Chicken Fried Steak Fingers with Gravy

Coated in a crunchy batter made for dippin’, these Steak Fingers are truly irresistible. Served with an easy white gravy, you’ll keep going back for more!

One of my favorite hearty breakfasts is chicken fried steak slathered in peppered white gravy, it is truly magical. So I took my staple breakfast and turned it into an easier version, Steak Fingers, and now I have the excuse to eat it whenever I want!

Let’s face it, this is no healthy meal by any means, but when I want to indulge, I love making this recipe because my whole family goes crazy for it too.

I mean, what’s not to love? We start with a ribeye steak, which in my opinion, is one of the best cuts of steak there is.

I wanted to use a steak that is already tender on its own and easy to bite into. Since we are quick frying these crispy steak fingers, that is a must. You don’t want to bite into a chewy piece of steak, ick!

We use a classic breading technique which every part of the way is highly seasoned, so these babies do NOT lack on flavor.

If you want to adjust any of the ingredients along the way, I’ve got some great ideas for you later on!

Finished off with a luscious pepper creamy white milk gravy that goes together in minutes… trust me on this, you HAVE to try this recipe for Steak Fingers ASAP. 

1. Minimal and easy-to-find ingredients help these come together in no time.
2. A fun alternative to a large chicken fried steak, making these totally snackable!
3. Easily make more of less to feed as many people as you need to.
4. Comes with an easy white gravy recipe too!

• Ribeye steak
• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Buttermilk
• Egg
• Hot sauce
• Peanut oil
• Whole milk

1. Cut the steak into ½-inch strips, and remove any excess fat you don’t want. 
2. In a medium-sized shallow bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
3. Whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and hot sauce in another medium-sized shallow bowl.
4. Take a handful of the steak strips at a time, place them into the flour mixture, and coat them in the flour. Shake off any excess and dip them into the egg mixture, letting the excess drip off. Lastly, place them back into the flour mixture and coat them well. Gently press the flour into the strips so it sticks.
5. Place the strips, not touching, on a parchment-lined sheet tray while you coat the remaining steak strips.
6. Add 1/4th inch up the side of the pan of peanut oil to a cast iron or heavy bottom skillet. Heat until the oil reaches 325°F over medium heat.
7. Carefully add the steak strips to the pan, not touching, and fry them for 5 minutes, flipping them halfway through. We are looking for them to be golden brown and crispy, do not crowd the pan.
8. Take out the steak strips with tongs and place them on a wire rack set on a sheet tray to catch any drips. Repeat with the remaining steak strips.Pin
9. Pour out any excess oil from the pan, leaving about ¼ cup in the skillet. Add the flour and whisk it into the oil. Cook for 1 minute.
10. Slowly stream in the milk while whisking constantly. Season with the salt and pepper. Continuing to whisk, bring to a simmer and simmer until thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately with the delicious steak fingers as a dipping sauce.

ARE THESE GOOD WITH OTHER DIPPING SAUCES?

Yes, you can also serve additional dipping sauce along with the white gravy if you wish, or totally skip the gravy step and just use a dipping sauce.

Some of my favorite sauces to serve with homemade Steak Fingers include:

• Honey Mustard
• Garlic Aioli
• Ranch
• Cajun Ranch
• Hot Sauce
• BBQ Sauce, our favorite is Sweet Baby Ray’s
• Spicy Mustard
• Sawmill Gravy
• Sausage Gravy
• Brown Gravy

You can tell the possibilities are endless! They are even good without a sauce, so you can customize this recipe to fit your taste.

CAN I USE A DIFFERENT CUT OF MEAT?

Traditionally, chicken fried steak uses cube steak.

You could also use cube steak for this recipe, but sometimes it can still be tough even though it has been tenderized.

I highly suggest splurging on ribeye if you can.

But, other steaks that are naturally tender enough for these fingers would be filet (which is super expensive, but if you need to use some up, why not?!), NY strip, or skirt steak if you cut it against the grain. 

WHAT METHOD IS THE BEST WAY TO REHEAT CHICKEN FRIED STEAK FINGERS?

Generally, I do not refry foods that have already been fried because then the coating may become too dark. 

But, with these homemade steak fingers, I think a double fry on them would work out well since it wouldn’t take long in the fryer or pot. 

You could also place them on a sheet tray topped with a wire rack and in the oven until warmed.

This method elevates the fried food, allowing the heat to penetrate all sides and keep it crispy.

If you placed them directly on a sheet tray, the heat on the bottom of the fingers would steam itself, resulting in a soggy coating.

I also suggest the air fryer for reheating, which would be a quick option like the deep fryer.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.

Place the leftover delicious steak fingers in the air fryer and cook for 3-4 minutes.

Flip them halfway through until they are warmed.

To reheat the gravy, I suggest placing it back into a saucepot and placing it on the stove over medium-low heat.

Add a couple of splashes of milk to loosen it up, then whisk it all together until smooth.

Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, then take off the heat, and it’s ready to serve again!

ANY ADDITIONS?

Want to make these crispy Steak Fingers even more delicious for your next snack attack? I’ve got a few ideas.

• Ranch Dressing – Drizzle some on top for a cool, creamy twist that pairs with the crispy coating like a dream!
• Steak Sauce – Add a splash alongside the country gravy—tangy and bold for extra yum!
• Mashed Potatoes – Serve them with a scoop—soft and fluffy, it’s a comfort food match made in heaven!
• Garlic Powder – Sprinkle more into the flour mixture—garlicky goodness in every bite!
• Hot Sauce – Mix a bit into the buttermilk mixture—spicy kicks for your crispy steak fingers!
• Texas Toast – Pair with a slice—crunchy bread makes it a great grub combo!
• Paprika – Dust some in the batter—smoky flavor that’s a great addition!
• Cheddar Cheese – Melt some on top—cheesy delight for your delicious steak fingers!
• Honey – Drizzle a little—sweet and sticky with that homemade steak fingers crunch!
• Parsley – Sprinkle chopped bits—fresh and green, it’s like a fancy garnish party!

ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?

Need to tweak this steak finger basket recipe with what’s in your kitchen or switch up the flavor? Here you go!

• Sirloin Steak – Use this instead of ribeye steak—still tender and perfect for frying in hot oil!
• Vegetable Oil – Swap for peanut oil—keeps that crispy coating golden and ready in a large skillet!
• Chicken Drumsticks – Sub these for steak—turns it into a fun finger food twist!
• Milk – Replace buttermilk—still creamy for the buttermilk mixture, just a bit milder!
• Cajun Seasoning – Use this instead of garlic powder—spicy flair for your combine flour mix!
• Flour – Swap with cornstarch—extra crunch for those delicious treats without changing the exact measurements!

These are truly best enjoyed right away if possible. The fresher, the better. But you can save leftovers for later.

Ensure they have come to room temperature before placing them into an airtight container. If they are still warm, steam will escape and condensate in the container, making them wet.

These can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They can also be frozen in a freezer container for up to 3 months.

To thaw, place the container back in the fridge overnight.

Want to enjoy your favorite indulgent breakfast in handheld form?

You have to give my Steak Fingers a try ASAP!

If you’ve tried these STEAK FINGERS, let me know how it turned out in the comments! You can follow me over on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK to find some more of our mouthwatering recipes!