This Easy Keto Low Carb Chicken Fried Steak is made with tenderized cube steaks, almond flour, grated parmesan cheese, and with no pork rinds. You can substitute those if you wish. This dish is drizzled in white country gravy that can you cook with sausage if you wish.
Why is it Called Chicken Fried Steak
Some people aren’t aware that there is no chicken in chicken fried steak. It gets its name because it’s fried very similarly to fried chicken, which is a staple Southern dish. It’s also called “country fried steak,” which is just another nod to its Southern roots.
It’s a breaded cutlet that is typically breaded with all-purpose flour, seasoned, and then pan-fried, traditionally in a cast-iron skillet.
What Type of Meat to Use
Cube steaks are the most popular cut of meat to use. What is cubed meat? It’s usually top round or top sirloin, tenderized and flattened by pounding with a meat tenderizer. The name comes from the shape of the indentations left by the tenderizing process, which is called cubing.
You will need to use tenderized meat.
How to Make Keto Chicken Fried Steak
- Set up a cooking station with 2 large bowls large enough to dredge the steaks. Add almond flour, grated parmesan cheese, and seasoning to one bowl. Add whipping cream and eggs to another bowl and whisk.
- Dip the steaks in the almond flour, then the cream and eggs, and back into the almond flour and set aside.
- Heat a skillet on medium-high heat and add avocado oil and melted butter. When hot add the steaks.
- Pan fry each side for 3-4 minutes until crisp.
How to Make 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.
Then add in heavy cream, salt, and pepper to taste. To thicken the gravy, combine 1/2 teaspoon of xanthan gum with 2-3 tablespoons of the liquid gravy. Stir until thick and add it back to the liquid gravy.
What Type of Oil to Use for Frying
While frying you want to use oil that is neutral in flavor. I don’t recommend coconut oil for this reason. Coconut oil has a distinct flavor that will transfer over to your food.
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. When I coupled both with a little unsalted butter, I found that avocado oil keeps the breading intact on the steaks.
Tips to Keep the Breading Intact
Using avocado oil will help. You will also notice that the breading is very sticky. Placing sticky breading or batter into oil can also lead to the loss of breading while frying.
To avoid this, you can allow the steaks to sit for 20-30 minutes after you have finished breading. Place them in the refrigerator so that the breading hardens up a bit.
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 1/4 of an inch of oil in your pan. If you use too much oil, this could result in the loss of breading.
Be careful when you flip the steak patties. You should be careful also because you don’t want to burn yourself with hot grease. However, flipping the patty can result in the loss of breading on the side of the steak that hasn’t been fried yet if you aren’t delicate.
How to Substitute Almond Flour
I love the combination of almond flour and grated parmesan cheese in this recipe. The steaks do not have an “almondy” taste, thanks to the parmesan cheese. The cheese also isn’t overbearing.
You can substitute almond flour for crushed pork rinds if you wish. You can use the same amount.
I have not tested this recipe using coconut flour. It does not have a 1:1 substitution ratio. It’s also very dense and drying so I rarely cook with it.
What is Xanthan Gum and Why is It Used
It helps hold ingredients together (commonly used in baking) and is great to use as a thickening agent. It is used to thicken the gravy. You only need about a half a teaspoon for most recipes. Be sure to look for gluten-free xanthan gum as it will not contain wheat. Grab xanthan gum here on Amazon.
You can try substituting with a couple of ounces of cream cheese.
How Many Calories and Carbs
One steak (without gravy) has 594 calories and 6 grams of carbs.
Freezer Tips
You can freeze leftovers, tightly sealed, for 3-4 months. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight and reheat leftovers in the oven.
Pair this Dish With These Sides
Keto Cauliflower Mash
Air Fryer Green Beans
Air Fryer Broccoli
Air Fryer Asparagus
Keto Broccoli Salad
More Keto Low-Carb Comfort Foods
Keto Low-Carb Smothered Pork Chops
Smothered Chicken
Keto Low-Carb Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole
Keto Low-Carb Philly Cheesesteak Casserole
Keto Low Carb Orange Chicken
Easy Keto Low Carb Chicken Fried Steak
Ingredients
- 1 pound cube steaks Cut into 4 steaks
- 1 cup blanched almond flour
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup avocado oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter Melted and measured solid.
Country Gravy
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum See notes.
- 4 ounces ground breakfast sausage Optional if you want sausage gravy. See recipe notes for how to incorporate it.
Instructions
- Set up a cooking station and add the almond flour, parmesan cheese, and all of the spices and seasonings to a bowl large enough to dredge the steaks. Keep a moist kitchen towel on hand. Your hands will get sticky.
- Add the whipping cream and eggs to a separate large bowl and whisk.
- 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.
- 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 1/4 of inch high. Adjust the amount of oil if necessary.
- Add the cube steaks. Cook in batches if needed. Do not crowd the pan. Fry each side for about 3 minutes each until crisp.
- Remove the chicken fried steaks and set aside. Adjust the heat on the pan to medium and add the heavy cream for the gravy along with salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir continuously for 2 minutes.
- 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 the pan from heat. The gravy will thicken upon standing.
Video
Notes
- Macros noted exclude optional 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. Then add the cream and proceed to the remaining steps.
- You can air fry these steaks on 370 degrees for 7-12 minutes.
- While frying you want to use oil that is neutral in flavor. I don’t recommend coconut oil for this reason. Coconut oil has a distinct flavor that will transfer over to your food.
- 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. When I coupled both with a little unsalted butter, I found that avocado oil keeps the breading intact on the steaks.
- You can substitute almond flour for crushed pork rinds if you wish. You can use the same amount.
- I have not tested this recipe using coconut flour. It does not have a 1:1 substitution ratio. It’s also very dense and drying so I rarely cook with it.
- You can substitute xanthan gum for a couple of ounces of cream cheese.
- To help keep the breading intact, you can allow the steaks to sit for 20-30 minutes after you have finished breading. Place them in the refrigerator so that the breading hardens up a bit.
- 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 1/4 of an inch of oil in your pan. If you use too much oil, this could result in the loss of breading.
- Be careful when you flip the steak patties. You should be careful also because you don’t want to burn yourself with hot grease. However, flipping the patty can result. in the loss of breading on the side of the steak that hasn’t been fried yet if you aren’t delicate.
- If you don’t care about the carb count you can use 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour combined with 1 tablespoon of water to thicken the gravy. Add an additional tablespoon of both of it still isn’t thick enough.
JacquilinG
Sunday 30th of July 2023
This CFS recipe looks good and I want to try it BUT, the addition of breakfast sausage for gravy is totally unnecessary. I know no southern cooks who do this for cream or white gravy, which is what is served with CFS.
staysnatched
Sunday 30th of July 2023
You not knowing anyone who uses sausage means nothing. Black Southerners use sausage in gravy all of the time. If it’s unnecessary for you, then don’t use it.
Cheri
Wednesday 7th of June 2023
So maybe I’m just stupid, but I can’t get the gravy to work. I’m adding my cream to the grease, cooking two minutes, adding the xanthum gum mixed with the gravy mixture. It always separated and doesn’t turn into gravy. Help!
staysnatched
Saturday 10th of June 2023
You have to take some of the mixture and add it to the xanthan gum before you add it to the gravy. It needs to be fully blended. If you dump it in it will just clump and separate.
Joan
Friday 21st of April 2023
Do you think fat free half and half would work? Too many calories for me. Just wondered if the heavy cream could be substituted. Thanks! Also, have you tried carbolose flour? I have used your almond flour recipes and they turned out well, but wondered if you have ever tried carbolose flour in any of your recipes?
Lynne
Friday 21st of July 2023
@Joan, I used fat free half and half and the xantham gum to thicken. I added sauteed mushrooms to the sauce. I worked well for me as I was trying t o decrease the calories and incorporate some veggies.
staysnatched
Friday 21st of April 2023
I haven’t tried any of these things. If you do, let me know how it turns out!
Suzanne
Saturday 15th of April 2023
Amazing depth of flavor on these chicken fried steaks. The gravy was amazing (no sausage used) and easy to make. I used a cast iron pan to shallow fry. With a little bit of planning, you could whip this together in about an hour or less. I can't wait to make this again soon. Keeping on Keto is easy when you have a solid recipe like this!
margaret smith
Sunday 2nd of April 2023
I have made this twice and the steaks were delicious but the gravy was a disaster. It was going good and it had a pretty light brown color then I added the xanthan gum. It coagulated and became dark brown. Did this both times. Next time I won't add the xanthan gum and I think it will be fine.
staysnatched
Sunday 2nd of April 2023
Thanks for sharing. That’s interesting I never have that experience with any recipe I use with it.