Chicken Fried Steak Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

Chicken Fried Steak Recipe · i am a food blog (1)

Let me start off by saying that before this post I have never eaten chicken fried steak. It’s not a big dish in Vancouver and I actually don’t see it on menus all to often, even while travelling. Apparently I haven’t been travelling to the right places, because chicken fried steak is A. Big. Deal. When I first came across the name, I was confused. Chicken? Steak? Was it chicken, steak or other?

Chicken Fried Steak Recipe · i am a food blog (2)

Apparently, CFS as it’s affectionately shortened to, is, simply steak, breaded and fried. It gets it’s name from the fact that it’s supposed to be fried in oil that has been used to fry chicken. Steak that’s been fried in oil is just known as country fried steak. So, technically, what I made was a country fried steak, but I don’t think the CFS police are going to cite me or anything. If they were to take a visit to my kitchen, I’m sure they’d go on about how I didn’t tenderize.

Chicken Fried Steak Recipe · i am a food blog (3)

See, chicken fried steak is all about the tenderizing. Pounding or forking makes a cheaper cut of meat more tender and delicious. But, at least I used the right cut of steak: chuck. Traditionally round steak, or chuck steak is reserved for coating and frying into deliciousness. And, bonus points, I made a simple little country gravy to go with.

Chicken Fried Steak Recipe · i am a food blog (4)

I’ve heard from second hand experience that chicken fried steak is drowned in country gravy. Why you would fry something to delicious golden brown crispiness and then render it soggy with gravy is beyond me, but hey, who am I to question years of tradition. And to be honest, this steak was pretty damn delicious. I think I’m going to have to get myself to an authentic Southern eatery to taste the real thing first hand. In the meantime, I’ll be indulging in this homemade version.

Chicken Fried Steak Recipe · i am a food blog (5)

Chicken Fried Steak Recipe via Alton Brown
serves 2

STEAK

  • 1 steak of choice (most people choose round steak and then pound it, I used chuck and didn’t pound)
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • oil for pan-frying (if you want to be authentic, use some oil that you have fried chicken in!)

GRAVY

  • 2 tablespoons duck fat
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • salt and pepper

Place the flour into a shallow dish and mix with the salt and pepper. Place the egg in another shallow dish. Dredge the meat in the flour, then the egg, then the flower again.

In a large frying pan, heat up about 1/2 cm of oil over medium-high. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the steak and cook until golden brown and crispy, about 4-5 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and set aside while making gravy.

In a sauce pot, melt the duck fat over medium heat. Sprinkle in the flour and cook while stirring until the flour is throughly incorporated. While whisking, slowly pour in the milk, then the broth. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook, whisking occasionally until slightly thickened. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Enjoy the steak topped with gravy and extra pepper if desired.

Chicken Fried Steak Recipe · i am a food blog (6)

Chicken Fried Steak Recipe · i am a food blog (7)

17 Comments

  1. December 10, 2013 at 7:42 am

    This looks so freaking good – I wish I had a plate of it in front of me even though it’s only 10:40 a.m. Thank you for the post.

    Reply

  2. Jennifer says:

    December 10, 2013 at 7:57 am

    Beautiful photos! Chicken Fried Steak is one of my biggest guilty pleasures – so big that I only allow my self to indulge once a year. I love the addition of duck fat to the gravy. Must try your version next time.

    Reply

  3. kate says:

    December 10, 2013 at 10:52 am

    looks delicious

    Reply

  4. kate says:

    December 10, 2013 at 10:54 am

    i wonder how would it be with fish

    Reply

    1. Kimba says:

      February 19, 2014 at 8:12 am

      I’m sorry Kate, I do believe that’s a sin. This is all about crunchy meat and fat. Battered fish is, well, Arthur Treachers.

      Reply

  5. Donna Rogers says:

    December 10, 2013 at 2:09 pm

    Your version looks awesome – I’d order that in a heartbeat! But yes, tenderizing is one of the key steps…I’ve lived in the south and can easily count a certain number of lbs on my frame are due to chicken fried steak meals! It is usually a tenderized round steak used (what I’ve used at home also), I’ve never heard the “oil used to fry chicken” but I’m failry certain the restaurants down there don’t switch their oil out to cook separate dishes. And to be honest…the plate is usally finished before any of the “crunch” is lost! Well done!!

    Reply

  6. Adrienne says:

    December 10, 2013 at 9:11 pm

    I’ll pipe in and say I believe the point of the dish is to make a cheap cut of meat tasty, like many of the dishes my grandma would make. Yours looks awesome, but I don’t know if I’d waste a good steak on such a method myself.
    Also, I always understood “chicken-fried” to mean it was floured and fried *like* chicken. Around here “country fried steak” is taken to mean the same thing, it’s just how they sometimes word it on menus so people don’t get confused.

    Reply

  7. December 10, 2013 at 9:11 pm

    Mmmm. Beauty. I remember being super confused by a chicken fried steak too…

    Reply

  8. Amanda says:

    December 11, 2013 at 6:56 pm

    Gorrrgeous photos, that gravy looks bomb and with duck fat… holy cow decadent and delicious. Have to say though, seeing as how I’m from Texas aka motherland of chicken fried steak, no one ever says CFS and it is called chicken fried steak because it’s battered and fried like chicken.

    Reply

  9. Pamela Caldwell says:

    December 15, 2013 at 6:19 am

    Try a pinch of allspice in the gravy. And use store bought ground pepper, not freshly ground.

    Reply

  10. Cheryl says:

    December 20, 2013 at 1:24 pm

    I love that you didn’t cook the steak well-done – I HAVE to try that. I’ve never tackled CFS at home, since, well, it’s everywhere here in Memphis! I adore the main photo for this post – it speaks of TV dinner kitsch elevated to gourmet peaks. Adore

    Reply

  11. strawberry says:

    February 5, 2014 at 12:27 am

    Being a woman who lived in the south and watched my grandma make that dish that I have now perfected. The gravy is extremely important. Using a cast iron skillet that does have some fried chicken grease in it is great but can be done with vegetable or canola oil. The gravy is made from some of the left over grease that you just used to fry in. Adding ground black pepper adds a nice little kick. We generally serve it with mashed potatoes with the gravy on that too. To add to the recipe you can add some garlic powder and onion powder to the flour mixture, the left over flour from coating the steaks can be used to make the gravy as not to waste anything.

    Reply

  12. Lindsey says:

    January 14, 2015 at 8:23 am

    Quick question,
    when using duck fat, is it okay to substitute for leaf lard? or where can I buy duck fat from?

    Reply

    1. steph says:

      January 14, 2015 at 3:38 pm

      hi lindsey,
      you definitely don’t need to make the gravy with duck fat, i just used it because it’s what i had on hand. just substitue in your favourite fat. hope that helps!

      Reply

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Chicken Fried Steak Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep batter from falling off chicken fried steak? ›

Another important tip is to place the breaded meat onto a sheet pan, cover and place back in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before frying. This will firmly adhere the breading onto the meat and help keep it from falling of when frying.

How to tenderize steak for chicken fried steak? ›

You can either use egg and a little milk before you dip it in the flour mixture, or just flour your meat by itself. Place enough oil in a PRE HEATED pan to cover the bottom, but you don't need inches of oil. Take your floured cube steak and place it in the pan over medium heat.

How do you keep chicken fried steak from getting soggy? ›

Help firm up the coating on top by spooning hot oil over the top before flipping the steaks. Use a warming oven. After you fry the steaks, keep them warm in a 200°F oven while you make the gravy.

What's the difference between country fried steak and chicken fried steak? ›

The main difference between country-fried steak and chicken-fried steak is the gravy. Country-fried steak is slathered in brown gravy, whereas chicken-fried steak uses a white, peppery gravy. However, this distinction is not entirely set in stone as different restaurants will serve both with the same gravy.

How to get breading to stick to steak? ›

Place the meat on a tray, cover, and put it in the refrigerator for one hour. This is extremely important as it allows the flour to become sticky and attach to the meat.

How do restaurants make their steaks so tender? ›

Most fine restaurants age their beef to intensify the flavor and improve the tenderness of the cut. Aging is done by letting the meat sit (in very controlled conditions) for several days or weeks.

What do restaurants use to tenderize steak? ›

When we are dealing with potentially tough cuts of beef, we will oftentimes utilize marinades with higher levels of acids like lemon juice, vinegar, or buttermilk. These marinades will help break down the muscle fibers to make them easier to cook and tenderize.

What seasoning tenderizes steak? ›

Salting. Most cuts of steak benefit from being salted up to an hour in advance of cooking, but especially tougher cuts. In addition to seasoning the steaks, salt helps break down proteins and make the meat more tender. Liberally salt the steaks up to an hour before cooking, then proceed according to your recipe.

Why is my chicken fried steak not crispy? ›

Cooking Tips

Shake off any excess liquid or flour, and let the steak rest for a few minutes before frying. Use oil that is hot—oil that is not hot enough will decrease your chances of a crispy coating. The breading may absorb the oil and become soggy and greasy.

Can I prep chicken fried steak ahead of time? ›

Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Make ahead: The steaks can be made ahead and kept warm in a 200-degree oven one hour in advance (cover tightly with foil to prevent them from drying out). Spicy: If you love heat, serve your Chicken Fried Steak with plenty of hot sauce or Tabasco.

What is KFC chicken-fried steak made of? ›

Chicken-fried steak, also known as country-fried steak, is an American breaded cutlet dish consisting of a piece of beefsteak (most often tenderized cube steak) coated with seasoned flour and either deep-fried or pan-fried. It is sometimes associated with the Southern cuisine of the United States.

How unhealthy is country-fried steak? ›

Chicken fried steak is high in calories, fat, and sodium, which can contribute to weight gain and high blood pressure. Moreover, the added gravy can further increase the calorie and fat content of the dish, making it a less than ideal choice for those trying to maintain a healthy diet.

What state is known for chicken-fried steak? ›

This statewide enthusiasm was codified in 2011, when the Texas State House of Representatives declared October 26 "Chicken Fried Steak Day," noting that "this signature dish occupies a special place in the culinary culture of the Lone Star State." It's hard to argue with the force of Texas law.

Why is my fried chicken batter fall off? ›

Meat is not properly dry

If the meat is wet, it will make the flour soggy. In that case, breading will not stick properly and may fall off when deep frying. Therefore, you must take some paper towels and pat dry the meat on all sides.

How do you keep batter from falling off when frying? ›

Webstaurant Store brings even more tips: Once you've coated your food with flour, cover it and leave it in the fridge for an hour so that the flour becomes sticky and attaches to the food more efficiently. Second of all, for best results, don't overcrowd your pan while frying food.

Why does the flour come off my fried chicken? ›

Dry the Chicken:Make sure the chicken is dry before dredging it in flour or breadcrumbs. Pat the chicken pieces with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Wet surfaces can prevent the breading from sticking. Use an Egg Wash:Dip the chicken in an egg wash before coating it with flour or breadcrumbs.

Why is my batter falling apart in the fryer? ›

First, the oil might not have been hot enough. If the oil isn't at the correct temperature, your fish will absorb the oil while it's frying, causing some of the batter to drop off. To prevent this, your oil should be around 350 to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

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