Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak
- by Couple in the Kitchen
- Last updated Oct 26, 2022
There are so many incredible comfort foods that have come out of the south, but in our opinion there’s nothing better than a great chicken fried steak. A chicken fried steak has everything you could ever want in a comfort meal because it is fried, delicious, topped with gravy, and tastes great on top of a pile of mashed potatoes.
When a chicken fried steak is done correctly it has a crispy batter, but the steak is still juicy and tender on the inside, which is a difficult task without a ton of high fat oil at a high heat. Because of the large amount of high fat oils used to fry the steak we typically only eat chicken fried steak maybe once a year, but we wanted to change that and try to make one in our airfryer to reduce the calories a bit. After numerous test recipes and numerous cuts of steak we’ve been able to crack that code, and cook the perfect chicken fried steak in an air fryer.
What is an air fryer and how does it work?
An air fryer is an appliance that is a hot air circulator. It is much smaller than a traditional oven, but can range in sizes depending on your cooking needs and family size. An air fryer cooks food by flowing hot air in all directions.
You can cook almost anything in an air fryer, using little to no oil. An air fryer is a healthy alternative to create low fat dishes with similar results to frying.
How to prepare a chicken fried steak and what kind of steak should I use?
After all of our tests, we were able to determine that the best cut of beef to use for a chicken fried steak is Omaha Steaks NY strip steak. The strip steak is from the top loin section with more marbling, and that marbling adds so much delicious flavor.
To start making your chicken fried steak, pound your steak out with a mallet or a rolling pin until it is roughly ½ inch thick. Season it generously with salt and pepper and prepare your chicken fried steak batter. The crust breading is prepared by mixing together your dry ingredients of flour and seasoning on a plate.
On a separate plate, mix together your wet batter comprised of egg and buttermilk.
If you’re making the chicken fried steak without a helper, dip your steak in the wet batter with one hand and shake off the excess. Next, dip it into the dry mixture with your other hand. Let the batter sit for a few minutes while you repeat the process with the other steak.
We like to do a double batter to add extra texture and crispiness to this chicken fried steak recipe. Take your already battered steaks through the wet and dry batter once more.
This batter is perfect no matter how you cook them, and you can also use this batter for a traditional fried chicken recipe.
How to cook chicken fried steak in an air fryer
Start by preheating your air fryer to 400 degrees F. Once you have your steak battered and ready to go, spray the air fryer basket and the outsides of the battered steak with olive oil spray. This will help to ensure that the steak won’t stick to the basket and helps to crisp up the exterior of the chicken fried steak. If your air fryer is on the smaller side, you can also trim your steak to fit the basket and make smaller batches.
How long do you cook chicken fried steaks in an air fryer?
Follow the instructions of your specific air fryer, but it should only take about 8 minutes to have a crisp exterior without overcooking the interior of the steak. We recommend checking on your steak at the 8 minute mark by touching the crust with a fork. If it’s crispy you’re good to go.
No air fryer? Bake it or fry it.
You can also use this recipe for baked chicken fried steak. Simply put the battered chicken fried steak patties on a greased baking sheet and cook for about 15 minutes at 400 degrees.
Honestly, we think this is the best chicken fried steak recipe out there, it’s a great way to lighten up a classic Southern dish while still being crispy!
Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak
Ingredients
- 2 Omaha Steaks New York strip steaks
- 1 cup flour
- ½ tsp cayenne
- ½ Tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp onion powder
- salt
- pepper
- 1 egg
- ¾ cup buttermilk
Instructions
- Slice your steaks in half and place a steak between seran wrap. Using a meat tenderizer, hammer the meat until roughly ½ inch thick. Repeat with the other steak.
- Pat the steaks dry with a paper towel and season with salt and pepper.
- On a shallow bowl or plate, mix together the flour, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper.
- In another shallow bowl or plate, scramble one egg and mix it with the buttermilk.
- Dip the steak patty into the wet mixture until well coated.
- Next, dip the cutlet into the dry mixture.
- Repeat the process to complete a double batter for each steak by again dipping into the wet batter and then in the dry batter.
- Let the battered patty sit for 5 minutes while the air fryer heats up to 400 degrees.
- Use an olive oil spray to coat the chicken fried steaks and place them into the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 8 minutes, or as directed by your air fryer, to crisp up the exterior.
- Serve with mashed potatoes and gravy.
Do you want your chicken fried steak already prepared for you?
You’re in luck because Omaha Steaks frozen chicken fried steaks are a staff and fan favorite. They’re super delicious, and you can have this pre-made dish ready for you in 30 minutes. You can also pair it with Omaha Steaks mashed potatoes and country style gravy.
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