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Crispy Chicken Fried Steak Recipe with Creamy White Gravy Made Easy

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A comforting Southern-style crispy chicken fried steak with a golden crust, smothered in creamy, pepper-speckled white gravy. Perfect for family dinners and easy to prepare in about 45 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 tenderized cube steaks (about 6 oz / 170 g each)
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (190 g), divided
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • ½ teaspoon paprika (optional)
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • ½ cup buttermilk (120 ml)
  • Vegetable oil (about 1 inch depth) for frying (canola or peanut oil preferred)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (60 g)
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour (30 g)
  • 2 ½ cups whole milk (600 ml), warmed
  • 1 teaspoon salt (for gravy)
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (for gravy)
  • Pinch of garlic powder (optional)

Instructions

  1. Tenderize and prep the steaks: If not already tenderized, place each cube steak between two sheets of plastic wrap and gently pound with a meat mallet or rolling pin until about ¼ inch thick. Pat dry with paper towels.
  2. Mix your dredges: In one shallow dish, whisk together the eggs and buttermilk until combined. In another dish, combine 1 cup flour, salt, pepper, and paprika.
  3. Double dredge the steaks: Coat each steak in the seasoned flour, shake off excess, dip into the egg and buttermilk mixture, then dredge again in the flour mixture, pressing lightly.
  4. Heat the oil: Pour vegetable oil into a skillet to about 1 inch depth. Heat over medium-high to 350°F (175°C). Test by dropping a pinch of flour into the oil; it should sizzle and brown in about 10 seconds.
  5. Fry the steaks: Carefully place steaks into hot oil in batches. Fry 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. Remove and drain on a wire rack or paper towels.
  6. Make the white gravy: Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in remaining ¼ cup flour to make a roux; cook 1-2 minutes until lightly golden. Slowly whisk in warm milk, cook until thickened (5-7 minutes), stirring frequently. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
  7. Serve: Spoon creamy white gravy generously over the crispy chicken fried steaks and serve with your favorite sides.

Notes

Keep steaks dry before dredging for best crust. Maintain oil temperature at 350°F for crispy crust. Use a wire rack to drain and keep steaks crispy. Whisk gravy constantly to avoid lumps. If gravy thickens too much, add a splash of milk to loosen. Oven-frying is a lighter alternative. Gluten-free and dairy-free substitutions are possible.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken fried steak, crispy steak, white gravy, Southern comfort food, easy dinner, family meal, creamy gravy, fried steak

Find it online: https://sparklechew.com/crispy-chicken-fried-steak-recipe-with-creamy-white-gravy-made-easy/