Coated in a crispy Parmesan and pork rind crust and smothered in sausage gravy, you will never know this comforting keto chicken fried steak is low carb.
A glass of Keto Lemonade would be the perfect accompaniment for this fried cube steak.
For another amazing dinner idea, you'll want to make this Marry Me Chicken. This Keto Chicken Parmesan is also crunchy and delicious.
You're going to want to try this Black Pepper Angus Steak next.
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Why you'll love it
In just 15 minutes you'll have a flavorful and satisfying dish that will win over keto and non-keto eaters alike.
We like to serve our chicken fried steak with a low carb sausage gravy. You could also use this Five Minute Keto Gravy if you prefer.
Why do they call it Chicken Fried Steak?
This dish is actually made with beef and not chicken cutlets. The name "chicken fried" comes from how the steak is prepared, with an egg wash and crunchy fried coating.
You can also use any thin cut of steak in place of cube steak if you like. Be sure to tenderize the steak using a meat tenderizer first to achieve that classic country fried steak texture.
Steak lovers should try our Philly cheesesteak casserole with steak and our sirloin tip steak recipe.
Key ingredients
For the chicken fried steak
Cube steak - This is the traditional choice. It is a top sirloin that has been tenderized.
Crushed pork rinds - Great keto breadcrumb that results in the perfect crispiness.
Seasoning blend - Paprika, onion, and garlic powder. Provides all the flavor to your pork rind coating.
For the sausage gravy
Ground pork breakfast sausage - Choose high-quality, pork breakfast sausage, as you would when making any traditional sausage gravy. Chicken or turkey sausage can also be used.
Onion and garlic - Add depth and flavor to your sausage gravy.
We love serving this gravy with our fluffy almond flour biscuits.
If you have any questions about this recipe, please leave a comment below and we will get back to you.
How to make keto chicken fried steak
Step 1: Salt and pepper both sides of your cube steak. Combine crushed pork rinds, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika in a shallow dish.
Step 2: Dip the cube steak in an egg wash and turn to coat both sides with the egg.
Step 3: Lay the egg-coated steak in the crunchy crust coating. Flip the steak to coat both sides with the crust.
Step 4: Gently place the coated steak into a skillet of hot oil and fry on both sides until golden brown and cooked through.
Step 5: Add crumbled sausage to a large frying pan and cook until browned, breaking up the pieces to ensure that the sausage is cooked thoroughly.
Step 6: Remove the sausage from the pan and set it aside on a plate to drain. Add onion and garlic to the pan and cook in the fat from the sausage until softened and translucent.
Step 7: Add heavy cream, salt, and pepper, and bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat and let the gravy simmer for a minute.
Step 8: Add the cooked sausage back to the pan and cook for another minute, stirring to combine.
For the complete list of ingredients and instructions please see the recipe below.
For a hearty southern inspired meal, serve with Parmesan crusted Brussels sprouts and Keto Cornbread.
If you're looking for more dinner ideas, try this Keto Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole next.
Expert tips
When frying, you never want to overcrowd the pan. This brings down the temperature of the oil, reducing the crispiness of your coating.
Cube steak is usually sold in large pieces. To get four servings, we recommend cutting them in half before preparing.
Doing this will also make it easier to flip while cooking and help the beef cook evenly.
FAQs
If you don't have or don't like pork rinds, you can also use almond meal or crushed low carb crackers. Keep in mind, however, that the coating may not have quite the same crunchy texture as fried pork rinds.
If you need an egg free option for your keto steak, you can use heavy cream in place of the egg wash.
Simply dip the cube steak in the heavy cream and then coat with the breading and cook according to the recipe instructions.
While the name can be deceiving, chicken fried steak is not made with chicken, but yes, you can use chicken in this recipe.
We recommend slicing the chicken into thinner "steaks" or pounding them flat with a meat pounder, before frying them.
Storage instructions
If you have leftovers, refrigerate the meat and gravy in separate airtight containers. Even stored separately, the fried steak will loose some of it's crunch. Refrigerate up to 3 days
When you're ready to enjoy your leftovers, reheat your steak and gravy separately and enjoy.
Serving suggestions
For a great dessert, you might like this keto cheesecake. If you love cream cheese, you'll want to try these keto cream cheese cookies next.
We have loads of keto dessert recipes to choose from.
LET'S GET SOCIAL, you can follow Four Score Living on Pinterest. You can also leave a comment below if you have any questions.
Did you make this recipe? we'd love to know what you thought in a comment below.
📖 Recipe
Keto Chicken Fried Steak
Ingredients
For the Chicken Fried Steak:
- 1 lb. cube steak ¼ inch thick
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup crushed pork rinds or keto crackers, or almond meal
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Cooking oil we use avocado oil
For the Keto Sausage Gravy:
- 1 lb ground pork breakfast sausage
- ½ cup onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
For the Chicken Fried Steak
- Salt and pepper both sides of the cube steak.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the heavy cream and eggs.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, combine the pork rinds, Parmesan cheese, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Heat ½ inch of oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
- Dip the cube steak into the egg wash and flip it to coat both sides.
- Dip the egg coated steak into the crunchy coating and flip to coat.
- Gently lower the coated cube steak into the hot oil. Fry golden brown, then using tongs flip to fry the other side.
- Once cooked, place on a plate with a paper towel. Repeat with the next piece of steak.
For the Sausage Gravy
- Heat a large frying pan to medium temperature. Add crumbled sausage and cook until the sausage is no longer pink, using a spatula to break up the crumbles.
- Remove the sausage from the pan; set aside.
- Add the onion and garlic to the pan and cook until the onion is translucent and soft. Stir often.
- Add the heavy cream, salt, and pepper. Bring the gravy to a boil.
- Once the gravy begins to boil, lower the heat and simmer for one minute.
- Add the sausage back to the pan and continue to cook and stir for one minute.
- Spoon the gravy over the top of the keto chicken fried steak and serve hot.
Notes
- Usually cube steak is sold in large pieces. Cut each cube steak in half to make 4 pieces. This will make it easier to flip when frying.
- When frying, you never want to overcrowd the pan. This brings down the temperature of the oil, reducing the crispiness of your coating.
- If you don't have pork rinds, you can use almond meal or crushed keto crackers. Please note the outer coating won't get as crispy.
- Cube steak is a thin cut of steak that's been tenderized. You can use your steak of choice and tenderize it for this recipe.
- Egg free option: If you can't have eggs simply dip your cube steak in heavy cream before dipping it in the crunchy coating.
Catherine Cocco
I made the mistake of not pounding down the cube steaks to 1/4 in, so they were tough, but the flavor was great.
I changed the gravy by making a roux and thinning it with some beef broth before stirring in cream and sausage. I know that adds a few grams of carbs, but the gravy was phenomenal. I also added sautéed mushrooms and onions.
Four Score Living
Hi Catherine,
Thank you for taking the time to stop by and share.
Kadie
Kudos for such a great recipe! My husband and I cannot believe how great it tasted! And we are Texans. 😉 Thabkd for sharing
CHERYL
COMFORT FOOD times 10! This is a big southern grandma hug!
Four Score Living
I am so glad you like it.
Rachel
This was so good. Definitely a keeper. Going to try it with chicken next time. Thank you!!!
Karens
Thank you very much! The recipe is great!
Kelly
Made this recipe for dinner. I made the gravy but added beef bouillon to the cream with onions and pepper with a side of cauliflower purée. It was excellent.
Four Score Living
I am so glad you liked it. Thank you for sharing what you used.
Chelsea
I love, love, love country fried/chicken fried steak! With country gravy (sausage gravy without the sausage).. I do love sausage gravy but over biscuits! So, I will use both the steak recipe AND the sausage gravy recipe!
Four Score Living
I love the sausage gravy over both chicken fried steak and biscuits 😉 Enjoy!
Stephanie
Made this recipe for dinner. I made the gravy but added beef bouillon to the cream with onions and pepper with a side of cauliflower purée. It was excellent.
Four Score Living
I am so glad you liked it. It's a favorite of ours too. Thank you for taking the time to stop back by and let me know.
Beryl
This was very good! I just got through stuffing my face with it. We do keto-for-diabetes eating so I’m not totally strict in that way of cooking but I love to find new ways for using almond flour, And thank you for the tip on putting breaded meat in the fridge before frying–really worked!
Four Score Living
I am so glad you liked it. Thanks for letting me know.
Jimmy
So tasty! I did it last night for my family! They love it much. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Four Score Living
So glad everyone loved it.
Margie
pefect thank you for sharing
Four Score Living
You are welcome! I am so glad you like it.
Blanca
Deliciousssss. So good. Tastes like I got it at a restaurant.I have made this recipe more times than I can count and it is perfect every time Love it, thanks for the recipe!
Four Score Living
I am so glad you like it. Thank you for taking the time to stop back by and let me know.