Chicken fried steak is a quintessential comfort food of the American South. This dish features a tenderized beef steak that is breaded and fried like fried chicken, then smothered in creamy white gravy. The white gravy truly makes this dish, transforming crispy fried steak into a mouthwatering hearty meal. Making your own white gravy from scratch takes this Southern favorite to the next level. Read on to learn the easy steps for how to make the perfect white gravy to top your chicken fried steak.
What Makes Great White Gravy?
White gravy gets its name from its pale color and thick, creamy texture. This sauce is made with just a few simple ingredients – butter, flour, milk, and seasonings. The magic lies in cooking the butter and flour together to form a flavorful roux. This cooked mixture thickens up the milk to create a luscious gravy. Great white gravy should have:
- A smooth, creamy consistency that coats the back of a spoon
- A rich, nutty flavor from cooking the flour and butter
- A hint of black pepper for spice
- A touch of salt to balance out the flavors
- A medium thickness – not too thin or overly thick
When making white gravy it’s important to cook the roux sufficiently to avoid a raw flour taste. You also want to whisk the sauce constantly to prevent lumps. With just a few simple tricks it’s easy to make restaurant-quality white gravy at home.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for foolproof white gravy:
1. Make the roux
- Melt 4 tbsp butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Whisk in 4 tbsp all-purpose flour until a smooth paste forms.
- Cook the roux for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until lightly browned. Don’t rush this step!
2. Gradually add the milk
- Pour in 2 cups whole milk while whisking constantly.
- Whisk vigorously to fully incorporate the milk and prevent lumps.
3. Simmer the gravy
- Allow the gravy to come up to a simmer.
- Cook for 5-10 minutes, whisking frequently, until thickened.
- The gravy should coat the back of a spoon. Add more milk if too thick.
4. Season the gravy
- Stir in 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
- Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
5. Keep warm until ready to serve
- Place the gravy in a double boiler or over very low heat to keep warm.
- Give it a good stir before drizzling generously over chicken fried steak!
Gravy Tips and Tricks
Follow these tips for perfect gravy every time:
- Use whole milk or half-and-half for richer flavor. Nonfat milk makes the gravy too thin.
- Make sure your roux reaches a blonde color before adding milk. This prevents a starchy taste.
- Add the milk slowly at first to prevent lumps from forming.
- Use a balloon whisk for super smooth gravy devoid of any lumps.
- If lumps form, pass the gravy through a fine mesh strainer.
- For extra rich gravy, use half butter and half bacon grease in the roux.
- For sausage gravy, use crumbled cooked sausage instead of butter in the roux.
- Keep the gravy warm in a double boiler instead of direct heat to prevent scorching.
- Give it a good stir before serving to reincorporate all the delicious flavors.
With the easy roux method, you can now make smooth, delicious white gravy from scratch any time the craving for chicken fried steak strikes! Drizzle this flavorful gravy over crispy fried steaks, fluffy biscuits, mashed potatoes, or anything else that you want to make more indulgent. This versatile sauce is sure to become your new go-to recipe
What’s In This Post?
What’s the Difference Between White Gravy and Brown Gravy?
In short, white gravy contains milk, while brown gravy contains broth. Brown gravy might also be more heavily seasoned with herbs and spices, while white gravy is usually a very simple sauce.
- Pan drippings – You can use fond from basically any meat from turkey to pan-fried chicken to pork or steak.
- All-purpose flour – Used to thicken the gravy.
- Milk – This adds a rich creaminess; for the most ideal flavor and texture I recommend using whole milk.
- White onion – This is optional but will add a great depth of flavor and texture.
- Salt and ground black pepper – To taste.
Chicken Fried Steak Gravy | Homemade Gravy | Gravy | White Gravy | White Gravy Recipe
FAQ
What is chicken fried steak gravy made of?
Makes the flavor go hand in hand with the steaks. All you’ll need is flour, milk and seasoning of your choice. You could make gravy this way with any leftover grease/oil. Like fried chicken or fried pork chops.
How to make white gravy at home?
Melt unsalted butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the all-purpose flour and whisk continuously until the mixture has a toasty aroma and becomes a deep golden hue. Whisk in the milk. Whisking constantly, slowly add the milk a 1/2 cup at a time, until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
How to make gravy from frying steak?
- Add flour to the pan drippings, stirring until the flour is the color of a brown paper sack.
- Whisk in beef broth and water (or milk) to the flour mixture. Continue whisking constantly for approximately 3 minutes.
- Taste and add salt to your preference.
- Serve over fried beef steaks.
How to make poor man’s gravy from scratch?
Melt butter in frying pan, add flour and brown lightly. Slowly stir in milk or broth until right thickness. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with boiled potatoes.
How do you make white gravy for chicken fried steak?
This white gravy is exactly what you need for your chicken fried steak, or whatever else you want to make uber-yummy. Place the butter in your skillet and heat at medium-high heat on your stovetop, until fully melted. Stir in the flour and let it break down in the butter for a couple minutes. Then slowly add in the milk, while continuing to stir.
How do you make fried steak gravy?
Gravy only requires a few ingredients. This white gravy is made with a little of the grease leftover from the fried steak, whisked together with flour, milk, a little seasoned salt, and pepper. You just cook the flour and grease for a few minutes until it turns golden, then add the milk and seasonings and whisk until it has thickened up some.
Is white gravy good for fried chicken?
If you’re making fried chicken, biscuits, or potatoes, white gravy is a fast and easy way to add flavor and moisture. Read on to learn how to make white gravy, and discover some of our top white gravy recipes.
What is white gravy?
This classic White Gravy is ultra creamy, and speckled with plenty of black pepper. Perfect on chicken fried steak, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, biscuits and more! Easy to make with only 7 ingredients (including salt and pepper!). This is part of a series of recipes here on the site that I’m calling “Back to Basics“.
What kind of gravy does chicken fried steak have?
It’s dusted with seasoned flour and fried so the coating is pretty thin and it’s typically served with brown gravy. Chicken fried steak resembles fried chicken because the coating uses eggs, flour, and milk, just as you would in fried chicken. It’s typically served with creamy white gravy.
How do you make white gravy?
This white gravy is made with a little of the grease leftover from the fried steak, whisked together with flour, milk, a little seasoned salt, and pepper. You just cook the flour and grease for a few minutes until it turns golden, then add the milk and seasonings and whisk until it has thickened up some. It’s divine, I tell you!