Last Updated on February 24, 2026 by Carrie Korem, FNTP
Chicken Fried Steak is a staple recipe here in Texas. I have such fond memories of my mom making it on special occasions. She’d serve it with green beans and mashed potatoes and we’d finish it all off with big slices of ripe cantaloupe for dessert. This gluten free chicken fried steak recipe is one of my all-time favorites. And of course, we’re using a healthy fat to fry with!
You can swap out the cube steak for chicken breasts to make chicken fried chicken if you like. You can also use chicken tenderloins or chicken pieces to make chicken strips or nuggets. Here’s a fantastic homemade gravy recipe if you want to drizzle some on top.
What Cut of Meat Makes the Best Gluten Free Chicken Fried Steak?
The best meat for chicken fried steak is a tenderized cube steak or round steak. Both of these cuts are already nice and thin, and the tenderizing helps the coating stick really well. And if you’d like, you can always swap out the beef for chicken breasts. It works great either way.
How to Make the Coating Stick
The key to getting a good coating is two things: eggs and a hot pan. First, you dip the steak in the gluten-free flour blend, then egg, then flour again. The egg acts like glue and holds everything together.
But here’s the really important part – you have to heat your pan and oil really well before adding the steak. If the oil isn’t hot enough, the coating won’t stick right and it can end up soft or gummy. Taking a few extra minutes to preheat the pan is totally worth it.
What Is the Best Gluten Free Coating for Chicken Fried Steak?
I tested a lot of different gluten-free flour blends to find the perfect coating for this gluten free chicken fried steak recipe. My absolute favorite is a mix of finely ground almond flour, coconut flour, and arrowroot flour.
I personally don’t love using a store-bought flour blend because the texture can be a little too grainy. Plus, most pre-made blends haven’t been soaked to reduce phytic acid.
This homemade coating works really well for chicken nuggets too.
What Kind of Oil Is Best for Frying?
A fat like lard or tallow is a great choice for frying. These fats don’t break down at higher heat the way seed oils do or even an oils like olive or avocado. They also provide healthy cholesterol and play an important role in keeping the body healthy. For more info about healthy fats and oils for cooking, go here.
Reheating Your Leftovers
Leftovers are just as good the next day if you reheat them the right way! I like to reheat my chicken fried steak in the oven. Just heat the oven to 350°F and bake for about 10–15 minutes, until the breading is crispy again. The oven does a much better job of keeping that crunchy coating than the microwave does.
I hope this recipe brings as much joy to your table as it has to mine. Happy cooking, y’all!
Chicken Fried Steak (Gluten-Free)
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 2 cups finely ground almond flour
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
- 1 tablespoon Herbamare
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 cup arrowroot flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons grass-fed gelatin
- 5 large eggs
- 4 tenderized cube or round steak
- 1/2 cup lard, tallow or palm shortening
Instructions
Place a cooling rack on top of a baking sheet. Preheat the oven to 275ºF and adjust the rack to the middle position.
While the lard is heating, place the almond flour, coconut flour, Herbamare, paprika, arrowroot and gelatin in a pie plate and toss gently to combine. Crack the eggs into a second pie plate and whisk in 2 tablespoons of water. Dip one of the cube steaks first into the flour mixture, then the egg, then the flour again. Set the coated steak on a large plate while you coat the remaining steaks.
Place the lard in a large 12” skillet and heat over medium-high heat until the lard is shimmering. Carefully place two steaks into the skillet and fry for about 3-4 minutes until the bottom side is golden brown. Using a pair of tongs, carefully turn the steaks over to the other side. Fry for another 2-3 minutes until the second side is golden brown. Place the steaks on the prepared baking sheet. Place the sheet into the oven to keep the steaks warm while you cook the remaining steaks. Serve hot.
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