Best Chicken Steak (a.k.a Chicken Fried Steak)

If you cant decide between chicken and steak for dinner tonight, why not try this chicken steak recipe thats sure to please!

This versatile favorite gives beef cube steaks the fried chicken treatment thats easy to make yourself. All you do is dip tenderized beef cube steaks in egg, flour, and seasonings, then deep fry to a Southern-fried crisp.

What is Chicken Steak?

Chicken steak is the quintessential Southern U.S. cuisine in which cube steak is crusted in seasoned flour, pan-fried, and served with delicious brown gravy made from the pan drippings. This is a dish that calls for mashed potatoes on the side!

Ingredients You’ll Need

• cube or round steaks
• vegetable oil
• eggs
• milk
• all-purpose flour
• garlic powder
• Salt and pepper
• heavy cream (optional)

How to Make Chicken Steak

1. Preheat a deep fryer or saucepan with 2 inches of oil to 350F. Prepare a wire cooling rack.
2. Using a meat hammer, pound each steak on both sides until approximately -inch thick and set aside.
3. Add beaten eggs and milk to a square baking dish. Then add the flour, garlic powder, and salt and pepper to a second dish.
4. Drag one steak into the flour mixture and remove excess. Then cover with egg mixture before dredging through the flour a second time.
5. Use oven mitts and tongs to carefully place the first steak in the hot oil. Fry for 2 minutes on each side until crispy and golden. (Increase the oil temperature by 25 degrees if not golden in color.)
6. Remove the steak to the wire cooling rack. Fry each of the remaining steaks.
7. Add 2 tablespoons of the frying oil into a hot skillet. Whisk in the flour for a minute or two until it bubbles and forms a golden paste. Slowly add the milk, whisking continuously until thickened.
8. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add optional heavy cream if desired.
9. Transfer the steaks to a serving plate and spoon the gravy on top to serve.

Tips for Making the Best Chicken Fried Steak

• Use a meat hammer to get the steak thickness to no more than inch. Tenderizing the meat before you cook it is the key to success.
• To ensure that every bit of the meat is covered in flour, do it twice. Use your hands to press the flour into the coating the first time. After dragging the cutlets through the egg, run them through the seasoned flour once more so every bit will have a crispy coating.
• To get that satisfyingly crisp outer layer, the oil must be maintained at around 350F degrees. Luckily, most deep fryers have a thermometer, making it easy to determine the right temperature.

What Cut To Use for Chicken Fried Steak

Although cube steak is the most common cut used to make chicken fried steak, there are other options. Since its fried in gravy, you can make this dish with various inexpensive cuts to save money. Tenderizing the meat is key, whether youre using minute, round, or another type of steak. You can even try it with pork for something a little different!

Why Is It Called Chicken Steak?

Chicken steak gets its name from the cooking style reminiscent of fried chicken, another Southern favorite. Its a simple yet sensational recipe that covers meat in seasoned flour, gives it an egg coating, then runs it through the flour again before deep frying to crispy perfection.

Is Chicken Steak Healthy?

Although cube steak is an excellent source of protein, its also high in saturated fat and cholesterol. Deep-fried foods should be a treat and not a regular part of any healthy diet.