How To Feed A Loon

  • About Us
  • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers
    • Asian
    • Breads and Doughs
    • Cajun / Creole / Louisiana
    • Breakfast / Brunch
    • Comfort Food
    • Delectable Desserts
    • Entrees / Mains
    • Instant Pot
    • Italian
    • Pizza
    • Rubs, Spices and Sauces
    • Soups & Salads
    • Sides
    • Seafood
    • Southern
    • Mexican / Tex-Mex / Cal-Mex
    • Thanksgiving
    • Vegetarian
  • Videos
    • Recipe Videos
    • Web Stories
  • Work With Us
  • Contact
  • **Premium Access**
  • Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Grilling
  • Recipes
  • About Us
  • Work With Us
  • Premium
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Grilling
  • Recipes
  • About Us
  • Work With Us
  • Premium
×
Home » Recipe Index » Southern

Southern Chicken Fried Steak

Published: Jun 6, 2019 · Modified: Apr 24, 2025 by Kris Longwell · This post may contain affiliate links

3389 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Bluesky
Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

Southern Chicken Fried Steak with Cream Gravy epitomizes comfort food, offering a crispy, golden-brown coating that encases tender meat, all smothered in a rich, savory gravy. This classic dish is perfectly complemented by buttery mashed potatoes, creating a hearty meal that warms the soul and satisfies the heart.

A crispy Southern chicken fried steak on a white dinner plate topped with cream gravy and next to a pile of mashed potatoes.
Jump to:
  • 🥩 The Ingredients
  • 🐔 Substitutions and Variations
  • 👩🏼‍🍳 How To Make Southern Chicken Fried Steak
  • 🍶 How To Make Cream Gravy
  • 🍽️ How To Serve
  • 🙋🏽‍♂️ Frequently Asked Questions
  • 😋 Other Classic Southern Recipes
  • Southern Chicken Fried Steak

🥩 The Ingredients

With just a handful of ingredients, chicken fried steak transforms into a tender cut of meat enveloped in a perfectly crispy exterior, showcasing the magic of simple cooking techniques. Find ingredient notes (including substitutions and variations) below.

The ingredients for chicken fried steak with cream gravy arranged on a wooden background, including tenderized beef steak, flour, eggs, milk, heavy cream, seasonings, and a small bowl of cream for the gravy, all neatly organized for easy preparation.

🐔 Substitutions and Variations

  • Protein – Naturally, beef is the key ingredient for this dish. However, the recipe works perfectly with thin chicken breasts and Southern-fried pork cutlets. See more about the best type of beef in the FAQs below.
  • Cornstarch – The cornstarch helps to create an even more crunchy exterior, but all-purpose flour can be substituted. The cornstarch also helps the batter adhere to the steak.
  • Seasonings – We use a combination of liquid flavor enhancers, including Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Soy sauce is a good substitution. For the spices, you can use any or none of them, depending on your preferences. Just don’t forget salt. You’ll need to lightly season the steaks as well as the batter.
  • Oil – Vegetable oil is best for deep-frying the steaks. However, shortening or canola oil are acceptable choices. Avoid oils that have a distinct flavor, such as olive oil.

See the recipe card (with video) below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

👩🏼‍🍳 How To Make Southern Chicken Fried Steak

Uncooked tenderized cube steaks that have been seasoned with Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and seasoned salt on a cutting board.
  1. Step 1: Season steaks with Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, hot sauce, and black pepper.
A person dredging a tenderized cubed steak in a pan filled with cornstarch.
  1. Step 2: Dredge the steaks in cornstarch.
A person dragging a cubed steak through a chicken fried steak batter in a cake pan.
  1. Step 3: Dip steaks into a mixture of flour, beef stock, milk, egg, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. 
A person dredging a cube steak that has been dipped into a wet batter through seasoned flour in a square pan.
  1. Step 4: Shake off excess and dredge through the seasoned flour.
Two chicken fried steaks being fried in hot oil in a skillet.
  1. Step 5: Fry in hot oil until golden
Crispy Southern fried steak cutlets resting on a baking rack on a baking sheet.
  1. Step 6: Drain on paper towels.

Expert Tip

If you like a super crunchy chicken fried steak, then do a double dredge. Once you dredge the cutlet through the flour, submerge it back into the batter and then again into the flour. This will probably require you to increase the amount of batter you prepare.

🍶 How To Make Cream Gravy

Two small balls of bacon grease in a large skillet just starting to melt over medium heat.
  1. Step 1: Melt bacon grease over medium heat in a skillet.
A person using a wooden spoon the incorporate flour into melted bacon grease in a large skillet.
  1. Step 2: Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring often, for 1 minute.
A person using a whisk to stir in milk into a roux in a large silver skillet.
  1. Step 3: Whisk in the milk and cream and stir until lumps are gone.
A person stirring a wooden spoon into a thickened cream gravy in a large silver skillet.
  1. Step 4: Stir until thickened.
A person sprinkling, salt, pepper, and adobo seasoning in to cream gravy in a large skillet.
  1. Step 5: Season with salt and pepper. 
A white ceramic gravy boat filled with cream gravy on a white dinner plate.
  1. Step 6: Transfer to gravy boat and serve at once! 

🍽️ How To Serve

  • If serving a group, we place the warmed cutlets on a platter with a large fork and let guests serve themselves with the gravy passed on the side.
  • The classic side dishes to chicken fried steak are buttery mashed potatoes, Southern-style green beans, and Southern-fried okra.
  • These steaks also make unbelievably delicious chicken fried steak sandwiches, similar to the legendary DQ Dude served at Dairy Queen.

🙋🏽‍♂️ Frequently Asked Questions

Can Southern Chicken Fried Steak be made in advance?

Yes. You can prepare them about an hour before serving them and then keep them warm in a low-temp oven (225°F) on a rack in a baking sheet until ready to serve. They are still delicious hours after they are prepared, but they start to lose their wonderful crunchiness.

Why won’t the batter stick to the steak while it’s frying?

Your oil may be too deep. Place just enough oil in the skillet to barely cover the steaks as they fry. Their weight will hold down the cutlet as it cooks; ensuring the batter will adhere to the meat.

Why is it called chicken fried steak?

The technique for frying the steak is similar to frying chicken.

A person pouring cream gravy from a gravy boat over the top of Southern chicken fried steak on a white dinner plate.

😋 Other Classic Southern Recipes

  • A platter filled with Southern fried chicken surround by bowls filled with green beans, mashed potatoes, and biscuits.
    Southern Fried Chicken
  • A white bowl holding stewed okra and tomatoes.
    Stewed Okra and Tomatoes
  • A basket lined with red and white checkered wax paper and filled with Southern-fried shrimp along with a lemon wedge and small bowl of cocktail sauce.
    Southern-Fried Shrimp with Homemade Cocktail Sauce
  • A close-up view of a slow cooker chopped brisket sandwich with barbecue sauce drizzled over the top of the meat with a couple of pickle slices and a thinly slice of onion on top, too.
    Slow Cooker Chopped Brisket Sandwiches

Ready to make the best dish this side of Fort Worth, Texas? Go for it!

And when you do, be sure to take a photo of it, post it on Instagram, and tag @HowToFeedaLoon and hashtag #HowToFeedaLoon!

A crispy Southern chicken fried steak on a white dinner plate topped with cream gravy and next to a pile of mashed potatoes.

Southern Chicken Fried Steak

Southern Chicken Fried Steak is a staple down South. We developed this recipe about 15 years ago, and think it will rival any Chicken Fried Steak you'll ever try. Yummy yum yum!
4.80 from 10 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Entree
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
For the Gravy (can be made ahead): 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 594kcal
Author: Kris Longwell

Video

Equipment

  • 1 large (12-inch) sturdy skillet ie, cast-iron

Ingredients

For the Steaks

  • vegetable oil for frying
  • 6 8 oz. cubed steaks or round sirloin steaks, tenderized
  • 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoon seasoned salt, such as Adobo divided
  • Fresh cracked black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoon Louisiana hot sauce
  • 1 cup corn starch
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour divided
  • ½ cup beef stock
  • 1 cup milk might need more if batter is too thick
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon onion salt or regular salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

For the Gravy

  • 2 tablespoon bacon grease or butter
  • 2 to 3 tablespoon flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Adobo seasoning optional

Instructions

Make the Chicken Fried Steaks

  • In a large skillet, add just enough of the oil so it reaches about ¼ inch up the side. Heat to 350°F, or until a pinch of bread tossed in sizzles and turns a nice golden brown in a couple of minutes.
    vegetable oil, 6 8 oz. cubed steaks
  • Season one side of the steaks with Worcestershire sauce, Adobo, and pepper.
    2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoon seasoned salt, such as Adobo, Fresh cracked black pepper
  • Season the other side with hot sauce, Adobo, and pepper.
    2 tablespoon Louisiana hot sauce
  • On a platter or plate, spread the cornstarch.
    1 cup corn starch
  • In a medium bowl, make a wet batter by mixing 1½ cups flour with the stock, milk, egg, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. (If too thick, add more milk…the consistency should be like a thin/runny milkshake)
    3 cups all-purpose flour, ½ cup beef stock, 1 cup milk, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon onion salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • On a separate platter, add remaining flour plus 1 tablespoon of the Adobo seasoning, mix well.
  • Dredge the prepared steaks in the cornstarch.
  • Add the steaks to the wet batter. Let the excess drip off.
  • Add to the flour mixture.
  • Working in batches, carefully place the steaks in the hot oil.
  • Cook for about 8 minutes, or until golden brown. Approx. 4 minutes per side
  • Drain for a couple of minutes on a plate lined with paper towels. (Keep cooked steaks in low-temp oven (200°F) until ready to serve.)

Make the Gravy

  • Heat the bacon grease (or butter) over medium heat.
    2 tablespoon bacon grease
  • Add the flour, and stir to incorporate. Add more flour if too wet (should resemble wet sand). Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
    2 to 3 tablespoon flour
  • Gradually add the milk and cream, whisking vigorously until lumps are gone. Continue to stir with a wooden spoon until thickened.
    2 cups milk, 1 cup heavy cream
  • Add salt (and seasoned salt, if using) and pepper, to taste.
    salt and pepper, 1 teaspoon Adobo seasoning
  • Pour gravy over cooked steaks.

Notes

NOTE: Watch the video near the top of the recipe for visual guidance.
Look for tenderized cubed steaks or thin-cut sirloin steaks in the meat department of your supermarket. You can go with a more expensive cut of meat, if desired. We’ve done this recipe with a ribeye steak, and the result was amazing.  I (Kris) did this when competing on Guys Grocery Games, and it was a HUGE hit with Guy and the judges. But, cubed steaks are traditional and delicious. 
Leftovers will keep wrapped in foil in the fridge for several days. Reheat (in foil) in a low-temp oven (225°F) until heated through, or nuke in the microwave. The steaks won’t be very crispy, but they will still be yummy. They make amazing sandwiches!

Nutrition

Calories: 594kcal | Carbohydrates: 79g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 602mg | Potassium: 429mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1385IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 205mg | Iron: 4mg
Tried this recipe? Take a Picture!Mention @HowToFeedALoon or tag #HowToFeedALoon!

More Southern

  • A shallow white bowl filled with best-ever ham salad surrounded by a plate of green leaf lettuces, slices of bread, plates, and glasses of iced tea.
    Best-Ever Ham Salad
  • A spoon filled with Carolina mustard sauce being raised from a jar filled with the sauce with a sliced brisket nearby.
    Carolina Mustard Sauce
  • A round pot filled with Southern-style green beans on a white and blue striped place setting.
    Southern-Style Green Beans
  • An overhead view of a white soup bowl that is filled with homemade chicken and dumplings including sautéed carrots and celery.
    Homemade Chicken and Dumplings

Comments

  1. 92 jeeto game says

    May 24, 2025 at 2:30 pm

    This Southern Chicken Fried Steak looks absolutely delicious! I love how you detailed the process; it’s making me want to whip this up for dinner tonight. Can’t wait to try your gravy recipe as well!

    Reply
  2. kd says

    May 01, 2022 at 12:07 pm

    5 stars
    Oh my (spoken in my best George Takei impression). What a lovely crispy coating! And so much flavor. Confession – not only is this my first time making CFS, it’s my first time eating it. As a lifelong Yankee (through geography NOT baseball affiliation, Red Sox Nation) I don’t understand white gravy so this was paired with my mushroom sage gravy but honestly, the best bits were those crispy edges with no gravy whatsoever! I love how you season everything so nicely. Never overpowering, always flavorful.

    For those who have had the coating fall off, I wonder if bringing the steak to room temperature before preparing would help?

    xx Kathy

    Reply
    • Don says

      September 22, 2024 at 3:02 pm

      The recipe says for 8 servings, however the ingredients only call for 6 – 8oz round steaks? I’m guessing it is supposed to be 8 – 6oz round steaks

      Reply
      • Kris Longwell says

        September 24, 2024 at 10:20 am

        Hi Don! Sorry for the delayed response. We’ll update that. It should be 8 6 oz. steaks. It’s really…1 steak per serving, no matter what the size. We’ll update. Thanks for the heads up and we hope you make the steaks…they are soooo good!

  3. Jane Johnson says

    October 12, 2021 at 10:19 am

    5 stars
    Kries, I made this last night. Absolutely delicious. I did a happy dance through my living room after tasting it. My puppies danced with me. Thank You So Much. Will make this again for my friends. Love you and Wesley.

    Janie

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      October 12, 2021 at 4:23 pm

      Hi Janie!! You are singing sweet music to us right now? We get super excited when anyone tries our chicken fried steak and loves it as much as we do!!! We are THRILLED you had such great success and THANK YOU to the moon and back for letting us know and for the amazing review!! That means the world to us!! xoxo Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  4. Stacy Lynn Alexander says

    October 23, 2020 at 9:57 am

    5 stars
    This recipe far surpasses your other one for chicken fried steak, and that one was good too! The batter is so flavorful, and the steak turns out so moist inside and with a nice crunchy crust on the outside. (Use homemade beef stock, if you have it.) The gravy is a little bland for my taste, but that’s how white gravy is. I might make a brown gravy next time, and there will be a next time!

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      October 23, 2020 at 11:03 am

      Hi Stacy! Thank you so much! We are ALWAYS going back and tweaking recipes and updating when we feel we’ve improved the overall taste. So, we are THRILLED to hear that you loved the changes we made. That is one of our all-time favorite dishes, so that makes us so so happy!! And thank you for letting us know and for the GREAT review! We can’t tell you enough how much that means to us!! All the best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  5. Jim Tompkins says

    April 19, 2020 at 2:52 pm

    4 stars
    I made this for my partner and I. I used a sirloin and a cast iron skillet. I use an instant read to make sure the oil was 350 DegF. The coating was super crunchy and tasty. However the coating did not stick to the steak, It would fall off then we cut the steak. What went wrong?

    Love the blog. Thanks for all you do.

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      April 20, 2020 at 12:22 pm

      Hi Jim! So sorry to hear the crust came away from the steak. That can happen from time to time. Usually, the corn starch dredge helps the crust to adhere to the steak. Maybe try again and make sure the steak is fully covered with the corn starch before adding the wet batter. Let us know if you try it again and how it turns out! And thank YOU for the support and kind words. That means the world to us!! Best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  6. Michelle Hammett says

    September 27, 2019 at 7:12 am

    5 stars
    This is the best Chicken Fried Steak ever. Love the crispiness and the flavor is wonderful. This is the only recipe I will use from now on.

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      September 30, 2019 at 11:20 am

      Awesome, Michelle!!! So glad you love the chicken fried steak…it’s definitely a favorite dish in our house!!

      Reply
  7. Jessica says

    June 13, 2019 at 11:28 am

    5 stars
    My daughter and I made this last night, it is the Best Thing Ever! We had it for supper last night and we all had it for breakfast this morning again! Thank you for this delicious recipe, we’ll be making this again soon. I took a picture, I would post but I don’t see an option. Also shared your video on my FB page. YUMMY

    Reply
    • krislongwell says

      June 14, 2019 at 11:21 am

      Hi Jessica!! That’s the best news we’re heard all week!! AWESOME!! So glad y’all loved it. We sure love it a lot, too!! And thank you so much for letting us know! Means the world to us!! Stay in touch! All the best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  8. Tracee says

    June 06, 2019 at 4:39 pm

    5 stars
    First…they sent you home for serving fried meat in the first two rounds! I was yelling at the tv, “he’s from Texas!” Seriously, couldn’t believe they kept the chef who gave them canned sloppy joe sauce in spades.

    I’m making this again tomorrow and will use beer in the batter…love this!

    Reply
    • krislongwell says

      June 07, 2019 at 9:42 am

      I know!!! I was thinking the same thing…oh well. So glad you like the CFS…beer is definitely a good addition. I’m going to add that back into the recipe. I did that on the fly on the show, and it was good!!

      Reply
  9. Jan says

    June 06, 2019 at 3:30 pm

    5 stars
    You know, boys, you CAN also use this on chicken. I wanted chicken fried steak but had no beef and it was too hot to go to the store. Found chicken in the freezer. tenderized the chicken and followed your recipe. Worked just fine. We’re gonna have the REAL thing this weekend after we go shopping. (Gotta tell ya, my husband was disappointed it was chicken, but said it’s the best chicken he’s ever had!)

    Reply
    • krislongwell says

      June 07, 2019 at 9:43 am

      Chicken Fried Chicken is the bomb!! Chicken Fried STEAK is even better in our book. See what the hubby thinks and let us know!!!

      Reply
  10. Stacey says

    February 10, 2019 at 7:58 pm

    5 stars
    Tried this tonight. It was delicious. The whole family loved it!

    Reply
  11. Elizabeth says

    November 27, 2018 at 7:00 am

    4 stars
    There’s also a meat press “Fast Cutlet Maker V2”. It flattens the meat and create a cube pattern on it. It’s popular among germany people.

    Reply
  12. Kristin says

    October 02, 2015 at 5:09 pm

    Definitely can’t take the Texas out of a person! I had such a hankering for chicken fried steak yesterday so I got the steak but was hunting for a recipe today. I think it is more Texan to call it “chicken fried” instead of “southern fried”. I stumbled across your blog today and look forward to using your recipe. Thanks!

    Reply
    • krislongwell says

      October 06, 2015 at 10:59 am

      Awesome, Kristin! Growing up in Texas, I sure understand the need for a delicious chicken fried steak recipe. I agree, growing up, it was always called Chicken Fried Steak, but I have found most people outside of the Lone Star State think that means its some sort of chicken dish. This is one of our favorite recipes…Let me know how it turns out!! All the best, Kris & Wesley (The Loon)

      Reply
  13. Thalia @ butter and brioche says

    September 15, 2014 at 10:20 pm

    Now this is some seriously delicious looking fried chicken.. definitely could devour a massive bowlful of it right now. Thanks for the recipe, saved to recreate!

    Reply
    • krislongwell says

      September 16, 2014 at 9:17 am

      Hi Thalia! This is actually a popular dish in the Southern U.S. (I grew up in Texas). It’s seasoned/tenderized round steak (beef) that is battered and then deep fried. Served with black peppercorn cream gravy. It’s crazy good!! I guess it’s called chicken fried steak, because you fry the steak in a similar way you would fried chicken. Yum!!

      Reply
4.80 from 10 votes

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Welcome!

Kris & Wesley (The Loon) live for fun, food, and fabulousness. "How to Feed a Loon" is a celebration of just that. Come join us on this joyous culinary ride.

More about us

Memorial Day Cookout

  • Three grilled chicken leg quarters on an oval platter surround by grilled lemon halves and fresh herbs.
    Best Grilled Chicken

  • A straight-on view of grilled vegetables with Italian dressing all resting on a large bamboo oval platter.
    Grilled Vegetables with Italian Dressing

  • Black and bleu burger on a white plate
    Rockin’ Black and Bleu Burger

  • Lamb lollipops in a white bowl
    Lamb Lollipops

  • A grilled whole beer-can chicken sitting on a cutting board next to a carving knife and a bowl of BBQ sauce
    Grilled Beer-Can Chicken with BBQ Sauce

  • A straight-on view of a grilled balsamic glazed pork chop that is sitting next to a pile of roasted vegetables with another plate of the same in the background.
    Grilled Balsamic Glazed Pork Chops

Popular Recipes

  • best-ever chicken salad recipe
    Best-Ever Chicken Salad

  • A white soup filled with roasted tomato basil soup next to sliced grilled cheese sandwiches.
    Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

  • Mahi Mahi tacos on a wooden table in a taco holder
    Amazing Mahi Mahi Tacos

  • A lemon wedge being squeezed onto a platter of chicken francese
    Chicken Francese

  • Southern Shrimp and Cheesy Grits recipe
    Southern Shrimp and Cheesy Grits

  • Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder on a platter with a side of gravy
    Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder

Footer

↑ back to top

Explore

  • Recipe Index
  • About Us
  • Subscribe

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025 How to Feed a Loon • This website contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on a product link, we may receive a commission in return. How To Feed a Loon is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

3389 shares

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.