Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak

Chicken fried steak in the air fryer is your classic country special, lightened up just a little in the air fryer. It is just as crispy and delicious. Plus, make sure you pair it with my special cream cheese gravy. 

You can serve your country fried steak with mashed potatoes, roasted red potatoes or some air fryer potatoes. Make sure you grab your favorite veggie such as broccoli, carrots or Brussels sprouts.

Try Some Other Air Fryer Recipes

Make sure you try out some of my other air fryer recipes:

• Air fryer stuffed peppers
• Air fryer BBQ chicken thighs
• Keto chicken nuggets
• Air fryer turkey tenderloin
• Sweet and sour chicken meatballs

What is Country Fried Steak

Despite the name, there I actually no chicken in this recipe. It is cooked using the same process and techniques as fried chicken; therefore, we call it chicken fried steak. It has the same crispy, delicious breading as your favorite fried chicken; however, this is made with cube steak.

essential ingredients for chicken fried steak

You will obviously need an air fryer. I love my Ninja double basket. The one side is the perfect size to cook one serving of air fryer chicken fried steak. You can also use a rack or toaster oven style air fryer; however, I do prefer the basket kind for this one.

• Cube Steak
• Corn starch
• Flour
• Egg
• Butter
• Half and Half
• Breadcrumbs
• Seasonings

However, we can go over some suggestions and substitutions:

Cube Steak

Despite the name, there I actually no chicken in this recipe. It is cooked using the same process and techniques as fried chicken; therefore, we call it chicken fried steak. It has the same crispy, delicious breading as your favorite fried chicken; however, this is made with cube steak.

A cube steak can sometimes look like ground beef; however, it will be in a packaging similar to an actual piece of steak. It generally comes to from the top round, a tougher portion of the steak. However, cube steak is pre-tenderized. For this recipe, you need to really make sure your meat is pre-tenderized or you will need to do that yourself.

Besides chicken fried steak, cube steak is great for stews or other slow cooked meals.

breading

There will be three stages to breading the chicken fried steak; therefore, I like having three small shallow bowls or Tupperware. The first step of the breading process is covering the steak in a flour/corn starch/seasonings mix. You can skip the corn starch; however, I do like using it most of the time.

The next step in breading this country fried steak is dredging the steak in an egg/buttermilk mixture. I do prefer egg whites as they are not as goopy as real eggs. They are also easier to work with as you just have to pour them into the container. However, you can substitute real eggs if you whisk them first. I also make my own take on butter milk by just mixing melted margarine and fat-free half and half; however, you can of course substitute real buttermilk.

The final process to breading the chicken fried steak is to cover it in the actual breading. This will be a flour, breadcrumb and seasonings mix. This is nonnegotiable and I have perfected this breading to my liking. 

Seasonings

For the seasonings, I am keeping it a little simple as this is just a basic recipe. They will still be flavorful and delicious; however, they will be a little basic. Therefore, if you want to add any more seasonings, go right ahead.

More Steak Recipes

Make sure you check out more of my beef recipes:

• Blackened ribeye
• Taco bombs
• Meaty queso dip
• Bacon smash cheeseburgers
• Cheesesteak stuffed peppers

How to Make Country Fried Steak in the Air Fryer

Grab three small shallow bowls; however, I do like to use shallow Tupperware containers. 

In one, add half the flour, half the seasonings and the corn starch. Melt the margarine. Pour the eggs, margarine and half and half into the second bowl. Finally, in the third, add the rest of the flour, the seasonings and the breadcrumbs. Make sure to combine all of the ingredients thoroughly.

Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees and grease the rack with cooking spray. 

One by one, cover the steak piece in the corn starch/flour. Then, dredge the steak in the egg mixture, being sure to shake off any excess. Finally, cover the steak in the flour/breadcrumb mixture. 

Place each battered chicken fried steak piece on the greased air fryer basket.

Air fry for 4 minutes. Then, spray with cooking spray. Air fry for another 3-4 minutes. Then, flip the chicken over, spray it again and air fry for another 3-4 minutes, or until fully cooked.

Don't forget to make my cream cheese gravy and pour that over your air fryer country fried steak.

oven version

I do prefer this recipe in the air fryer; however, if you do not have one, the chicken fried steak can be made in the oven. 

Line a baking tray with aluminum foil. Then, place an oven safe cooling rack on top of the baking tray. Grease that with cooking spray. This is what you will cook the steak on. 

Cook it in the oven, using the same steps as the air fryer. But, set the temperature to 425 degrees and add an extra 2-4 minutes on the cooking time.

Alternatively, you can bread and then fry the steak in oil.

What to Serve with Steak

You can serve your country fried steak with mashed potatoes, roasted red potatoes or some air fryer potatoes. Make sure you grab your favorite veggie such as broccoli, carrots or Brussels sprouts.

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Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak

Chicken fried steak in the air fryer is your classic country special, lightened up just a little in the air fryer. It is just as crispy and delicious. Plus, make sure you pair it with my special cream cheese gravy.