Southern chicken fried steak is tenderized beef steak perfectly seasoned and breaded, and then pan-fried until golden crispy. Topped with creamy and rich peppered white gravy, it’s restaurant-quality comfort food, made right in your kitchen!
Southern Chicken Fried Steak
Southern Chicken Fried Steak is more than just a meal—it's a nostalgic, comforting experience that embodies the heart of Southern cooking.
It's is a down-home comfort food dish tender, seasoned beef steak breaded and pan-fried to golden-crisp perfection, smothered in a rich and creamy peppered white gravy. This staple of Southern cuisine has been a comfort food favorite for generations, served in diners, family kitchens, and classic Southern restaurants alike.
Whether served for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, this dish never fails to satisfy.
What is Chicken Fried Steak?
Chicken Fried Steak is a breaded and fried beef cutlet, typically made from tenderized cube steak.
Chicken Fried Steak traces its roots back to the German and Austrian immigrants who brought their tradition of wiener schnitzel to the United States. Over time, this European classic was adapted in the American South using locally available ingredients, eventually becoming the dish we know and love today.
Why is it Called Chicken Fried Steak?
The name "Chicken Fried Steak" comes from the cooking technique, which mimics the process of frying chicken.
The steak is coated in a seasoned flour mixture, dipped in buttermilk and egg, then fried until crispy and golden brown. Traditionally served with creamy white gravy, this dish offers a delightful contrast of crunchy coating and juicy, flavorful beef.
Is It Breakfast or Dinner?
Both! Serve it with eggs and biscuits for breakfast, or with mashed potatoes for dinner. Or you can really crazy and serve the breakfast version for dinner - brinner!
What Cut of Beef Should I Use?
Cube steaks are used most often and are the easiest for this recipe. Cube steaks have already been tenderized, which is where they get their bumpy, cubed, texture.
You can use chuck, round, or flank steak, but you will need to tenderize it with a meat mallet to make sure it is the correct thickness, texture, and tenderness.
How to Keep Southern Chicken Fried Steak Warm While Cooking in Batches
This is probably the number one BEST tip for cooking chicken fried steak. Even if I was only making one or two and didn't need to work in batches, I would still do this. It helps keep it warm, but it also helps dry out a little of the frying oil and makes it super crispy.
To keep it warm while cooking in batches, heat your oven to 200°F. Place the cooked chicken fried steak directly on the rack until you're done cooking the rest and ready to serve. This will keep it both warm and crispy.
How to Serve Southern Chicken Fried Steak
Chicken Fried Steak is best served hot and crispy, immediately to maintain its crunch. The white gravy is a mandatory part of the dish that bring a creamy richness to each bite. So don't be shy to smother it on top.
For a complete Southern experience, serve it on a warm plate with a variety of comforting sides, like these:
- Mashed Potatoes: Creamy, buttery mashed potatoes are perfect for soaking up the rich gravy.
- Collard Greens: A traditional Southern side that adds a slightly bitter, earthy contrast to the richness of the steak.
- Buttermilk Biscuits: Flaky, buttery biscuits make an excellent accompaniment for sopping up any leftover gravy.
- Eggs: Serve it at breakfast or in breakfast-style fashion by including fried eggs on the plate.
- Macaroni and Cheese: A creamy, cheesy side dish that adds a comforting touch.
- Green Beans: Lightly seasoned green beans add a fresh and crisp contrast to the meal.
- Creamed Corn: With a similar creamy buttery flavor as the gravy, a creamed corn or creamed peas will continue that creamy, comforting flavor.
Whether you're serving it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Chicken Fried Steak is a hearty, satisfying dish that embodies the essence of Southern comfort food.
More Southern Recipes You'll Love
- Southern Cornbread Dressing - Moist, savory side dish of crumbly cornbread, veggies, and seasonings. It’s the cozy potluck side you can’t resist!
- Southern Biscuits and Gravy - Warm, flaky biscuits smothered in creamy sausage gravy. It’s the ultimate comfort breakfast that’ll start your day right!
- Southern Oven Fried Chicken - Crisp, golden pieces baked with a seasoned coating. A healthier, flavorful take on the classic fried chicken, perfect for any meal
- Southern Pan-Fried Catfish - Tender fillets coated in seasoned cornmeal and fried until golden. It’s a classic, flavor-packed taste of the South!
- Best Southern Potato Salad - Soft potatoes in a creamy, tangy dressing with mustard and eggs—a side that's flavorful and perfect for gatherings!
- BEST Chicken Pot Pie - Tender chicken, veggies, and creamy sauce under a buttery, flaky crust. It's comfort food that's hearty, delicious, and satisfying!
Southern Chicken Fried Steak Video
Southern Chicken Fried Steak with White Gravy
Ingredients
For the Chicken Fried Steak
- 4 cube steaks (about ⅓ pound each)
- 2 large eggs beaten
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Oil for Frying
For the White Gravy
- ¼ cup pan drippings If you don't have enough pan drippings, add some bacon grease or butter
- ¼ cup flour
- 2½ cups milk
- ½ teaspoon white pepper
- Salt & black pepper to taste
Instructions
For the Chicken Fried Steak
- Preheat oven to 200°F.
- Season steaks with salt on both sides.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine milk, eggs, and hot sauce. Whisk to combine.
- In a second large mixing bowl, place flour, cornmeal, garlic salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Dredge a cube steak in the flour mixture. Then drench in egg mixture. Then return to flour mixture for a final coat. Place on a separate plate and set aside. Repeat for all steaks.
- Pour enough oil in a large frying pan to cover the bottom by ¼ inch. Heat the oil to 350°F or until it sizzles when you drop a little flour into it. If the oil doesn't sizzle, it isn't ready; if it burns, the oil is too hot, reduce the heat.
- Working one at a time, lay a coated steak into the hot oil. Use a metal spoon to spoon some of the oil over the steak to set the coating.
- Fry until you see the edges of the steak turn golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Carefully turn the steak over in the pan, and fry for 2 to 3 more minutes.
- Once both sides of the steak are golden brown, tip the steak up with metal tongs to drain the excess oil. Remove it from the pan and place if on the wire rack in the oven to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining steaks and leave them in the 200°F oven while you make the gravy.
For the White Gravy
- In the same skillet, mix hot pan drippings (or bacon grease or butter) with flour. Allow to heat until golden for about 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Slowly add milk, adding no more than a ½ cup at a time. Whisk vigorously to combine between each addition.
- Continue cooking and stirring until gravy comes to a light simmer and thickens. Add white pepper, salt, and black pepper to taste.
- Serve Chicken Fried Steak warm smothered in white gravy, and enjoy!
Nutrition
UPDATE INFO: This recipe was originally published in January 2016. It was update with new pictures, tips, and video and republished in February 2025.
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Angela @marathonsandmotivation.com says
This looks amazing! My husband is from the South, so he will love this,can't wait to try it!! 🙂
Stephanie R says
OH MY! This looks all kinds of incredible, I have got to make some of this asap.
Michelle says
Thank you! It really is delicious!