Cactus Chicken Fried Steak

Elevate your comfort food game with this bold and flavorful Cactus Chicken Fried Steak recipe, a southwestern twist on a classic. Perfectly tenderized cube steaks are double-dredged in a spiced flour and cornmeal coating, then fried to golden, crispy perfection. The standout feature? A creamy, rich cactus gravy made with sautéed nopales (cactus pads) that adds a unique tangy complexity to the dish. Ready in just under an hour, this creative fusion of southern and southwestern flavors is hearty, satisfying, and sure to impress. Serve it up for dinner and let the crispy steak and zesty cactus gravy make a lasting impression. This recipe is a must-try for lovers of Tex-Mex-inspired comfort food!

Nutriscore Rating: 67/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:50 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 pieces tenderized cube steaks
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 0.5 cup cornmeal
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup nopales (cactus pads), cleaned and diced
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour (for the gravy)
• 2 cups whole milk
• 0.5 teaspoon salt (for the gravy)
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper (for the gravy)

Directions

Step 1

Prepare the breading station by mixing the all-purpose flour, cornmeal, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper in a shallow dish.

Step 2

In another shallow dish, whisk together eggs and buttermilk until well combined.

Step 3

Dip each cube steak into the flour mixture, making sure to fully coat. Then dip it into the egg mixture and return it to the flour mixture for a second coating.

Step 4

Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil reaches 350°F (175°C), carefully place the breaded steaks into the skillet.

Step 5

Fry the steaks for about 3-4 minutes on each side or until the coating is golden brown and crispy. Transfer the cooked steaks to a wire rack or paper towels to drain any excess oil.

Step 6

In a separate skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the diced nopales and cook for 5-7 minutes until they are tender and slightly browned.

Step 7

Stir in the all-purpose flour into the skillet with the nopales to create a roux, cooking for 1 minute.

Step 8

Slowly whisk in the whole milk, making sure to avoid lumps. Cook the gravy, stirring frequently, until it thickens, about 5-7 minutes.

Step 9

Season the cactus cream gravy with salt and black pepper to taste.

Step 10

Serve the chicken fried steaks hot, topped generously with the cactus cream gravy.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2169.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	4843.7

Total Fat 325.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 84.7g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 135.4g
Cholesterol 830.4mg	0%
Sodium 4355.2mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 329.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 22.0g	0%
Total Sugars 40.0g
Protein 167.5g	0%

Vitamin D 423.6IU	0%
Calcium 1442.3mg	0%
Iron 28.0mg	0%
Potassium 3583.1mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 59.6%

Protein: 13.6%

Carbs: 26.8%