Description
Hearty chicken fried steak delivers pure Southern comfort with crispy golden breading and creamy pepper gravy. Home cooks can recreate this beloved diner classic with simple ingredients and straightforward techniques for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 10–12 oz (280–340 g) breakfast sausage, cut into tiny pieces or grated
- 2 cups chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 tbsps butter
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- Salt to taste
- Ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Tenderize steak to uniform quarter-inch thickness using meat mallet, ensuring consistent texture and cooking potential.
- Seasoning Foundation: Apply kosher salt and black pepper across meat surface to establish robust flavor profile.
- Coating Development: Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, Montreal Steak Seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in wide container for comprehensive breading.
- Liquid Mixture: Whisk buttermilk and egg until smooth, creating binding agent for breading process.
- Breading Technique: Execute triple-layer coating by dusting steak in flour mixture, submerging in buttermilk-egg wash, then re-coating with seasoned flour for maximum crispiness.
- Frying Setup: Heat vegetable oil in heavy-bottomed skillet to 350-375 degrees Fahrenheit, establishing ideal frying environment.
- Cooking Process: Carefully place breaded steaks in hot oil, frying 3-4 minutes per side until achieving deep golden-brown exterior and fully cooked interior.
- Oil Drainage: Transfer fried steaks to paper towel-lined plate to remove excess oil while maintaining crisp texture.
- Gravy Foundation: Brown sausage in same skillet until caramelized, then set aside temporarily.
- Roux Creation: Melt butter, incorporate flour, and stir continuously for one minute to develop rich base.
- Gravy Development: Gradually add chicken broth while whisking to prevent lumps, creating smooth liquid consistency.
- Flavor Enhancement: Introduce heavy cream, return sausage to skillet, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Final Touch: Sprinkle chopped parsley over gravy, stirring to distribute flavor and create vibrant presentation.
Notes
- Meat Tenderizing Tip: Pound steak evenly to ensure uniform cooking and prevent tough, chewy texture.
- Seasoning Strategy: Layer flavors by generously seasoning meat before coating for maximum taste penetration.
- Coating Crispiness Hack: Use triple-layer technique with flour, buttermilk-egg wash, and flour again to create an incredibly crunchy exterior.
- Oil Temperature Control: Maintain precise 350-375°F oil temperature for perfect golden-brown crust without burning or undercooking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 457
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 890 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg