How to Make Alton Brown's Chicken-Fried Steak | Food Network

Alton's chicken-fried steak smothered in gravy: what could be more classic?

Chicken Fried Steak
Recipe courtesy of Alton Brown
Total: 1 hr 25 min
Prep: 45 min
Inactive: 10 min
Cook: 30 min
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Level: Intermediate

Ingredients

2 pounds beef bottom round, trimmed of excess fat
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 whole eggs, beaten
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

Directions

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.

Cut the meat with the grain into 1/2-inch thick slices. Season each piece on both sides with the salt and pepper. Place the flour into a pie pan. Place the eggs into a separate pie pan. Dredge the meat on both sides in the flour. Tenderize the meat, using a needling device, until each slice is 1/4-inch thick. Once tenderized, dredge the meat again in the flour, followed by the egg and finally in the flour again. Repeat with all the pieces of meat. Place the meat onto a plate and allow it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before cooking.

Place enough of the vegetable oil to cover the bottom of a 12-inch slope-sided skillet and set over medium-high heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the meat in batches, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Cook each piece on both sides until golden brown, approximately 4 minutes per side. Remove the steaks to a wire rack set in a half sheet pan and place into the oven. Repeat until all of the meat is browned.

Add the remaining vegetable oil, or at least 1 tablespoon, to the pan. Whisk in 3 tablespoons of the flour left over from the dredging. Add the chicken broth and deglaze the pan. Whisk until the gravy comes to a boil and begins to thicken. Add the milk and thyme and whisk until the gravy coats the back of a spoon, approximately 5 to 10 minutes. Season to taste, with more salt and pepper, if needed. Serve the gravy over the steaks.

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[rishiramkissoon]

NO one can beat Alton..Alton set the bar super high. Entertaining, authentic, fun, science...what a great educator

[brain_apostrophe_t]

Good Eats feels like a kids show for adults. He's got a Peewees playhouse kitchen that always has everything you need, giant props, calm simple jokes and a friendly atmosphere. It just makes you feel good.

[pauldanner]

It's 3 AM. I have class tomorrow. Why did I watch this. I am now very hungry with no practical solution

[johncave]

My mother passed a little more than a year ago. I have recently discovered that, most of her recipes, were right out of (a cross between) your playbook and Julia Child. She passed young and unexpectedly. Watching you and Julia has been such a joy! It's helped me (and my wonderful wife) understand, exactly what we need to do to recreate her recipes. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. ✌🏻

[bengundran]

Alton Brown is always enjoyable to watch his cooking show, especially when his aunt Verna is not in the kitchen with him. He makes the process of cooking so simple and straight forward... thanks Alton for sharing your technique.

[MrSeropamine]

Don't underestimate this. My dear mother used to make it for me.. cheap beef cuts, nice crispy breadcrumb coating and a ready made powder beef gravy smothering it.. with a side of mashed potatoes. Lovely

[tabathafeucht]

A southern classic! My grandmama would be proud. Looks absolutely delicious! 😋

[postcaptain]

I watch a lot of cooking videos and usually cook the dish as a combination of guy has "it". Whatever "it" is, he has it. He's not terribly good looking and he don't have James Earl Jones voice...But he has the PERFECT combination of personality traits for what he is doing and he KNOWS what he is doing. Just serious enough and just pithy and funny enough. I will be watching him more and more. I could learn from this guy and I don't think I would quickly tire of his presentations.

[bruceleroy]

Watched Alton every day as a young man. I still come back to him when I'm looking for sound technique on a dish. He is the Julia of my generation.

[tamtmf]

Being from the south, chicken fried steak is a comfort food where I live, it's literally on every menu at our local resturants. I'm going to try this recipie. I love Good Eats, my late grandmother and I would watch the show all the time when I was little, so the show has a special place in my heart.

[GeonQuuin]

Who else is binging Alton Brown videos because of the new season of Good Eats?

[mitchmaule]

"Don't wanna crowd the pan"

*crowds pan*

[zeehobo]

I appreciate you Alton. I really do. You kept me entertained late night on the Food Network, inspired me to cook. To be real that was my favorite channel but good eats was always my go to.

[truthseeker]

Very nice.
One of the few posted chicken fried steak recipes that actually includes making the gravy.
It's as if "they" think the gravy falls out of the sky!
Thank you, for including the detailed gravy instruction.
Very nice!!

[MCkeetch]

"maybe just... ahhh... 3 tbsp"
Love how specific he is. Really helpful!

[mrdasilver]

Does anyone else get reminded of Beakman's World while watching Alton Brown in the kitchen? I love his show!!!

[mrperfectrell]

We eat this in Virginia for breakfast with eggs and grits but it's thicker n more gravy.

[dmotta]

I could just smell this when I was watching it, it looks so good. I’m going to make it.

[blackwulf]

You telling me a chicken fried this steak?

[chrisk]

In my experience dumping stock inro a roux (his flour and oil mix, ) guarantees lumps you will curse as you hunt them down trying to squash and never quite catching them all. A bit of stock at a time, whisk, a bit at a time, whisk, etc. That's good eats.