Mama’s Crispy Chicken Fried Steak with White Gravy

My Chicken Fried Steak is crispy, tender, and smothered in creamy white gravy—just like Mama used to make. It’s a traditional Southern meal no one can resist. Just one bite and you’ll see why this steak recipe will get passed down in my family for generations!

Chicken Fried Steak

If there was ever a traditional southern meal, it would be chicken-fried steak with white gravy.

This recipe was passed down to me from my Mother.

I grew up eating these breaded cube steaks that my Mama would pan fry until golden brown, then coat in a thick, creamy country gravy.

Serve this classic chicken fried steak with a side of creamed potatoes or my Mama’s prized buttermilk biscuits.

This dish is southern comfort food at its finest, and you’ll have everyone asking for second helpings!

Why You’ll Love Chicken Fried Steak

• Southern Classic: Chicken fried steak with white gravy is a classic meal everyone loves. This recipe will become your go-to main course anytime you need some comfort food.
• Quick to whip up: Though having to coat the cube steak sounds time-consuming, it’s on the table in only about 30 minutes!
• Easy ingredients: Besides the cube steak, this dinner requires mostly pantry staples that you have on hand. Which makes it a great recipe to make in a pinch.

Ingredients for Chicken Fried Steak

• Cube Steaks: These are pre-tenderized steaks that cook up quickly.
• All-Purpose Flour: You’ll be using all purpose flour in both your seasoned flour mixture and the white gravy.
• Baking Powder and Baking Soda: Just a bit of each gives the flour coating a little lift, making it fry up nice and light instead of heavy and doughy. (This is my mama’s secret to making the BEST chicken fried steak!)
• Buttermilk: The acidity in buttermilk helps tenderize the meat while it’s cooking, and helps the flour stick.
• Egg: The egg mixes into the buttermilk mixture to batter the cube steak.
• Salt and Pepper: A good amount of salt and black pepper helps to create a peppery gravy.
• Garlic Powder: Adds a savory flavor to your seasoned flour mixture.
• Hot Sauce: Adds some extra flavor to the fried steak, and you can make it as intense or light as you like,
• Vegetable shortening: Used to shallow-fry the battered cube steaks for the perfect golden brown crust.
• Milk: The creamy part of the white gravy. Whole milk is best for an extra creamy gravy.

How to Make Chicken Fried Steak

Set Up a Flour Station: Add the flour to a shallow bowl or pie plate. It will be the first coating for your breaded steak. If possible, sift the flour so it doesn’t have any clumps in it.

Whisk the Batter: In another dish, stir together baking powder, baking soda, salt and pepper. Then mix in the buttermilk, egg, garlic powder and hot sauce.

Coat the Steaks: Take each cube steak and dip it into the flour first. Then dunk it in the egg mixture and back into the flour one more time. Press the flour into all the sides of the steak so it sticks well. Shake off any excess flour.

Fry the Steaks: In a large cast-iron skillet, heat up enough vegetable shortening over medium-high heat until it’s hot enough to fry. Gently lift the steak into the skillet and fry each piece for about 3–5 minutes per side, until it’s golden brown and crispy.

Drain the Steaks: Move the steaks to a paper towel-lined plate or a wire rack to let the excess oil drain off.

Start the Gravy: Pour off most of the oil from the skillet, but reserve about 1/4 cup of the pan drippings from the bottom of the pan. Set the heat to medium-low heat.

Whisk in the Flour: Sprinkle in some of the remaining flour and whisk it into the oil to make a thick paste.

Add the Milk: Slowly pour in the milk and raise the heat to medium heat. Stir constantly until it simmers. Let it bubble gently for about 7 minutes or so, until it turns into a rich gravy.

Season the Gravy: Make sure to add plenty of salt and black pepper to the gravy.

Recipe Tips

• Dry The Meat: In order to keep the batter from falling off the fried chicken you want to make sure the meat is dry before dipping it. If needed, pat the cube steak dry using paper towels before starting the process.
• Maximize the Flavor of the Gravy: All the flavor you need to make the best white gravy is in the pan already! As you whisk the remaining flour into the oil, scrape the bottom of the pan.
• Use a Cast Iron Skillet: I love to cook this recipe in a cast iron skillet, as my mama taught me to do. It’s optional, but using a heavy skillet is a true southern way to fry up your steak.

Ways to Serve Chicken Fried Steak

Since this is a traditional Southern meal, you’ll want the best Southern side dishes to go with it. I love to pour the warm gravy over top of mashed potatoes and buttermilk biscuits.

It also goes great with crack green beans with bacon, or creamy coleslaw.

How to Store Leftovers

If you don’t gobble up the whole batch, you can easily save some of the chicken fried steak for lunch the next day.

Let the remaining steaks cool fully before storing it in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay fresh for 3-4 days.

Reheat it in the oven at 350-375F for 10-15 minutes until heated through. This will bring a bit of the crispy texture back.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chicken Fried Steak Made of?

Chicken fried steak is made from cube steak that’s then battered and fried. Cube steak is a cheap cut of meat that’s already been tenderized, making it a cut which cooks up quickly.

Is Chicken Fried Steak the Same as Country-Fried Steak?

Not exactly. Though they are both battered, country-fried steak tends not to be as crispy and is served with a traditional brown gravy made from stock. Whereas chicken fried steak is crispy, golden brown, and served with a creamy white gravy. Similar, but different flavors.

How Do You Keep Chicken Fried Steak Warm While Cooking It?

If you need to fry your chicken fried steak in batches, you’ll want to keep the ones you’ve already fried warm. To do this, preheat your oven to 200F and line a tray with parchment paper. Place the cooked steaks on the baking tray in the oven while you get everything finished and ready.

What is White Gravy Made of?

White gravy is made by mixing flour into oil and scraping the flavor bits off of a pan from cooking your chicken fried steak. Season it with salt and pepper as per preference. You then whisk in milk to make it creamy. It can be thickened with more flour as needed.

More Southern Comfort Food Recipes

• Southern Style Chicken and Dumplings
• Southern Fried Shrimp
• Chicken Cobbler
• Country Fried Pork Nuggets
• Smothered Cube Steak with Brown Gravy