Chicken-Fried Steak with Creamy Pepper 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.

Juicy beef steak breaded and fried to a golden crisp, topped with a rich, creamy black pepper gravy for classic American comfort food. This American-inspired comfort-food recipe, ready in about 35 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: 15 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 American cuisine 650 cal/serving

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Ingredients

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

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Instructions

Step 1: In a shallow bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp paprika, and 1 tsp salt. In another bowl, pour 1 1/2 cups buttermilk.
Step 2: Season 4 cube steaks (6 oz each) with 1 tsp salt. Dip each steak first into the flour mixture, then into the buttermilk, and back into the flour mixture, pressing firmly to coat.
Step 3: Heat 2 cups vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 350°F. Fry the steaks, two at a time, for 3-4 minutes per side until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels.
Step 4: Remove all but 3 tbsp of oil from the skillet and add 3 tbsp unsalted butter over medium heat. Stir in 3 tbsp all-purpose flour and cook, whisking continuously, for 2 minutes until a light golden roux forms.
Step 5: Gradually whisk in 2 cups whole milk, continue whisking until the gravy thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
Step 6: Serve the chicken-fried steaks hot, topped generously with the creamy pepper gravy.