Tender Southern Fried Steak (Print Version)

Tenderized steak fried golden, served with creamy white gravy and parsley garnish for a comforting Southern dish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Steak

01 - 4 beef cube steaks (5.3–6.3 oz each)
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour (4.4 oz)
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 1/2 cup whole milk (120 ml)
05 - 1 cup breadcrumbs (2.1 oz)
06 - 1 tsp garlic powder
07 - 1 tsp onion powder
08 - 1 tsp paprika
09 - 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
10 - 1 tsp salt
11 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
12 - Vegetable oil, for frying

→ Creamy White Gravy

13 - 3 tbsp pan drippings or unsalted butter
14 - 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
15 - 1 cup whole milk (240 ml)
16 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

17 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# How-To:

01 - Pat the cube steaks dry using paper towels to remove excess moisture.
02 - Arrange three shallow bowls: one with flour blended with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper; another with beaten eggs mixed with 1/2 cup milk; and the last with breadcrumbs.
03 - Dredge each steak first in the seasoned flour, then dip into the egg mixture, and finally coat thoroughly with breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere.
04 - Pour vegetable oil into a large skillet to a depth of approximately 0.4 inches and warm over medium-high heat.
05 - Fry the steaks in batches for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels; keep warm.
06 - Remove all but 3 tbsp of oil from the skillet. Whisk in flour and cook over medium heat for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk, scraping up browned bits, and cook until thickened, about 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
07 - Plate the fried steaks and spoon the creamy white gravy over each. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The crispy exterior gives way to impossibly tender meat inside, creating that perfect texture combination that makes comfort food so satisfying
  • Homemade white gravy transforms this from good to unforgettable, and you will want to put it on everything
02 -
  • Crowding the pan drops the oil temperature and makes the coating soggy, so fry in batches and keep finished steaks warm in the oven
  • Letting the gravy simmer too long makes it too thick, so remove it from heat as soon as it coats the back of a spoon
03 -
  • Ask your butcher to run the cube steaks through the tenderizer twice for extra fork-tender results
  • A splatter screen makes cleanup much easier, and you can always strain and reuse your oil
Go Back