Classic American Chicken-Fried Steak with Creamy White Gravy

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

Tenderized beef steak breaded and fried to golden perfection, topped with a rich, peppery white gravy for a comforting Southern meal. 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.

Ingredients

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

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a shallow bowl, mix 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1 tsp onion powder. In another bowl, pour 1 1/2 cups buttermilk.
2. Step 2: Pat dry 4 cube steaks and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Dredge each steak in the seasoned flour mixture, then dip into buttermilk, and again dredge in the flour mixture, pressing to coat well.
3. Step 3: Heat 2 cups vegetable oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (use a thermometer).
4. Step 4: Fry the steaks in batches for about 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. Transfer to a wire rack to drain.
5. Step 5: Drain all but 2 tbsp of oil from the skillet and reduce heat to medium. Add 2 tbsp unsalted butter and whisk in 2 tbsp all-purpose flour to make a roux, cooking for 2 minutes until golden and bubbling.
6. Step 6: Slowly whisk in 2 cups whole milk, stirring constantly until the gravy thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
7. Step 7: Serve the chicken-fried steaks hot with the creamy white gravy spooned generously over the top.