Chicken Fried Steak – A Step By Step Country Fried Cube Steak Recipe

Chicken Fried Steak (also known as Fried Cubed Steak or Country Fried Steak) is downright delicious.  This 20-minute meal consists of perfectly seasoned and breaded cubed steak that is pan fried and topped with homemade gravy.

Country Fried Cube Steak Recipe

This is comfort food at its finest. Forget the calories because they don’t count when you are eating something this good, this delicious, this down-home. Don’t wait to order this at Cracker Barrel when you can easily make it at home.

What is chicken fried steak?  Did you know that it’s not chicken?  Instead, it’s a piece of beef cubed steak that is seasoned, breaded and pan-fried in a similar process to that of fried chicken.

This is one of those recipes, like Fried Pork Chops, that just remind us of grandma’s kitchen!

What is cubed steak?

Cubed steak is a cut of meat that has been through a tenderizing process.  This cut of beef is not tender to begin with, but when ran through a machine or pounded out, the tough connective and muscle fibers break up.  The tenderizing process creates a tender cut of beef.  This cut gets its name from the way the beef looks with its recognizable indentations.

How to you cook cubed steak?

You fry it…end of story. Don’t go messing around with it any other way.  If you think you don’t like cubed steak, then you haven’t eaten it the right way. Cube steak is one of my absolute favorite meals. Hands down. End of story. The end.

Chicken Fried Steak Recipe

I found this country fried steak recipe stuck in a notebook that belonged to my Granny.  She kept numerous newspaper and magazine clippings of recipes all taped in notebooks, and when I say numerous, I mean hundreds.  This method was the original Pinterest, and moms and grandmas for generations used this same method.

Fried Cubed Steak is a fast recipe from beginning to end.  If your cubed beef is thawed, you can essentially have dinner on the table in about 20 minutes. And when your kids are starving when they get home like mine are, time is of the essence.

Basically, this country fried steak recipe is like this:  dip the cubed steak in a wet mixture, dip the cubed steak in a flour mixture, let it sit for 5 minutes, fry on one side for 5 minutes, fry on another side for 5 minutes, remove from heat, make gravy, and serve.   It sounds hard but it is absolutely not by any means.

Serve Chicken Fried Steak over Mashed Potatoes

Chicken Fried Steak and Gravy is traditionally served with mashed potatoes.  If you love making homemade mashed potatoes, all the power to you.  This is not my expertise.  And the reason why is because MY KIDS ARE STARVING.  I do not have time to peel and boil and mash potatoes.  With that being said, have you tried Bob Evans Refrigerated Mashed Potatoes?  These are a game-changer, and I almost always have some in the fridge.

Now, you might say that all the old-fashioned Grandmas in the world would be appalled by my prepared mashed potatoes, but this is not true.  My Grandma (not to be confused with my Granny) thought instant mashed potatoes were the best thing since sliced bread.  For a woman who spent half her life peeling potatoes, instant potato flakes were a life saver and she was not afraid to use them.

Ingredient List

• All Purpose Flour
• Baking Powder
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• Onion Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Chili Powder
• Large Eggs
• Milk
• Cubed Steak
• Vegetable Oil (canola oil or soybean oil)

How to Make Fried Cube Steak and Gravy

Step by Step Instructions

1. In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and chili powder. Set aside 1/3 cup flour mixture for the gravy.
2. Mix eggs and milk in a separate shallow dish.
3. Dip cubed steak in the egg mixture on both sides and then immediately coat generously in the flour mixture. Shake off excess flour. Let the cube steaks sit for 5 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, add 1/2 inch of oil to a large skillet; heat over medium-high heat until hot.
5. Fry the steaks for 5-7 minutes on the first side or until perfectly golden brown; flip and cook for approximately another 5 minutes until the second side is browned to golden perfection.
6. Remove from oil to a paper towel-lined plate; keep warm in a 200 degree F oven (remove paper towels first).
7. For the gravy, pour out the oil keeping 1/3 cup in the skillet; stir in 1/3 cup of the leftover flour mixture into the drippings until smooth.
8. Gradually, whisk in milk; bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes or until thickened. Salt to taste.
9. Serve over mashed potatoes.

Storage Instructions

Let leftovers cool to room temperature; store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.

For the full instructions for chicken fried steak recipe with cubed steak, scroll to the bottom of this post. 

Recipe FAQs

• Chicken Fried Steak is actually beef, not chicken.
• Fried cubed steak and gravy can be on the table in approximately 20 minutes.
• Substitute buttermilk for the regular whole milk in the breading.
• The best frying oils are canola, soybean, corn or vegetable oil (which is usually soybean oil).
• To absorb the extra cooking oil from the chicken fried steak when done cooking, line a plate with paper towels.
• To keep your cubed steak warm while preparing the gravy, put them on an oven-proof plate in a 200 degree F oven.
• Be sure to add additional salt to your taste preference to your gravy before serving.
• Love traditional recipes that Grandma used to make for dinner? Try our Salisbury Steak, Swiss Steak and Ham Steak recipes.

Recipe Variations

• Add other spices to flour mixture such as paprika, seasoned salt, lemon pepper, cayenne pepper, etc.
• For a kick of spice, add some hot sauce to the egg mixture.

What kind of meat is chicken-fried steak made of?

Chicken-fried steak is actually made of beef, not chicken. It’s a piece of beef cubed steak that is seasoned, breaded, and pan-fried in a similar process to that of fried chicken. Often it is a piece of tenderized round steak.

Why do they call it chicken fried steak?

Chicken fried steak is called that because it follows a similar process to frying chicken. It’s a piece of beef cubed steak that is seasoned, breaded, and pan-fried, similar to the method used for frying chicken.

Our Favorite Stove Top Recipes

We love meals made completely on the stove top. If they cook in just one pot, we love them even more. Try these:

Stove Top Italian Bean Soup

Skillet Smoked Sausage and Cabbage

Ground Beef Pizza Casserole

Creamy Chicken Chili

Ground Beef Goulash

Old-Fashioned Beef Liver and Onions with Gravy

Smoked Sausage, Sauerkraut with Green Beans and Potatoes