Description
The Ultimate Chicken Fried Steak is a Southern classic that brings warmth and comfort to your table. This dish features tender cube steaks coated in a crispy, golden breading, fried to perfection, and topped with a rich, creamy gravy. It’s versatile enough for breakfast or dinner and will surely impress family and friends alike. With its irresistible flavor and satisfying texture, this recipe is destined to become a beloved favorite in your home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cube steaks
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper, divided
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt or sea salt, divided
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons TABASCO® Sauce (original)
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 4 tablespoons grease
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 2 to 3 cups whole milk
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together flour, one teaspoon black pepper, one teaspoon salt, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, baking soda, and baking powder. Set this mixture aside.
- In another shallow bowl, whisk together buttermilk, TABASCO® sauce, and eggs until well combined. Set aside as well.
- Pat cube steaks dry using paper towels—removing as much moisture as possible. Season them with one teaspoon of salt and one teaspoon of pepper. Let sit for five minutes before patting dry again.
- Dredge each cube steak in the flour mixture first. Shake off excess flour before dipping in the buttermilk mixture; let any excess drip off before returning them to the flour mixture once more. Ensure each steak is fully coated.
- Place breaded cube steaks on a metal rack or sheet pan. Press any remaining flour mixture onto each steak for an extra crispy coating. Let them rest for ten minutes while preheating your oven to between 225°F and 250°F.
- Meanwhile, heat vegetable oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking—about 320°F to 340°F is ideal.
- Fry two cube steaks at a time in the hot oil for three to four minutes on each side until they are golden brown. Avoid flipping more than once to keep the breading intact.
- Remove cooked steaks from the skillet and drain on paper towels. Place them in your preheated oven while you prepare the gravy.
- Pour remaining grease from frying into a heat-safe bowl but do not scrape out any bits from the skillet; these add flavor! Return four tablespoons of grease back into the skillet.
- Whisk in flour into the hot grease until light brown—about two to three minutes should do it.
- Combine cream and milk then slowly drizzle about two-and-a-half cups into your roux while whisking constantly until smooth.
- Bring gravy to a simmer while continuing to whisk—it should take about five to seven minutes until smooth. Adjust thickness by adding more milk if necessary; season with salt and lots of pepper!
- Serve your ultimate chicken fried steak generously topped with creamy gravy alongside mashed potatoes and your favorite green veggies! Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 steak (180g)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 75mg