Description
This Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich is a Southern American comfort food favorite featuring tender cube steaks coated in a crispy, seasoned flour crust, fried to golden perfection, and served on toasted sandwich buns with fresh lettuce, tomato, pickles, and your choice of cheese and sauce. Perfect for a hearty main course that combines crunchy, juicy, and flavorful elements in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
For the steak:
- 4 cube steaks (about 4–6 oz each)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil, for frying
For the sandwich:
- 4 sandwich buns or brioche rolls, toasted
- 4 slices cheddar or American cheese (optional)
- Lettuce leaves
- Tomato slices
- Pickles
- Mayonnaise, mustard, or spicy mayo
Instructions
- Prepare coatings: In a shallow dish, whisk together the buttermilk and egg until fully combined. In another shallow dish, mix the flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper thoroughly to create a seasoned flour mixture.
- Coat the steaks: Dip each cube steak first into the seasoned flour mixture, then into the buttermilk and egg mixture, and back into the flour mixture, pressing firmly to ensure a thick, even coating that will create a crunchy crust when fried.
- Heat oil and fry steaks: Pour vegetable oil into a large skillet to a depth of approximately ½ inch and heat it over medium heat until it reaches about 350°F. Fry the coated steaks one or two at a time, cooking for 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until the crust is golden brown and crispy. Drain the cooked steaks on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Assemble the sandwiches: Spread mayonnaise, mustard, or spicy mayo evenly on the toasted sandwich buns. Layer fresh lettuce leaves, tomato slices, and pickles on the bottom bun. Place the crispy fried steak on top, add a slice of cheese if desired, and finish with the top bun. Serve the sandwiches immediately while hot and crispy.
Notes
- For extra richness, add a drizzle of gravy over the steak before closing the sandwich.
- Spice it up by using pepper jack cheese and adding hot sauce to your mayo.
- Pairs exceptionally well with classic sides like fries or coleslaw for a complete meal.
