The Pioneer Woman Chicken Fried Steak Recipe

• Begin with an assembly line of dishes for the meat: milk mixed with egg in one; flour mixed with spices in one; meat in one; then have one clean plate at the end to receive the breaded meat.
• Work one piece of meat at a time.
• Season both sides with salt and pepper, then dip in the milk/egg mixture.
• Next, place the meat on the plate of seasoned flour.
• Turn to coat thoroughly.
• Place the meat back into the milk/egg mixture, turning to coat.
• Place back in the flour and turn to coat.
• Place breaded meat on the clean plate, then repeat with remaining meat.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Drop in a few sprinkles of flour to make sure it’s sufficiently hot.
• Cook meat, three pieces at a time, until edges start to look golden brown; around 2 to 2 1/2 minutes each side.
• Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and keep warm.
• Repeat until all meat is cooked.

GRAVY:

• After all meat is fried, pour off the grease into a heatproof bowl.
• Without cleaning the pan, return it to the stove over medium-low heat.
• Add 1/4 cup grease back to the pan.
• Allow grease to heat up.
• Sprinkle 1/3 cup flour evenly over the grease.
• Using a whisk, mix flour with grease, creating a golden-brown paste.
• Keep cooking until it reaches a deep golden brown color.
• If paste seems more oily than pasty, sprinkle in another tablespoon of flour and whisk.
• Whisking constantly, pour in milk.
• Cook to thicken the gravy.
• Be prepared to add more milk if it becomes overly thick.
• Add salt and pepper and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, until gravy is smooth and thick.
• Be sure to taste to make sure gravy is sufficiently seasoned.
• Serve meat next to a big side of mashed potatoes.
• Pour gravy over everything!