Discover the Ultimate Keto Country Fried Steak Recipe – Southern Comfort Food Reinvented!

Craving Southern comfort food without the carbs? This keto chicken fried steak recipe delivers all the flavor and satisfaction of the original, making it a perfect addition to your low-carb lifestyle. Chicken Fried Steak, a staple in Southern cuisine, often graces breakfast and dinner tables. The combination of crispy fried steak and creamy gravy is hard to beat. This low-carb version is as good as any carb-laden version.

What Is Chicken Fried Steak?

Country fried steak, or chicken fried steak, is a dish that often sparks questions. Why "chicken" when it's beef? Why the two different names? Regardless of the name, it is a classic comfort food. Chicken fried steak gets its name from its preparation method, which is similar to that of fried chicken, a beloved Southern dish.

Beefsteak, specifically tenderized cube steak, is commonly used. Cube steak is typically top round or top sirloin that has been flattened and tenderized using a meat tenderizer, leaving small indentations on the surface. Traditional chicken fried steak is often coated with breadcrumbs, making it unsuitable for a keto diet. This recipe offers a delicious, low-carb alternative.

Why This Recipe Works

This keto chicken fried steak recipe, or low carb country fried steak, is sure to impress. The recipe uses almond flour and grated Parmesan cheese to create a crispy outer coating, without the carbs. The steaks do not have an "almondy" taste, thanks to the parmesan cheese. This recipe, with less than 4 net carbs per serving, is perfect for your low carb diet.

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make this keto-friendly version:

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1 pound cube steaks, cut into 4 steaks
1 cup blanched almond flour
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ cup heavy whipping cream
2 eggs
¼ cup avocado oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter,melted and measured solid.

Country Gravy

1 cup heavy whipping cream
Salt and pepper to taste
½ teaspoon xanthan gum
4 ounces ground breakfast sausage (optional, if you want sausage gravy)

Essential Equipment

Heavy skillet: Cast iron is ideal, but any heavy skillet will work.
Meat mallet: To tenderize the steak.
Thermometer: To ensure the oil is at the correct temperature (around 320-340°F).

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here's how to make this delicious keto chicken fried steak:

Preparing the Steak

Slice beef into 1/2 inch thick slices. Flatten by pounding with a meat mallet to 1/4 inch thickness. Set aside.
Tenderize the meat with a meat hammer, pounding until it is about ¼ inch thick. Wrap steak pieces separately in plastic wrap and place them on a flat surface. Use the spiked side a meat mallet to tenderize and flatten the steaks into ¼-inch thick pieces.Unwrap steaks and sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Set aside. The most important thing is to tenderize it with a meat mallet. Pro tip: Be sure to use the spiked side of a meat mallet.
In a shallow bowl, combine almond flour, Parmesan cheese, smoked paprika, sea salt, fresh ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper. In al bowl, stir together almond flour Parmesan cheese, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Transfer mixture to a large plate in a thin, even layer.
In a separate shallow bowl, beat together eggs. Add the whipping cream and eggs to a separate large bowl and whisk.
Dip the meat into the eggs, and then coat with the almond flour mixture. Dredge the cube steak in the almond flour mixture, and then the cream and eggs, and again in the almond flour mixture. Set each cube steak aside. Press the mixture into the meat. Dip tenderized cube steak into a bowl of beaten eggs to generously coat. Rotate and press the other side into the breading. If not evenly coated, sprinkle on some of the breading and press down. Dip the steaks into the beaten eggs until coated. Press steaks into the almond flour mixture, rotate and press the other side to coat. Repeat for remaining steaks.

Frying the Steak

Heat the ghee or avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Heat a cast iron skillet or frying pan on medium high heat. Add the avocado oil and melted butter. Be sure you have enough to fill about ¼ of inch high. Adjust the amount of oil if necessary. The oil should be between 320 degrees and 340 degrees. A drop of almond flour should sizzle when it touches the oil, but not burn. While frying you want to use oil that is neutral in flavor. You will need to use oil with a high smoke point, such as olive oil or avocado oil. During my testing, I found that avocado oil works better than olive oil. Using avocado oil will help.
Add the steaks, and cook for about 2 to 4 minutes per side. Add the cube steaks. Cook in batches if needed. Do not crowd the pan. Fry each side for about 3 minutes each until crisp. Cook the steaks for 2 to 4 minutes per side, until they are golden brown.Cook steak to an internal temp of 135-140º F for medium. This is about 3 minutes on each side when pan-fried over medium heat.
Remove from the pan and put on a rack over a baking sheet. Tent with foil to keep warm. Remove the chicken fried steaks and set aside.

Making the Gravy

Reduce heat to medium and add beef broth, cream, garlic powder, and xanthan gum. Adjust the heat on the pan to medium and add the heavy cream for the gravy along with salt and pepper to taste.
Whisk to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. Stir continuously for 2 minutes.
Reduce the heat to low, and stir in sour cream. Add the xanthan gum to a small bowl. Gather about 2 tablespoons of the gravy mixture from the pan and add it to the bowl with the xanthan gum.It will create a thick and sticky mixture. Add the mixture to the pan and stir continuously for 2-3 minutes.
Remove from the heat immediately. Remove the pan from heat.

For Country Gravy:

Typical country gravy is made with breakfast sausage. If you want country gravy, add 4 ounces of ground sausage to the pan after you remove the finished steaks. Pan-fry the sausage until browned. Add 4 ounces of ground breakfast sausage Optional if you want sausage gravy.
To the drippings in the pan, add the onion and garlic. Lower the heat to medium-low and cook until the onion is translucent and soft. To the pan, add the heavy cream, parsley and sea salt. Increase the heat to medium and bring to a boil. Once the gravy begins to boil, lower the heat to low and simmer.

Tips for the Perfect Keto Chicken Fried Steak

Don't overcrowd the pan: Depending on the size of your skillet, you will probably need to cook in batches. Be careful not to overcrowd the skillet or else your steaks will steam cook and not get crispy.
Ensure the oil is hot enough: If you are having problems with sticking, check the temperature of your oil. It may not be hot enough.
Don't lose the flavor: You will have some oil left in the pan when you go to make the gravy. If you feel like it is too much, feel free to remove some of it. Just don't remove all the brown bits at the bottom of the pan - they are loaded with flavor!
Chill the coated steak: Chilling the coated steak for about 45 minutes in the refrigerator can help the breading to adhere. To help keep the breading intact, you can allow the steaks to sit for 20-30 minutes after you have finished breading.
Use enough oil: You will also need to make sure you are frying with the right amount of oil. This will vary based on the size of the pan you use. You should have ¼ of an inch of oil in your pan. Be careful when you flip the steak patties. You should be careful also because you don't want to burn yourself with hot grease.
Bread Right Before Cooking: Placing sticky breading or batter into oil can also lead to the loss of breading while frying.

Variations and Substitutions

Pork Rinds: You can substitute almond flour for crushed pork rinds if you wish.
Coconut Flour: I have not tested this recipe using coconut flour. It does not have a 1:1 substitution ratio.
Dairy-Free: Absolutely! You can substitute the butter with a dairy-free alternative like coconut oil or ghee, and use a dairy-free heavy cream substitute.
Other flours: If you're not strictly following a keto diet, you can use coconut flour or even gluten-free all-purpose flour. Just keep in mind that the texture might change slightly.
Pork Rind Substitute: If you don't have ground pork rinds, you can use crushed pork cracklings or even crushed nuts like pecans or walnuts for a different flavor and texture.

Serving Suggestions

This Keto Chicken Fried Steak with keto gravy is the ultimate in low carb comfort food. To enjoy the chicken fried steak while they are the most crisp: Start the gravy before or while you are making steaks. Once ready, leave on the lowest heat setting to keep warm. It’s the ideal recipe for when you get off work and want to make a homecooked meal that doesn’t require a lot of time and effort.

Storage Instructions

You can freeze leftovers, tightly sealed, for 3-4 months. Chicken Fried Steak makes great leftovers and can be store in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days. To store leftovers, let the chicken fried steak cool completely, then place it in an airtight container in the fridge. It should last for up to 3 days!

Other Keto Recipes to Try

Keto Chicken Cordon Bleu: Rich and satisfying, perfect for entertaining.
Keto Buffalo Chicken: A must-try for those who want to keep their taste buds singing.
Keto Steak Marinade: Elevate steak night with this quick and crowd-pleasing marinade.
Low Carb Chicken Pot Pie: Comfort food that doesn't get any better.
Zucchini Ravioli: When you are craving pasta, this Zucchini Ravioli really hits the spot. It is hard to believe how well zucchini steps in here.
Chicken Cheese Bake: This Chicken Cheese Bake is all the comfort you need in the cozy confines of one pan.
Tuscan chicken pasta: This one-pot Tuscan chicken pasta is creamy, bold, and packed with Italian flavor-but without all the carbs.
Breaded chicken cutlets: These gluten-free, low-carb breaded chicken cutlets are juicy, tender, and way easier to make-no pounding needed.
Keto chicken fried steak chaffle sandwich: Make some low carb sandwich bread using your waffle maker.

Nutritional Information

Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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