Country Fried Steak

Country Fried Steak is a simple recipe made with coated cube steaks and a delicious gravy sauce that can be ready in about 30 minutes.

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Country Fried Steak is one of my favorite meals that I often forget about. I feel like this is a highly underrated Southern favorite meal. That may be why I don’t think about it.

The first time I ever had country-fried steak was when my aunt made it. I was living with them in college so I learned a lot of her recipes. My mom doesn’t eat anything from a cow, so we didn’t eat much beef growing up.

I haven’t found a reliable way to make my own sausage gravy mix from scratch yet, so I get the package from the spice aisle at the grocery store. The gravy I make for Sausage Biscuits & Gravy worked ok when I tried it, but it still wasn’t the same flavor.

The size of the cube steaks will vary from place to place, but I always find the ones we get are huge. It helps to cut them in half or into quarters before starting to make them easier to handle. This isn’t necessary but can help them fit in the bowls and pan.

What Sides Go with Country Fried Steak?

My favorite sides to go with this country-fried steak recipe are creamy mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. Both of them are delicious with the extra gravy on them. 

The best vegetables are green beans, asparagus, collard greens, brussels sprouts, or broccoli and carrots.  

You could also serve it with some soft buttermilk biscuits. This ends up being the best comfort food meal. 

What Meat Works Best for Country Fried Steak?

The best cuts of meat to use are cube steak. If you can’t get cube steak, you can also purchase round steak and use a meat mallet or meat tenderizer to make tender steaks. If they are still thick, you can use a rolling pin to flatten the steaks out. 

Want More Seasoning?

While I like using seasoned salt for this, you can also use your own combination of seasonings, too. If you do, I suggest some kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and perhaps a dash of hot sauce. 

What is Country Fried Steak?

Country fried steak is a classic Southern comfort food that combines tenderized beef steak with a crispy breaded coating, pan-fried to golden perfection. Traditionally, it is served with creamy white gravy made from pan drippings, making it a hearty meal that has been loved for generations. This dish is often confused with chicken fried steak, but country fried steak usually has a darker, brown gravy instead of the peppery white gravy more commonly paired with chicken fried steak.

Ingredients and Substitutions

This recipe uses cube steak, which is a tenderized cut of beef that cooks quickly and stays juicy inside the crispy coating. If you can’t find cube steak at your local grocery store, you can use top round or sirloin and pound it thin with a meat mallet. For the breading, all-purpose flour works best, but you can add a small amount of cornstarch for extra crispiness. Buttermilk gives the coating a tangy flavor and helps the breading stick well, though regular milk with a splash of vinegar can be used as a substitute. Seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper add flavor to the crust, but you can adjust the spices to suit your family’s taste.

How to Make Country Fried Steak with Gravy

The process begins by dredging the cube steak in seasoned flour, dipping it in buttermilk, then coating it again in flour for a thick, crunchy crust. The steaks are pan-fried in hot oil until golden brown on both sides, then transferred to a plate while the gravy is prepared. To make the gravy, the leftover oil and browned bits in the skillet are combined with a little flour to form a roux, then whisked with milk until smooth and creamy. Season the gravy with salt and pepper before pouring it over the hot steaks. Serve immediately for the best texture.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Leftover country fried steak can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. To keep the coating crispy, reheat the steaks in the oven at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes rather than using the microwave. The gravy can be stored separately in a small container and reheated in a saucepan over low heat with a splash of milk to thin it out. If you’d like to freeze the steaks, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze solid, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to two months. Reheat from frozen in the oven until warmed through.

Tips for the Best Country Fried Steak

Make sure the oil is hot before adding the steaks so the breading crisps up without becoming greasy. Do not overcrowd the pan, as this will lower the oil temperature and prevent an even crust. For extra flavor, add a little cayenne pepper to the flour mixture for a hint of spice. Let the fried steaks rest on a wire rack instead of paper towels to help maintain their crunchy coating.

Country Fried Steak FAQ

Country Fried Steak Step by Step

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
• 2 eggs (beaten)
• 2/3 cup bread crumbs
• 4 cube steaks
• 1 pkg sausage gravy mix
• 12 oz evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup water

Preparation

Over medium heat, warm the olive oil in a large skillet. 

Set up your dredging station. Whisk the flour and seasoned salt in a shallow bowl. Add the eggs to a second bowl and the breadcrumbs to a third. Sometimes it’s easier to use a plate for the flour and breadcrumbs so the steaks fit better. 

Coat each steak by dredging first in the seasoned flour mixture, then the eggs, and then the breadcrumbs. During each step, make sure they are fully covered. It helps to press the flour and breadcrumbs into the steaks. Continue with the remaining steaks. 

Place the breaded steak into the hot oil. Cook for about 5-10 minutes.

Flip and cook the other side until the meat is cooked through and golden brown. I prefer to slow-cook my steaks so they don’t get too dark on the outside while still cooking in the middle. If you prefer yours rarer, you can cook them over medium-high heat and flip them sooner. 

Remove the steaks from the pan to a paper towel-lined plate and cover to keep them warm. I find a clean dish towel laid gently over the steaks works well for this. Pour the evaporated milk and sausage gravy mix into the pan drippings and whisk. Add the water and continue to whisk until there are no more lumps. 

Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 2-3 minutes until the gravy is warm and thickens slightly. Serve the steaks smothered in the creamy gravy. Sprinkle with black pepper if desired. 

Country Fried Steak Leftovers

Storage: The best way to store the leftover country fried steak is in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Store the gravy separately from the steak.

Reheating: Reheat the steaks in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through. The gravy is best heated in a saucepan over medium heat until warm. If the gravy is too thick, add a bit of water or milk and stir constantly so it doesn’t scald.

Recipe

Country Fried Steak

Country Fried Steak is a simple recipe made with coated cube steaks and a delicious gravy sauce that can be ready in about 30 minutes. 

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Course:

Main Dish

Cuisine:

American

Keyword:

beef

|

gravy

|

steak

Servings: 4

5 from 2 votes

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
• 2 eggs (beaten)
• 2/3 cup bread crumbs
• 4 cube steaks
• 1 pkg sausage gravy mix
• 12 oz evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup water

Recommended Equipment

• Saute Pan
• Whisk – Nylon
• Tongs

Instructions

• Preheat large saute pan on low and add oil
• Combine flour and seasoned salt in medium bowl
• Place egg in second bowl
• Place bread crumbs in third bowl
• Dredge each steak in flour, then eggs, then bread crumbs and place in preheated pan
• Cook until completely done, flipping at least once
• Remove from pan and cover to keep warm
• Stir in gravy mix and gradually add water and milk
• Stir continuously until gravy is smooth
• Reduce heat and cook 2-3 minutes, stirring often, to heat through
• Serve gravy over steaks

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Nutrition Facts

Country Fried Steak

Amount Per Serving

Calories 736 Calories from Fat 378

% Daily Value*

Fat 42g65%

Saturated Fat 15g75%

Trans Fat 2g

Cholesterol 238mg79%

Sodium 1147mg48%

Potassium 892mg25%

Carbohydrates 37g12%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 11g12%

Protein 48g96%

Vitamin A 320IU6%

Vitamin C 1.7mg2%

Calcium 306mg31%

Iron 4.6mg26%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

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