Southern Comfort Chicken Fried Cube Steaks with Creamy Gravy
Indulge in the heartwarming flavors of Southern Comfort with this Chicken Fried Cube Steaks recipe. Perfect for a satisfying breakfast or a cozy dinner, these crispy, tender steaks are coated in a savory breading and smothered in rich, homemade gravy. Pair them with golden fried potatoes for breakfast, or serve alongside buttery mashed potatoes and fresh steamed green beans for dinner. Gather your loved ones around the table and enjoy this classic dish that brings a taste of tradition right to your home!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
9
Ingredients
Ingredients
cube steaks
2 lbs (meat tenderizer sprinkled on both sides)
flour
3 1/2 cups (for dredging and gravy)
salt
2 teaspoons (for coating and gravy)
black pepper
2 teaspoons (for coating and gravy)
paprika
2 teaspoons (for coating)
eggs
2 (beaten)
milk
1 cup + 4 cups (for batter and gravy)
cooking oil or shortening
as needed (for frying)
meat drippings
2-4 tablespoons (from frying the steaks)
Instructions
1
Begin by sprinkling meat tenderizer evenly on both sides of the cube steaks to enhance their tenderness. Set aside to allow the meat to absorb the flavor.
2
In a large bowl, prepare the coating by combining flour, salt, black pepper, and paprika. Mix well using a fork to ensure even distribution of spices.
3
In a separate mixing bowl, crack the eggs and beat them before incorporating the milk. Whisk until combined and smooth.
4
In a large skillet, heat enough cooking oil or shortening over medium heat until it covers the bottom by about 1/2 inch. Allow the oil to reach a hot temperature, ideal for frying.
5
For each steak, follow this dredging process: dip into the seasoned flour, then into the egg and milk mixture, back into the flour for a second coat, and finally for the last dip in the egg and milk mixture before one final coating in flour.
6
Carefully place the coated steaks in the hot oil, ensuring not to overcrowd the skillet. Fry for about 10 minutes on one side until golden brown.
7
Using metal tongs and a fork, gently turn the steaks over, taking care to avoid spilling hot oil. Fry the other side for about 5 more minutes until it achieves a golden color.
8
Once cooked, transfer the steaks to a paper towel-lined plate to drain the excess oil.
9
In the same skillet, transfer 2-4 tablespoons of the drippings into a separate sauce pot, heating it over medium heat.
10
In the pot, whisk together 1/4 cup of flour with the hot grease, stirring continuously until the mixture turns golden brown, forming a roux.
11
Slowly add in 4 cups of milk while stirring often. Continue cooking the gravy until it bubbles and thickens to your desired consistency.
12
Season the gravy with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
13
Serve the chicken fried cube steaks topped with generous amounts of creamy gravy.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Southern Comfort Chicken Fried Cube Steak?
It is a classic Southern dish featuring tenderized cube steaks that are breaded and fried until crispy, then served with a rich, homemade creamy gravy.
What type of meat is used in this recipe?
This recipe uses 2 lbs of cube steaks.
How should I prepare the cube steaks before breading?
Sprinkle meat tenderizer evenly on both sides of the cube steaks to enhance their tenderness before you begin the coating process.
What ingredients are in the seasoned flour mixture?
The coating mixture consists of 3.5 cups of flour combined with salt, black pepper, and paprika.
How do I prepare the wet batter?
Crack two eggs into a mixing bowl, beat them, and then incorporate one cup of milk, whisking until the mixture is smooth.
What kind of oil is best for frying the steaks?
You can use either cooking oil or shortening for frying the steaks.
How much oil should I put in the skillet?
Add enough oil or shortening to cover the bottom of a large skillet by about 1/2 inch.
What is the specific dredging process for the steaks?
Dip each steak into the seasoned flour, then the egg mixture, back into the flour, again into the egg mixture, and finally into the flour for a triple-layered coating.
What heat setting should be used for frying?
The oil should be heated over medium heat until it is hot enough for frying.
How long do you fry the first side of the steak?
Fry the steaks for about 10 minutes on the first side until they are golden brown.
How long do you fry the second side of the steak?
After turning the steaks over, fry the other side for approximately 5 minutes until it achieves a golden color.
What is the best way to turn the steaks in hot oil?
Use metal tongs and a fork to gently turn the steaks to avoid splashing hot oil.
How should I drain the steaks after frying?
Transfer the cooked steaks to a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil.
How do I start making the creamy gravy?
Transfer 2 to 4 tablespoons of the meat drippings from the frying skillet into a separate sauce pot over medium heat.
How do I make a roux for the gravy?
Whisk 1/4 cup of flour into the hot meat drippings and stir continuously until the mixture turns golden brown.
How much milk is needed for the gravy?
You will need 4 cups of milk for the gravy portion of the recipe.
How do I prevent lumps in the gravy?
Slowly add the milk to the roux while stirring often to ensure a smooth consistency.
How do I know when the gravy is finished?
Cook the gravy until it begins to bubble and thickens to your desired consistency.
How should the gravy be seasoned?
Season the finished gravy with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your personal taste.
What are some breakfast side dish suggestions?
For a satisfying breakfast, pair the steaks and gravy with golden fried potatoes.
What are some dinner side dish suggestions?
For dinner, serve the steaks alongside buttery mashed potatoes and fresh steamed green beans.
How many eggs are required for the batter?
The recipe calls for 2 eggs.
What is the total amount of flour used?
The recipe uses a total of 3 and a half cups of flour divided between the breading and the gravy.
What spices are used in the flour coating?
The flour is seasoned with 2 teaspoons each of salt, black pepper, and paprika.
Is this recipe considered comfort food?
Yes, it is specifically described as a heartwarming Southern comfort food dish.
Can I use the same skillet for the gravy?
The instructions recommend transferring the drippings to a separate sauce pot to prepare the gravy.
How much total milk is used in the entire recipe?
A total of 5 cups of milk are used: 1 cup for the egg wash batter and 4 cups for the gravy.
How many servings does this recipe provide?
Based on using 2 lbs of cube steak, it typically serves 4 to 6 people depending on the size of the steaks.
Why is the meat coated multiple times?
The multiple dredging steps create a thick, crispy crust that is characteristic of traditional chicken fried steak.
How should the final dish be presented?
Serve the crispy chicken fried cube steaks on a plate with a generous amount of creamy gravy poured over the top.