This Chicken Fried Steak may look complicated because it looks elegant. But it’s actually pretty straightforward, not to mention its super affordable ingredients – including the steak! Oh yes! You’ll definitely give restaurants a run for their money with this recipe because it delivers a superb restaurant-quality meal in no time. The secret? The glorious creamy gravy, of course! 😉 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!
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
Tips and Tricks
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.
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.
More Mouthwatering Steak Recipes to Try
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
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”KqfLvG1D” upload-date=”2022-11-08T17:41:56.000Z” name=”CHICKEN FRIED STEAK.mp4″ description=”Chicken Fried Steak, perfectly seasoned, crispy fried cube steak topped with a decadently creamy sauce.” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”] This blog post was originally published in August 2018 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.
