Crispy Cube Steak Sandwiches with Horseradish Aioli and Fried Onion Straws

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-08 · Updated 2026-08-08

Golden fried cube steak piled high on toasted brioche buns with tangy horseradish aioli, crispy fried onion straws, dill pickles, and shredded iceberg lettuce. A heartier, more satisfying alternative to the classic fast-food burger. This American-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs cube steak, brioche buns, all-purpose flour for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 670 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 1.25 lbs), halved cube steak
• 4 large brioche buns
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 1 large, cut into rings yellow onion
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• for frying vegetable oil
• 8 slices dill pickles
• 1 cup, shredded iceberg lettuce
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• to taste salt and black pepper

The cast-iron skillet we’d sear this in → Best Cast Iron Skillets for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Make horseradish aioli: whisk together mayonnaise, horseradish, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice. Season with salt and refrigerate.
2. Step 2: Set up dredging station: combine flour, garlic powder, cayenne, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a shallow dish. Whisk egg into buttermilk in a second dish.
3. Step 3: Season cube steak pieces with salt and pepper. Dip in buttermilk mixture, then coat thoroughly in seasoned flour.
4. Step 4: Separate onion rings. Dip rings in remaining buttermilk, toss in remaining seasoned flour to coat.
5. Step 5: Pour 2 inches of vegetable oil into a heavy pot or deep skillet. Heat to 365°F.
6. Step 6: Fry onion straws in batches 2-3 minutes until golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels and season immediately with salt.
7. Step 7: In the same oil, fry breaded cube steak pieces 3-4 minutes per side until deep golden. Drain on paper towels.
8. Step 8: Toast brioche buns cut-side down in a dry skillet until golden.
9. Step 9: Spread horseradish aioli on both cut sides of each bun. Layer with shredded lettuce, fried cube steak, dill pickles, and a generous handful of onion straws. Close and serve immediately.