Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak

This Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak is a delicious Southern comfort food recipe that’s simple and quick to make in the air fryer, then served with a creamy country gravy.

Growing up, my mom made chicken fried steak all the time, but it was a major affair with a frying pan full of hot oil in which to fry it all. It took hours and made a huge mess. I never really made it myself due to that, but I wanted to try it in the air fryer to see if I could cut down on the mess.

Low and behold, the air fryer is the perfect way to make chicken fried steak without all that oil and without any of the mess. You just dredge the steak and cook it for 8 minutes in the air fryer. It’s perfect.

Why You’ll Love It

• Achieving a crispy exterior is effortlessly done in the air fryer, eliminating the necessity for deep frying to get that satisfying crunch.
• You’ll get a perfect balance between a crispy exterior and juicy interior. Say goodbye to unevenly cooked steaks – the hot circulating air in the fryer guarantees a deliciously tender and flavorful result every time.
• Easy cleanup! Say farewell to dealing with large quantities of hot oil or greasy splatters associated with traditional frying methods.

starry says: Came out crispy and delish

Mark says: I hate frying things but love chicken fried steak. It took me a minute to get the hang of it. The best tip is to make sure that you spray the chicken well with oil so that the flour isn’t super dry. I will definitely make it again.

Ingredients You’ll Need

We usually serve this steak on a bed of mashed potatoes, which you can make in your Instant Pot, if you have one. You could also serve it with air fryer vegetables or crispy potatoes, with homemade country gravy poured over the top.

• Cube steaks – Cube steaks or another thin steak is the way to go there. You will need to pound it down to 1/4″ thick with a meat mallet, but it’s much easier if you start with a thin steak.
• All purpose flour – The flour is for the dredging station and for the country gravy
• Seasonings: salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder
• Buttermilk – You can use regular milk, but believe me that buttermilk is better, and it means you don’t need to use eggs in the dredge.
• Butter – I use salted butter for making the country gravy, to add lots of great flavor
• Milk or half and half – Also to make the country gravy.

Helpful Tips

• Spray the air fryer basket with oil so the steak doesn’t stick.
• Spray the chicken fried steak with oil so that there isn’t any dry flour showing. This will help the outside get nice and crispy.
• The thinner you pound the steak the faster it will cook.
• It’s best to check your meat always with a meat thermometer to make sure it’s reached the proper temperature.

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak

Step 1: Prep the steak

Pound the steaks to about 1/4” thick with a meat mallet. Usually cube steak starts off pretty thin, so you can just pound it a few times on each side. Doing this will also help the flour and buttermilk stick to the meat to form a nice crunchy crust.

Step 2: Create a dredging station

Create two dredging stations: one with the flour, salt, pepper, garlic and onion powders, and one with the buttermilk.

Dredge the chicken to coat in the flour, then dip it in the buttermilk. Dredge it through the flour one more time, shaking off the excess.

Step 3: Air fry

Spray the air fryer basket with oil so the steak doesn’t stick.

Place the steak in the air fryer basket and spray the tops with oil so that there isn’t any dry flour. Cook on 400°F(205°C) for 8 minutes, flipping and spraying the tops halfway through. The steak needs to reach 145°F(65°C) internal temperature to be medium rare.

It’s best to check the meat with a thermometer to be sure you’ve reached this level before removing the steaks from the air fryer. The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your steak.

Step 4: Make the country gravy

To make the gravy, melt the butter in a sauce pan. Add the flour and whisk together. Cook for 2-3 minutes over medium high heat. Add the salt, pepper, and garlic salt. Whisk occasionally.

Add the milk and whisk. Cook until slightly thickened. If it’s too thick, add a bit more milk or water to thin it out.

How to Know When It’s Done

Since you’ve pounded the steak to 1/4″ thick, it should take just 8 minutes total to cook it in the air fryer. However, if your meat was thicker than this, or cold just from the refrigerator, it might take a minute or two more.

It’s best to check your meat always with a meat thermometer to make sure it’s reached the proper temperature of 145°F(65°C) for medium rare to 165°F(75°C) for well done.

How to Store & Reheat

Storing

If you want to store any leftover steaks in the refrigerator, you should wait until they’ve completely cooled down before doing so. The breading will stay intact this way. Wrap leftovers tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store it in the refrigerator. Consume within 3-4 days. For longer storage, freeze in airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Frozen steaks can be stored for up to 2-3 months.

Reheating

Air fryer: Place chicken fried steak in the air fryer basket and reheat at 350°F(175°C) for 5 minutes or until warmed through.

Microwave: For quick individual servings, put steaks on a microwave safe plate and heat in 30-second intervals until thoroughly warmed.

Questions About the Recipe

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