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There are some classic comfort foods that are so iconic, they’re rarely tampered with. Make one tweak to Nonna’s Sunday gravy recipe, and you’re in for it big time, and don’t even think about adding a “secret ingredient” to the family cornbread recipe, or you know you’ll hear about it. But on our own, can we all agree that sometimes, a little bit of change can do a lot of good? After all, it wasn’t so long ago that many of our prized family recipes started with like five kinds of canned soup, so we have to be open to the idea that even classics can be improved upon. And though it might be scary to admit it, The Pioneer Woman‘s updated Tex-Mex take on one of the ultimate diner comfort foods, chicken-fried steak, is definitely worth trying.
Chicken fried steak is exactly the type of food Ree Drummond already cooks up expertly. After all, if you have to fuel a house full of hungry family members, many of whom have literally been working on the range all day, then a hearty meal of crispy fried steak served with a creamy sauce is pretty much a necessity. But Drummond was able to make some tweaks to the original recipe that add a boost of flavor and color that even the most staunch traditionalists will have a hard time not falling for. Get that cast iron skillet ready!
For starters, Drummond makes this meal with rib-eye steaks, not the pounded out cube steaks we grew up with. Fancy! Then, she adds a kick to the breading thanks to a pinch of smoky ancho chile powder. She adds the ancho chile powder to the white gravy, too, which helps cut through the richness.
But our favorite addition to this classic recipe is the peppers. The Pioneer Woman slices up a poblano pepper and some mini sweet peppers, along with a serrano chile for heat, and sautés them in the reserved drippings from cooking the steak. The peppers caramelize and add a fresh, vegetal sweetness that livens up the whole dish.
If you love chicken fried steak and gravy but secretly feel like it’s kind of bland, then Ree Drummond’s Tex-Mex chicken fried steak is a must-try. It’s a new spin on an old favorite that doesn’t stray too far from tradition — just far enough to get you excited about it again.
Before you go, check out Ina Garten’s easy weeknight dinner recipes below:
