Air fryer chicken fried steak fingers are a yummy comfort food that’s great for dinner or an appetizer. Crunchy finger food that’s tender inside with a gravy dip, just like Cracker Barrel but homemade!
Who doesn’t love this southern fried food??!! Well if you’re looking for the same great taste with a fraction of the fat intake, try our air fryer chicken fried steak recipe! It’s one of our favorite air fryer recipes here on The Typical Mom. (originally published 9/19, affiliate links present)
Ninja Foodi Chicken Fried Steak
If you’re Southern this is probably a regular meal in your home. If you’re not I am sure you love it too. We made these into strips because they’re easier to eat. THIS my friends is how to cook chicken in an air fryer to perfection. 😉
Just like deep fried to a golden brown but NO need to submerge these babies in oil at all, they’re a healthier version of your favorite comfort food.
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- My Favorite Air Fryer is a Cosori or for a dual machine, the Foodi.
- You can find more easy air fryer recipes here, we have Ninja Foodi recipes as well; bookmark them both!
- This is the best air fryer cookbook. It’s important to know and remember how to preheat air fryer for best results.
- Here’s a printable free air fryer cooking time chart here for your fridge.
- It has temp. and times for making the best frozen foods for air fryer too.
- Then join our Facebook page below where you can share and find more ideas you’ll love.
Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak Fingers
Of course you could leave the cubed steak whole, it would just take longer to cook. I personally think smaller bites turn out better to get the inside nice and tender while keeping a crunchy texture on the outside.
The seasonings for the breadcrumbs are totally up to you. Of course we share what we used down below so feel free to use those suggestions.
This is kinda’ the assembly line that is handy to have in order to bread and cook every piece.
Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak with Panko
Whenever I come up with an idea, I refer to my air fryer cooking times chart linked at the top of this post to determine how long it will take to cook.
Of course you may need to adjust it slightly, but it is a great reference to start with. Just like my meatballs in an air fryer it eliminated the guess work once I got to that step and they were done perfectly.
- Cubed steak
- Salt and pepper
- garlic and onion powder are good add ins too
- use seasonings you love
- Seasoned flour
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Egg
- Milk
You’ll need 3 bowls or plates with tall lips on the sides too. If you can lay it all out on the counter it’s easier to make sure each piece is completely coated, dipped, coated again and laid in your basket quickly.
What cut of meat is cube steak?
Cube steak is the name of a cut of beef. It’s usually top round or top sirloin that’s been tenderized and flattened by pounding with a meat tenderizer.
Ninja Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak
You can use an electric tenderizer to do this too.
- Spray air fryer basket with non stick spray and preheat to 360 degrees.
- Slice cubed steak into strips and season each piece with salt and pepper
- In a bowl or plate mix together your flour, dry mustard, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, and smoked paprika.
- Using a shallow bowl whisk together your milk and egg. On a third plate spread our your Panko bread crumbs.
- Use a fork and press into flour mixture, shaking off excess. Then dip into egg mixture and finally press into breadcrumbs on both sides. Shake off a bit of excess and put into air fryer basket.
- Do this with enough pieces to fill basket without overlapping and leaving a bit of space in between them so they crisp up properly. Spray with olive oil spray lightly.
Close and cook at 360 degrees for 11 minutes. You’ll want to open and flip your pieces over after 7 minutes. Continue cooking for 4 min. and then check to see if you want them to crisp up more.
If so add a few more minutes until they’re done to your liking. NO need for paper towels to absorb the grease on these as there isn’t any!
What’s the best way to tenderize cube steak?
Use a meat mallet that is either metal or wooden. Cover your steak in a plastic bag or plastic wrap, and pound it thoroughly until the entire steak is covered with marks from the mallet.
Here are a few other questions you might have before you make this favorite air fryer fried steak of ours:
How long do you cook frozen chicken fried steak in the air fryer?
Well, this recipe is for homemade but if you want to make them out of the freezer just set to 400 degrees F for 11 minutes. Flip them halfway thru and leave in basket for 2 minutes when time it up.
Air fryer cube steak is a bit quicker if you want to try that too.
Most definitely! We have made these, air fryer steak, and our favorite is probably this air fryer steak bites recipe with an incredible dry rub.
Set to 350 degrees F for 4 minutes. Flip halfway thru the cook time and check to see if they’re warm enough to serve.
Here’s a peek at them once they’re done. Kinda’ like air fryer chicken tenders, but with beef instead.
Air Fried Country Fried Steak
You want to make sure to give them space inside the air fryer basket. Hot air is what will cook them and create a crispy outer layer you want. If you crowd the strips the chicken fried steak strips won’t get as crispy as you’d like.
Why is it called chicken fried steak?
- It is prepared in the same manner as traditional fried chicken, but it’s made out of steak. Makes sense I guess right??!!
Some people would call this country fried steak. What’s the difference? Not much. One flour dusted and the other uses bread crumbs. Since we used both I just called it this. 😉 Looking for other Ninja Foodi recipes for your air fryer? We found these air fryer fajitas using steak to be really tasty!
What side goes with chicken fried steak?
Traditionally you’d serve this or our air fryer fried chicken thighs with mashed potato balls if it’s served as a dinner. These are cut as a finger food appetizer though so you can serve them with a bowl of gravy to dip them into.
Another option is vegetables!
- Air fryer cauliflower is a great side dish.
- I make Instant Pot broccoli often with this since it takes just 1 minute to cook.
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Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak
Ingredients
- 3 lbs cubed steak
- 2 c Panko bread crumbs
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 2/3 c flour
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1.5 tsp salt
- 1 tsp paprika smoked is best
- 1 c milk
- 1 egg
- olive oil spray
Instructions
- Spray air fryer basket with non stick spray and preheat to 360 degrees.
- Slice cubed steak into strips and season each piece with salt and pepper
- In a bowl or plate mix together your flour, dry mustard, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, and smoked paprika.
- In a different bowl whisk together your milk and egg. On a third plate spread our your Panko bread crumbs.
- Use a fork and press into flour mixture, shaking off excess. Then dip into egg mixture and finally press into breadcrumbs on both sides. Shake off a bit of excess and put into air fryer basket.
- Do this with enough pieces to fill basket without overlapping and leaving a bit of space in between them so they crisp up properly. Spray with olive oil spray lightly.
- Close and cook at 360 degrees for 11 minutes total. Open and flip pieces after 7 minutes. Continue cooking for 4 minutes and then check to see if you want them to crisp up more. If so add a few more minutes until they're done to your liking.
Ken T
Saturday 22nd of January 2022
Looks great. Two questions…. How do you make white gravy with no drippings since you’re not cooking in a skillet?
How do you keep your first batch of steak fingers hot while you’re cooking your second and third batches?
That’s the downfall of air fryers. Sure they cook fast but you’re not saving any time having to cook several small batches.
Thanks!
Heidi
Saturday 21st of October 2023
@Ken T, For the gravy, just make it w/o the drippings - melt butter, mix in flour, add milk & seasoning, stir often until thickened.
To keep batches warm, put them in the oven at 170 (or the lowest temp your oven goes to). The subsequent batches cook quickly enough that what's in the oven doesn't dry out.
Erin
Friday 19th of February 2021
Any ideas on how to collect drippings for gravy?
The Typical Mom
Saturday 20th of February 2021
If there are any drippings they would be underneath your air fryer basket. Lift out basket and drain drippings below into a saucepan and thicken.
Nellie Tracy
Tuesday 3rd of November 2020
This is a great recipe! My family loves this as a weeknight dinner.
The Typical Mom
Wednesday 4th of November 2020
Oh yay!
wilhelmina
Tuesday 3rd of November 2020
Yum! Chicken fried steak is one of my favorites, but I rarely make because of the mess and extra calories of frying. I was excited to try this and I am so glad I did, it was fabulous! Easy and super tasty!
TK
Thursday 27th of August 2020
WHat happens if we don't cut it into strips? Have you tried a flour or a GF flour mixture?
The Typical Mom
Friday 28th of August 2020
It would take longer to cook, no I haven't