Chicken-Fried Steak with Creamy Pan Gravy

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-19 · Updated 2026-05-19

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A classic American comfort dish featuring tenderized beef steak breaded and fried to a golden crisp, topped with a rich, creamy peppered gravy. This American-inspired comfort-food recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs cube steak, all-purpose flour, salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 650 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 American cuisine 650 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 pieces (about 6 oz each) cube steak
1 1/2 cups, divided all-purpose flour
2 tsp, divided salt
1 tsp, divided black pepper
1 tsp paprika
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 cups whole milk

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Instructions

Step 1: In a shallow bowl, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp paprika.
Step 2: Pour 1 cup buttermilk into another shallow bowl. Season 4 cube steaks with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
Step 3: Dip each steak first into the flour mixture, then into the buttermilk, then back into the flour mixture, pressing to coat well.
Step 4: Heat 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat until shimmering (about 350°F).
Step 5: Fry steaks in batches for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a wire rack to drain.
Step 6: Drain oil, reserving 2 tbsp in skillet. Whisk in 2 tbsp unsalted butter and 2 tbsp flour, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
Step 7: Gradually whisk in 2 cups whole milk, stirring constantly until gravy thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 8: Serve steaks topped with creamy pan gravy.