Chicken fried steak – among the most famous dishes of southern-style cuisine – no longer appears only on the tables of those in that part of the United States. Many people born in the south, who are raised on chicken fried steak, consider the dish a weekly staple, and nearly every family holds dear its own “secret” recipe. Two versions appear below:

Old-Fashioned Chicken Fried Steak

1 1/2 pounds beef cube steak (about 6)
salt and pepper
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup milk

Beat egg in shallow glass pan or pie plate. Add milk and mix until combined thoroughly. In separate shallow glass pan, pour flour. Salt and pepper both sides of cube steaks. Heat oil in large skillet over medium to medium-high flame. Dip, one steak at a time, first into flour, then into egg and milk mixture. Dip again into flour, shake off loose flour and carefully put into skillet. Fry until golden brown on both sides. Remove from skillet and drain on paper towels. Serve chicken fried steak with pan gravy (see below), mashed potatoes, and green beans or a fresh salad.

Pan Gravy for Chicken Fried Steak

Pour off all but about 1/4 cup of oil and pan drippings from cooking steak above. Heat, then add 2 tablespoons flour, stirring constantly with whisk. Cook until flour is browned. Slowly add two cups milk, continuing to stir with whisk. Stir until thickened. If too thick, add a little more milk or water until desired consistency is reached. Serve over chicken fried steak or on the side in a small bowl.

1 1/2 pounds top round steak, cut into six pieces and tenderized by butcher
1 egg
salt and pepper
garlic powder
onion powder
paprika
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup milk

Cook the same as for above (Old-Fashioned Chicken Fried Steak) recipe. The only difference here is the addition of the garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika to be sprinkled on as with the salt and pepper – which makes for a slightly spicier chicken fried steak.

Caution: Chicken fried steak is addictive. After you cook this the first time, make sure you forever have the ingredients on hand – or be prepared to visit your grocer frequently. For everything you've wanted to know about killer BBQ, including close guarded secrets of competition-level barbecuers, Click Here.