Name: Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 tablespoon baking powder; ½ tablespoon corn starch; 1 ½ tablespoon Kent Rollins Original Seasoning, or salt and pepper; 1 large egg; 2 cups buttermilk; ½ tablespoon cornstarch; ½ tablespoon baking powder; 2, 6 oz cubed top round steaks; Oil for frying; ¼ cup of meat grease; 1 tablespoon butter; ¼ to ½ cup flour; 1, 15 ounce can evaporated milk; 4 slices Texas Toast, or thick-cut bread; 2 servings prepared mashed potatoes

A blue plate with a chicken fried steak sandwich smothered in gravy on texas toast

Jump to Recipe

There’s something about traveling down Route 66 that sticks with you. The road itself is a legend - a character in American art, music, and literature. For those of us that grew up in Oklahoma, it was what connected us to the world you listened to on the radio or saw on television.

We appreciate you sharing our recipes with your friends and family!

I remember stopping at a little place called Opal’s Diner when I was just a kid after a rodeo, and right there on the board was the special: a hot steak sandwich. That’s what we’re making today.

An old photograph of Opals Cafe. The sign says Opals good food gifts toys. Many 1940s and 1950s model cars sit in front of the humble brick building. A family stands in front of a car posing for the photo. The girls are wearing matching dresses. There is a mother, a father, and the youngest child is a boy.

The Route 66 Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich Special

Now this ain’t just any sandwich. This is chicken fried steak the old fashioned way. You want a good tenderized cut like top or bottom round that’s been run through a cuber so it cooks up tender. What really makes this shine is the crispy breading. You’ve got to build up the breading in layers so it fries up crispy with those little scraggly edges that hold onto gravy.

Chicken Fried Steak

Start by dredging that steak in the seasoned flour, then into a buttermilk and egg mixture, and back into the flour, back into the egg, and one last time into the dry. I call this double baptizing. Let it rest a few minutes so everything sticks. That’s a step some folks skip, but it makes all the difference.

Tip #1:

Let your breaded steak rest before frying. This helps the coating stick and prevents it from falling off in the oil.

When it comes time to fry, keep your oil steady and hot. Don’t rush it and don’t overcrowd the pan. Let that steak cook until it’s golden brown and crisp.

The Best Gravy is the Classic, Simple Way

Now let’s talk gravy. Good gravy starts with a little grease and flour cooked together until it changes color. That’s your base. Add milk slow and keep stirring so it stays smooth. You want it thick enough to coat a spoon but still pourable.

Tip #2:

Use a slotted spatula when making gravy. It helps break up lumps and keeps everything smooth.

The sandwich comes together with thick toasted bread as the foundation. Add a layer of mashed potatoes, pour on some gravy, lay that crispy steak right on top, and finish it with more gravy. It’s stacked high, it's messy, and it's going to be one of the most delicious things you have ever tasted or my name isn't Kent Rollins.

How to Build the Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich

This sandwich ain’t fancy, but it’s full of history and flavor. Make it for your family, share it with friends, and you’ll understand why it’s been a favorite along Route 66 for generations.

As always, thank you for watching our videos and visiting our website. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel and like and share the videos you enjoy. We release a new video every Wednesday at 2:30! Until next time, when we see y’all out on the cowboy cooking trail.

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Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich

Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users

Author:

Cowboy Kent Rollins

Servings

2 sandwiches

Prep Time

5 minutes

Cook Time

15 minutes

Recreate a classic Route 66 chicken fried steak sandwich with crispy coating, creamy gravy, mashed potatoes and diner-style flavor. A hearty cowboy favorite.

Cook Mode

Ingredients

Dredge

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ tablespoon corn starch
1 ½  tablespoon Kent Rollins Original Seasoning, or salt and pepper

Wet Mixture

1 large egg
2 cups buttermilk
½ tablespoon cornstarch
½ tablespoon baking powder

Steaks

2, 6 oz cubed top round steaks
Oil for frying

Creamy White Gravy

¼ cup of meat grease
1 tablespoon butter
¼ to ½ cup flour
1, 15 ounce can evaporated milk

Sandwich Assembly

4 slices Texas Toast, or thick-cut bread
2 servings prepared mashed potatoes

Directions

In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cornstarch and seasoning.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk, cornstarch and baking powder.
Pour ½ cup of the wet mixture into the dry and mix with a spoon.
Dredge the meat in the flour mixture, then coat well in the wet mixture. Dredge the steak back through the flour mixture followed by the wet mixture and finish in the flour mixture. Shake off any excess flour. Place on a wire rack for about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile add enough oil in a Dutch oven or deep fryer to deep fry the steak and heat to 350 degrees F. Place the meat in the oil and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes flipping over on occasion, or until golden brown and crispy. Remove and keep warm.

Gravy

In a cast iron skillet over medium heat melt the meat grease and butter. Sift in the flour, and stir well with a flat spatula to mash out any lumps. Continue to cook until the mixture browns slightly and thickens.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and add about ¾ the can of  milk. Continue to stir and cook for about 4 minutes, stirring constantly until smooth and creamy. Adjust the milk or flour to achieve the desired consistency. Set aside in a warm place.
On a flat griddle or cast iron skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Toast both sides of the bread.
To assemble: Lay out two slices of bread on a plate. Spread an even layer of mashed potatoes over the bread. Pour over gravy. Top with 1 steak and finish with gravy. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Serve immediately.