When I was choosing the right photo of this Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich as the header photo, I just couldn’t make up mind. Don’t the photo look amazing?
This sandwich is without a doubt a Texas favorite. Whether on a sandwich or served topped with gravy and fries or mashed potato, the chicken fried steak is served at almost every cafe, diner, mom and pops, even TexMex restaurants in Texas will have a chicken fried steak on the menu. Just the name, chicken….fried….steak….just denotes it is going to be amazing!
Today we use cube steak, the official cut you buy for chicken fried steak. My mom would use round steak that she would tenderize by beating it with the sides of a plate. It’s been around for a long time. I have another post of chicken fried steak that has a little history of the cfs and how it came about with the chuckwagon on trail rides. Best Texas Chicken Fried Steak Fingers
a Texas favorite, chicken fried steak sandwich!
So the sandwich starts with the chicken fried steak which is made by breading the cubed steak and frying it in hot oil until golden brown on all sides. The breading is key! Seasoned flour, egg mixture, back into the flour, repeat if you like, throw into the hot oil, well, not literally, but place in the oil, turning until golden brown. I like to use Peanut Oil; however, you could use vegetable oil. I also like to fry in a cast iron dutch oven. Mine is very old, it was my Grandmother’s, but you can get some really nice Lodge cast iron pieces. This is like the one I used: https://amzn.to/3D95Erh
So much for the “chicken fried steak” let’s talk about the sandwich! It starts with a buttered and toasted bun. Then it is slathered with a good mayonnaise. Add a layer of lettuce to the bottom, then the steak and last but not least top with fresh salt and peppered tomatoes and thinly sliced onions. You could add pickles, but I really don’t like pickles on this sandwich, but do what you like!
If you have leftover chicken fried steak, you have to have it for breakfast on to a homemade biscuit and then topped with gravy! Here’s my favorite buttermilk biscuit recipe:
wonderful – flaky buttermilk biscuits.
Here’s the recipe or this wonderful sandwith! Enjoy!
chicken fried steak sandwich!
Ingredients
- 1 lb cube steak or tenderized round steak
- 2 cups plus if needed all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1/8 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 2 eggs beaten plus a splash of water
- peanut oil for frying (up to about 1/3 in the pan you are using)
To Build the Sandwich
- Cooked Chicken Fried Steak
- 2-4 hamburger buns
- butter for toasting the buns
- good mayonnaise
- lettuce leaves
- sliced tomatoes
- thinly sliced onions (I used Purple)
- pickles (optional)
Instructions
For the Chicken Fried Steak
- Place the flour in a container. Add the seasonings and whisk. Add your eggs, a splash of water and a big pinch of flour in another pan and whisk until the egg and flour are combined completely.
- Cut your cube steak or tenderized round steak into bun size pieces. They will enlarge as you bread them. Lightly salt and pepper. Place one steak in the flour pressing down to help the flour adhere, turn over and do the same.
- Then put the steak in the egg mixture turning to completely coat, then back in the flour, pressing down, to completely cover with the flour. You can dredge again, add back to eggs and back in flour, or you can just do the one dredge. Either way you want to make sure they are completely covered and the flour is adhering to the steak. Set your dredged steaks on a sheet pan or plate until ready to fry.
- Heat your oil in a large skillet to medium high. When the oil is heated add your first few pieces of steak, single layer, not crowding and cook until lightly browned. When done remove and drain on a rack over a sheet pan. Draining on paper towel will make them soggy. If you are frying many keep the already cooked pieces in the oven on the wire rack on warm. Continue until all have been cooked.
To Build the Sandwich
- Heat a griddle or skillet to medium high. spread each bun with butter. Place on the hot griddle and cook until they start to brown a little. Flip and leave on the other side for just a minute.
- Slather each side of the bun with a good mayonnaise. Top each bottom with lettuce, then add you steak, tomatoes, onions, more lettuce if you like.Place the lid on and enjoy! You'll need lots of napkins!