Food and Recipes Meat Beef Steak Chicken-Fried Steak Recipe 1.7 (6) 6 Reviews Historians are divided on the origins of chicken-fried steak – some trace it to German settlers in the Texas Hill Country, others to trailblazing chuckwagon cooks. Most agree authentic versions involve tenderized beef steak that's breaded, fried, and blanketed with a pepper cream gravy. This recipe ticks all the right boxes, including a golden cracker crumb crust that considerably ups the crunch factor. By Southern Living Test Kitchen Southern Living Test Kitchen The Southern Living Test Kitchen has been publishing recipes since 1970, four years after the first issue of Southern Living Magazine appeared on newsstands. The Southern Living Test Kitchen team includes a team of professionals with deep expertise in recipe development, from pastry chefs and grilling experts to nutritionists and dietitians. Together, the team tests and retests, produces, styles, and photographs thousands of recipes each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen facility located in Birmingham, Alabama. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on April 20, 2018 Print Share Share Tweet Pin Email Ingredients 1/4 cup + 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon table salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 4 4-ounce cubed beef steaks 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons milk 1 cup saltine cracker crumbs 2 cups vegetable oil 1 1/4 cups chicken broth Worcestershire sauce hot sauce Directions Combine ¼ cup of the flour and next 2 ingredients; sprinkle both sides of steaks with flour mixture. Combine the egg and 2 tablespoons of the milk in a shallow dish. Dip the steaks in egg mixture; dredge in cracker crumbs. Cook the steaks in hot oil in a large heavy skillet over medium 2 minutes on each side or until browned. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer, turning occasionally, 15 minutes or until tender. Remove the steaks, and drain on paper towels, reserving 3 tablespoons drippings in the skillet, Keep the steaks warm. Whisk remaining 3 tablespoons into the hot dripping until smooth. Cook 1 minute, whisking constantly. Gradually add the broth and remaining ½ cup milk; cook over medium, whisking constantly, 3 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce; add salt and pepper to taste. Serve gravy with steaks. Southern Living Source Recipe Revival: Southern Classics Reinvented for Modern Cooks (2016; Time Inc. Books) Print