return to oven to bake another 5-6 minutes.
Nutrition Disclaimer
The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Terrie Purser says
DELICIOUS! I didn’t have onion powder or Tabasco but it still turned out great. I used the leftover seasoned flour to make the gravy from my own recipe. It was also delicious.
Linda says
I’ve got the cube steaks in the buttermilk marinade, we will fry them for dinner and I will write another review.
Staci J says
Wonderful recipe! Turned out great!
Cindy says
It was good but found with all the spices,it lacked in taste.Needed more salt and pepper.I also found that the breading was coming off.May try it again but will change a few things.
Melissa says
Made this for the family tonight and my steak was tough and I’m not sure why. The breading was ok, but I don’t think I’m good at cooking things fried like this. I didn’t think I cooked it too long…but I also can’t make fried chicken. I’m sure it’s me.
Robert says
Family favorite meal. I’ve made this several times with milk due to forgetting buttermilk but it turns out great every time.
Lorilyn says
hi! will you clarify country fried vs chicken fried? under FAQ’s, you stated chicken fried was breaded and country fried was floured, yet this recipe has no breading in it-(bread crumbs, i assume when one states breading something), just seasoned flour (with cornstarch).
Also, when i attempt chicken fried cube steak, the floured topping often flakes off by the time it is done as is not adhering to the meat well enough. I dip it in the milk and then into flour but it rarely stays on the meat. I have also tried it without milking first. What am I doing wrong? Thanks for your input. Will be making it tomorrow.
The Chunky Chef says
The “breaded” in chicken fried is the batter that’s created by combining the buttermilk marinaded steak with the seasoned flour, whereas country fried is just dipped in flour (with no buttermilk marinade and thus no coating like on a piece of fried chicken). However, this may vary based on where you live 🙂 I would suggest really patting it into the flour, pressing with your fingers to make sure it sticks. The flaking might also have to do with the frying itself. If you’re flipping it too much, you can inadvertently break off the breading.
Lorilyn says
OK-I will really press that flour into the meat (still marinating).
Maybe I fry them in too hot of oil (as i only turn over once).
I can try to cook them longer on a lower temperature.
Thanks for your input…wish me luck!
Mia says
So easy to make. I’ve made it 3/4 times now. So delicious! My entire fam loves this recipe !!
Linda Sims says
Best Chicken fried steak I have ever made.
It had the best crust and and so tender it almost cut with a fork.
Ciara1 says
This recipe went terribly wrong for me. I don’t know exactly what I did wrong but it was a soggy mess and I thought I followed the instructions. Also the cook time was much longer than 3 to 4 minutes per side. I think I had too much buttermilk on them when I dipped into the flour? Maybe thin out the marinade more next time if I attempt again.
The Chunky Chef says
I’m sorry you didn’t have a great experience with this recipe! Too much buttermilk could lead to a soggy coating, as would the cooking oil not being hot enough. The cooking time will depend on how thick the steaks are, and of course, how “done” you like your steaks.
Tena E. says
Made this today. Looks great, waiting for my guys to try it.
Lindsay says
This was fantastic! My husband was super impressed with this meal. I made your peppered white gravy to go with it as well. We will definitely be making this again. Thanks for the recipe.
Sandra says
I’m definitely making this again next week! So good!
Vikki says
Sooo tasty! Love how crispy it is
Beth says
My son loved this recipe and wanted more. Such a great dinner and very delicious too! I’ll have to make this again!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
I know for sure this Chicken Fried Steak would be a huge hit in my house!
Carly says
I have a lot of marinade left is that normal?
The Chunky Chef says
That’s normal 🙂
Amanda Livesay says
Total comfort food! And so much easier than I expected.
Catalina says
Mmmmm…. how inviting this chicken steak looks! My family will love it for sure!
Claire says
I love this kind of food! Looks like it is oozing with so much flavor! I would love to try this!
Peggy says
Haven’t made it yet, but know it will be delicious. I was wondering whether you have a recipe for the white gravy to go with this. Looks good. Thanks.
Amanda says
I sure do 🙂 Just posted it a few days ago https://www.thechunkychef.com/creamy-white-pepper-gravy-scratch/
Steve says
“This is one of my “Beef” recipes I know you’ll want to keep on hand!”
LOL
Amanda says
It is a beef recipe since it uses cube steak… 🙂