Give Chicken Fried Steak A Major Crunch Upgrade With This Cereal

Chicken fried steak is one of those must-try Texas foods everyone should eat at least once, although we dare say most people who've tried it come back for another go-round. (Especially pigtailed country music stars — it's one of Willie Nelson's favorite comfort meals). Chicken fried steak is basically an American version of schnitzel, consisting of steak (usually cubed steak) coated in batter or breadcrumbs and then fried in oil (or oil and butter, as per Ree Drummond's preferred method). Some recipes, however, eschew the breadcrumbs for a crunchier coating of crushed corn flakes cereal.

When used in a chicken fried steak recipe, corn flakes can replace breadcrumbs on a 1:1 basis. With this method, the cubed steaks are first floured, then dipped in egg, and finally rolled in crushed cereal before frying. At this point, your steak could be either chicken fried or country fried — the main difference between the two is the gravy. (The former is typically topped with a white gravy, while the latter is drenched in a brown one.)

Why use corn flakes as a coating? Well, this cereal is built to withstand a certain amount of milk before it dissolves into a soggy mess, so it stands to reason that it would retain its crunch when introduced to hot oil. It also adds a little sweetness to the dish. Cornflakes themselves typically aren't sweetened unless you're using Frosted Flakes. (Tony the Tiger fans take note: This could actually be grrrreat!) Even so, they do contain some added sugar and corn itself is among the sweeter-tasting vegetables.

If you don't mind doing a little kitchen experimentation, you have plenty of options for using other cereals to coat your chicken fried steak. Corn flakes are fairly typical and quite a few recipes call for them, but if you're a fan of sweet and savory combos like chicken and waffles we really weren't kidding about subbing in Frosted Flakes (or a non-capitalized, non-Kellogg's generic version). Chex-type cereals (corn or otherwise) would also do the job, as would Rice Krispies, Grape Nuts, or anything similarly sturdy.

You could also try using a flavored breakfast cereal such as Cap'n Crunch, Fruity Pebbles, or Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Home cooks have reported success with using all of these as fried food coatings, and even Lucky Charms (marshmallows and all) hold up surprisingly well in a deep fryer. If any of these appeal to you, go for it. Well, with one caveat: Sugar burns easily, so you'll need to keep a close eye on the coating while your chicken fried steak is cooking.