I’m a lover of southern food- so much so that I sometimes wonder if I were actually raised there and somehow transplanted to the north without any recollection of living elsewhere. Except for my love of southern comfort foods, Spanish moss and sweet tea. If given the opportunity to pick just one food to eat for the rest of my life…it would be a toss up between crispy fried chicken or Chicken Fried Steak with Country Gravy. It truly is my absolute favorite thing to eat on the planet. And Chicken Fried Steak with Country Gravy couldn’t be simpler to make. It all starts with a cube steak which is, essentially, a beef round steak that’s been tenderized into oblivion then dredged in a seasoned flour mixture, egg and then back into the flour before being lightly fried to a crispy golden brown.
Why is it called Chicken Fried Steak if there is no chicken in the recipe?
I know it’s confusing! This recipe doesn’t contain any chicken, but it’s is so-named because the cooking method is similar to that of pan-fried chicken breast cutlets. It’s actually quite genius if you ask me, and whoever created this beautiful thing decided that you MUST make a creamy pan gravy from the drippings to drape lovingly over your crispy fried goodness. How dreamy does that sound?
Do you know what’s even better? This easy to make Chicken Fried Steak with Country Gravy is ready in less than 30 minutes. That’s right….30 minutes! Because the steaks are thin, they cook quickly and evenly. They’re perfect for busy weeknights and always a huge hit with my family.
Where can I find cube steak to make Chicken Fried Steak?
You should be able to find cube steak in your regular market. It’s not your usually “throw on the grill” kind of steak. Ask your butcher to assist you if you are unable to find it. To me, it looks a little bit like ground beef. It’s steak that has been pounded with a tenderizer until it creates little dimples all over the steak. This helps greatly with tenderizing the meat and making it easy to cook as it will all be an even thickness.
And you know what the best thing is? This recipe is totally family friendly. In fact, your family will love you to pieces if you serve this for dinner, and they’ll be begging you to make it again. I view it as the perfect Sunday night dinner. We may not be from the south but I certainly try to channel my inner southern belle when I’m in the kitchen. And this recipe is simply fabulous. Chicken Fried Steak with Country Gravy is a comfort food, treat-yourself kind of meal for sure. But it’s totally worth the extra 1/2 hour on the treadmill, and everyone you serve this to will be so happy and content with your dinner choice. So many people have enjoyed this recipe. I love to read through the comments to see what people who have made the recipe are saying. A lot of people say that Chicken Fried Steak is much better than fried chicken. And I have quite a few people asking if they can try this recipe with actual chicken in place of cube steak. I haven’t tried it that way, but let us know in the comments if you do!
For me, I truly enjoy the crispy coating on the steak, and the white country gravy really puts it over the top. I don’t make this often but when I do… my family is so very excited. It’s the perfect Sunday night dinner. Chicken fried steak with Country Gravy is comfort food to the max. And it’s a classic that thousands of RecipeGirl readers really seem to be enjoying!
If you enjoy this recipe, I have recommendations for a few more Southern favorites too. Cheesy Shrimp and Grits is one that a whole lot of people have been enjoying. My first time having shrimp and grits was in Savannah, Georgia, and this recipe rivals that experience for sure! Truly Crispy Oven Fried Chicken, Caramel Cake, Southern Savory Corn Pudding and Southern Pimento Cheese are four more favorites the the Southern cooking category.
