Chicken Fried Steak is a classic Southern comfort dish made from tenderized beef that’s breaded, fried, and served with creamy gravy.
🍽️ What it is
Chicken Fried Steak is not chicken—it’s usually beef steak that’s pounded thin, coated in seasoned flour, fried until crispy, and topped with rich white gravy.
🧾 Ingredients
🥩 Steak
- 2–4 cube steaks (or tenderized round steak)
- Salt & black pepper
🥣 Breading
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup milk or buttermilk
- Oil for frying
🍯 Cream gravy
- 2 tbsp pan drippings or butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1½–2 cups milk
- Salt & pepper
👨🍳 Instructions
1. Prep the steak
- Pound steaks thin if needed
- Season with salt and pepper
2. Bread the steak
- Mix flour and spices in one bowl
- Whisk eggs + milk in another
- Dip steak in flour → egg mixture → flour again (double coating = crispier crust)
3. Fry
- Heat oil in skillet (medium-high)
- Fry 3–5 minutes per side until golden brown
- Drain on paper towel
4. Make gravy
- Keep 2 tbsp oil/drippings in pan
- Stir in flour and cook 1 minute
- Slowly whisk in milk
- Cook until thick and creamy
- Season with salt & pepper
🍽️ Serve
- Pour warm gravy over steak
- Pair with mashed potatoes, biscuits, or green beans
😋 Flavor & texture
- Crispy, seasoned crust
- Tender, juicy beef inside
- Creamy, peppery gravy on top
🔁 Variations
- Spicy version with extra cayenne or hot sauce
- Use chicken instead of beef (true “chicken fried chicken”)
- Air fryer version for less oil (still crisp but lighter)