Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak

Name: Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 4 cubed steaks; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper; ½ cup buttermilk; 1 large egg; 1 Tablespoon hot sauce ((optional)); packet of white pepper gravy ((prepared according to the packet instructions, for serving))

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Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak is made with cubed steak and coated in the most flavorful, crunchy crispy coating. No oil needed!

COUNTRY COOKING IN THE AIR FRYER

Y’all have been asking me for an air fryer version of this country classic recipe for a while now. These things take time to test properly though and I think it is finally perfect enough to share! While I will always prefer the fried version of Chicken Fried Chicken, I was really impressed how a few small changes could really produce a fantastic result in the air fryer. The only downside is you don’t have that delicious leftover grease to make a homemade gravy but you can use your favorite packet white gravy or make it from scratch (see my recipe below in the FAQ section.) Either way, I think you’ll be really happy with how delicious this turns out!

Gravy being poured on Chicken Fried Steak.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’S):

Will this taste exactly like it was fried in oil?

No. We can get really, really close but nothing will taste exactly like it does if it were fried in oil. I know a lot of folks will tout that things fried in in air fryer taste exactly like it were fried in oil but I have never found that to be true and I cook in the air fryer a lot to create recipes for this site. It will still taste delicious and it will be very similar but not exactly the same. But if you are needing to cut back on fried foods or if you just don’t want the mess of frying in oil then this recipe will do the trick and you’ll still really enjoy it!

What is a cube steak?

A cube steak is a cut of beef, usually top sirloin or top round. It’s often tenderized with a mallet or machine, creating the signature “cubed” look. Cube steaks are generally thinner than other cuts of steak, making them ideal for quick-cooking methods like air frying!

Why did my breading fall off?

If you find that the breading falls off, it’s usually because you didn’t let the meat rest after breading it. I recommend letting the steaks sit for about 8-10 minutes before air frying them.

How do I make the white creamy gravy?

Generally when making chicken fried steak, I will take a bit of that leftover grease the steaks have been frying in and turn it into a delicious gravy (sometimes called Sawmill Gravy and sometimes called Country Gravy.) However, we aren’t able to do that here. So you can use a store-bought packet white gravy or you can make it from scratch using the following recipe:

COUNTRY WHITE GRAVY
Ingredients:
– 4 Tablespoons salted butter
– 1/4 cup all purpose flour
– 2 cups whole milk
-salt and black pepper, to taste (it’s really important to season your gravy well)

Directions:
Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Next, add in the flour with melted butter. Whisk really well to remove any lumps. Cook for about 3 minutes to get rid of the raw flour taste (ensuring you whisk occasionally so it doesn’t burn.)
Slowly pour in the milk (about a half a cup at a time) and whisk as you do so. Do this in batches until you’ve used all the milk. Simmer the gravy for about 7-8 minutes until thickened (whisking as it cooks.)
Season the gravy with salt and pepper; tasting it as you go until you get it seasoned how you like it. Remove from the heat and serve.

Do I have to preheat the Air Fryer?

Yes! Don’t skip this step. It’s essential in making sure that the fried steak cooks evenly and gives that crust a chance to crisp up.

How to store leftovers?

Leftovers should be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Chicken fried steak made in the Air Fryer on a plate with sides.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

cubed steaks – this recipe makes 4 cubed steaks. Make sure the cubed steaks aren’t super thick or you’ll need to adjust the cooking time.
garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper – this is the seasoning combination I enjoy using but you could certainly use a store-bought seasoning mix for this.
buttermilk – Buttermilk really makes a difference – the fat along with the slight tanginess from the buttermilk really adds flavor to this. The trick of adding lemon juice or vinegar to milk won’t quite have the same effect here. Heavy cream can be substituted for buttermilk.
large egg – this just acts as a binder to help the breading stay on.
hot sauce– this is optional. I don’t think it makes it super spicy but southerners love a kick of spice in their dishes but you don’t have to add it.
packet of white pepper gravy– you will prepare it according to the package directions. If you don’t want to use a packet, you can make your own white gravy for serving (see my recipe above.)

Cube steak, all-purpose flour,
garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, buttermilk, large egg, hot sauce, and white pepper gravy packet.

HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER CHICKEN FRIED STEAK

Preheat air fryer to 400F degrees. In a shallow bowl, whisk together the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. In a separate shallow bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and hot sauce (if using).

a collage of two photos: a shallow mixing bowl with flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper; a small mixing bowl with buttermilk, egg, and hot sauce.

Dip each piece of steak into the flour mixture, then dredge in the buttermilk mixture, then back into the flour mixture, being sure to cover completely and shake off any remaining flour.

a collage of three photos: a cube steak in the bowl with the flour mixture; flour covered cubed steak in the buttermilk mixture; coated cubed steak in the flour bowl mixture a second time.

Place the steaks in a single layer in the air fryer basket, and spray generously with olive oil spray. Air fry for 8-10 minutes until the coating is golden brown, then flip, spray generously with more olive oil spray and cook an additional 6-8 minutes or until the internal temp reaches 145 degrees F. (Be sure to check your steaks around the 5 minute mark, some air fryers cook faster than others)

Looking down into the basket of an Air Fryer with Chicken Fried Steak pieces.

Remove from the air fryer and repeat with any remaining steaks if necessary. Serve immediately topped with a white pepper gravy.

A piece of chicken fried steak cut in half.

CRAVING MORE RECIPES?

Made this tonight, I checked at 6 minutes, they were browned and flipped for another 6. Came out great, used the gravy recipe, it was good on the steaks. Much healthier then pan frying, thank you.