Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak is the perfect weeknight comfort food. These steaks are simple to make in the air fryer using far less oil than deep frying. The breading combines herbs, spices and panko for extra crispiness, and the egg wash includes buffalo sauce for a subtle tang. Finish with a peppery white gravy for a classic, comforting plate.
The air fryer handles everything from crispy frozen wings to sweet treats like s’mores pie, making it one of the most versatile kitchen appliances.
Table of Contents
- What is Cube Steak?
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredient Notes
- How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak
- Recipe Serving Suggestions
- Expert Tips & Variations
- How To Reheat Leftovers
- How To Cook Frozen Country Fried Steak
- Oven Method
- Recipe FAQs
- More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak Recipe
What is Cube Steak?
Cube steak is an economical cut typically from the top round or sirloin that has been tenderized by a machine, leaving a grid-like pattern. If you can’t find cube steak, you can tenderize a thin sirloin with a meat mallet.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Crispy exterior and juicy interior
- Less messy and uses far less oil than deep frying
- Peppery white gravy to spoon over the steak
- Herby, well-seasoned breading with panko for extra crunch
- Kid-friendly comfort food
- Also covers reheating and cooking frozen country fried steak in the air fryer
Ingredient Notes
- Hot Sauce: Adds a subtle layer of flavor without making the steaks hot. Omit if you prefer.
- Milk: Any milk will work—skim, reduced fat or whole—use what you have on hand.
Complete ingredient quantities are on the recipe card below.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak
Overview
- Make a dredging station: seasoned flour and a wet egg wash with buffalo sauce.
- Coat steaks: flour, egg wash, then flour again.
- Preheat the air fryer, then air fry the steaks until golden.
- Prepare peppery white gravy to serve on top.
Step by Step
Step 1: Remove steaks from the fridge. Set up two shallow dishes and a plate. Whisk dry ingredients in one dish and wet ingredients (egg, water, hot sauce) in the other.
Step 2: Using your dry hand, coat the steak in the seasoned flour, pressing and shaking off excess.
TIP – Shake off excess flour to avoid a thick, gummy crust.
Step 3: Dip the steak into the egg wash using your wet hand.
Step 4: Return the steak to the flour with your dry hand, pressing the coating onto the steak so it adheres.
TIP – Use a wet hand and a dry hand to keep the process neat and prevent gummy hands.
Step 5: Shake off any excess coating and transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining steak and rest for 10 minutes.
Step 6: Spray the air fryer basket generously and preheat the empty basket at 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes.
Step 7: Quickly add the steaks to the basket and spray the tops with oil.
TIP – Preheating the basket helps prevent sticking and promotes a crisp crust.
Step 8: Air fry at 400°F for about 7–8 minutes, depending on thickness and your air fryer model.
Step 9: While the steaks cook, make the gravy: melt butter over medium heat, whisk in flour to form a paste, then slowly whisk in milk. Add salt, pepper and garlic and simmer on medium-low until the gravy coats a spoon.
Step 10: Flip the steaks, spray lightly with oil, and air fry another 6–7 minutes or until golden and the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
TIP – Gravy thickens the longer it cooks and will continue to thicken as it cools.
Recipe Serving Suggestions
Serve these steaks with classic Southern sides for a satisfying meal. Popular pairings include:
- Cheesy hashbrown potatoes
- Balsamic glazed Brussels sprouts
- Broccoli cheddar mac & cheese
- Air fryer baby carrots
- Buttery yeast rolls
- Southern-style green beans
- Red skin mashed potatoes
Expert Tips & Variations
- Dry hand/wet hand method: Keeps breading tidy and easy to apply.
- Rest the breaded steaks: Let them sit 10 minutes so the coating adheres.
- Preheat your air fryer: A hot basket gives a crisp, nonstick finish.
- Use spray oil liberally: Grease the basket and the steaks so they brown evenly—still far less oil than deep frying.
- Gravy thickness: Cook longer for a thicker gravy; it will thicken more as it cools.
- Low-carb option: Replace panko with crushed pork rinds and swap flour for a mix of grated Parmesan and almond flour (not tested by the author).
- Spicier version: Increase cayenne from 1/4 to 1/2–1 teaspoon.
How To Reheat Leftovers
To reheat and keep the crust crisp:
- Preheat the air fryer basket at 400°F for 5 minutes.
- Place leftover steak in the basket and spray with cooking spray.
- Air fry at 360°F for 4–5 minutes or until heated through.
How To Cook Frozen Country Fried Steak
- Preheat the air fryer at 400°F for 5 minutes with the empty basket.
- Place frozen steaks in the basket and spray generously with oil.
- Air fry at 380°F for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway, until browned and heated through.
Oven Method
The oven produces a less-crispy crust than the air fryer but works in a pinch:
- Place an oven-safe cooling rack on a baking sheet and grease it. Preheat the oven to 425°F with the rack inside.
- Bake steaks about 6 minutes, flip, then bake 4–5 more minutes.
- Finish under the broiler if needed to achieve golden color.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Use a dry flour-based breading and an egg wash rather than a wet batter, which can slip off during cooking.
Cooking time varies with thickness and appliance, but generally about 10–15 minutes at 400°F.
Shake off excess flour, let the breaded steaks rest before cooking, preheat the air fryer, and avoid excessive movement while they cook.
More Air Fryer Recipes
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Side Dish
What To Serve With Mashed Potatoes (25 Dinner Ideas)
Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak
Ingredients
- 2 (6 ounce) cube steaks or thinly pounded sirloin steaks
- spray oil
Dry Ingredients
- 2/3 cup all purpose flour
- 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne (optional)
Wet Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 2 Tablespoons water
- 1 Tablespoon buffalo hot sauce*
Gravy
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 Tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 cup milk*
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic
Instructions
- Review all recipe notes and instructions before beginning.
- Remove steaks from the refrigerator and set aside. Make the dredging station: whisk dry ingredients in one dish and wet ingredients in another.
- Coat each steak: flour, egg wash, then flour again. Shake off excess and let rest 10 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer basket at 400°F for 5 minutes and spray the basket.
- Place steaks in the basket, spray tops with oil, and air fry 7–8 minutes at 400°F.
- While steaks cook, make the gravy: melt butter, whisk in flour to form a paste, then slowly add milk and seasonings. Simmer until gravy coats a spoon.
- Flip steaks, spray lightly with oil, and air fry another 6–7 minutes or until golden and 145°F internal temperature.
- Serve immediately with gravy spooned over the steaks.
Notes
Milk: Any milk will work; use what you have.
Serving: Chicken fried steaks are best served hot and fresh.
Spray oil: Be generous when greasing the basket and steaks to achieve a crispy, golden finish. Even with liberal spray, this uses much less oil than deep frying.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and should be used as a guideline.