Homestyle Chicken-Fried Steak with Creamy White Gravy

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

Tender beef steak breaded and fried to golden perfection, served with a rich, comforting white pepper gravy classic to Southern American diners. 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.

Ingredients

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

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a shallow bowl, mix 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1 tsp onion powder. Pour 1 1/2 cups buttermilk into another bowl.
2. Step 2: Dip each of the 4 cube steaks first into the flour mixture, then into buttermilk, then back into the flour, pressing to coat thoroughly. Set aside on a plate.
3. Step 3: Heat 2 cups vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering (about 350°F).
4. Step 4: Fry the steaks in batches for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
5. Step 5: For gravy, remove excess oil leaving 3 tbsp in skillet and add 3 tbsp unsalted butter over medium heat. Once melted, whisk in 1/4 cup flour and cook for 2 minutes until lightly golden and fragrant.
6. Step 6: Gradually whisk in 2 cups milk, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Cook, whisking frequently, until gravy thickens, about 5 minutes.
7. Step 7: Serve the chicken-fried steaks hot with the creamy white gravy poured generously on top.