Description
Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and topped with silky peppered gravy—this Country Fried Steak with Creamy Homemade Gravy is the kind of hearty Southern comfort food that turns a regular dinner into a nostalgic feast. Perfectly seasoned cube steak gets breaded and fried to golden perfection, then bathed in rich, homemade gravy that’s easy to make from scratch.
Ingredients
2 to 4 cube steaks
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 large eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup vegetable oil (for frying)
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (for gravy)
2 cups whole milk or cream
Salt and black pepper to taste (for gravy)
Instructions
1. Prepare three shallow bowls: one with plain flour, one with a mixture of eggs and buttermilk, and one with seasoned flour including salt, pepper, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
2. Dredge cube steaks in the plain flour first, then dip in egg-buttermilk mix, and finally coat thoroughly in the seasoned flour. Let them rest for 10 minutes.
3. In a cast iron skillet, heat oil to 350°F. Fry steaks 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to drain.
4. For the gravy, drain the oil, keeping 2 tablespoons and browned bits. Add butter, whisk in 2 tablespoons of flour, and cook for 1–2 minutes.
5. Gradually pour in milk, whisking constantly. Simmer until thickened. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
6. Serve the steaks hot, smothered in the creamy gravy. Optionally garnish with parsley.
Notes
For the crispiest coating, let the breaded steaks rest for 10–15 minutes before frying.
If your gravy becomes too thick, thin it with a splash of milk while reheating.
A wire rack (instead of paper towels) keeps the crust crispy after frying.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pan-Fried
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 steak
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 23g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
Keywords: country fried steak, southern comfort food, creamy gravy, beef steak