Pork Cube Steak
This skillet recipe for Pork Cube Steak is fall-apart tender and extra delicious, thanks to the panko coating that creates the perfect, crispy exterior. I have even included my favorite dipping sauce recipe for you to try!
If you love easy pork dinners like I do, try my Saucy Cubed Pork or my Pork Ribeye Roast.
A Quick Look at the Recipe
- ✅ Recipe Name: Pork Cube Steak
- ⏲️ Ready In: 30 minutes
- 👨👨👦👦 Serves: 6 servings
- 🍽️ Calories: 313 calories
- 💪 Protein: 10 grams
- 🥣 Main Ingredients: Pork Cube Steak, Panko Bread Crumbs
- 📋 Dietary Info: Comfort Food, Family-Friendly, High Protein, Kid Approved
- 💯 Why You’ll Love It: Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, this easy pork cubed steak in the skillet is budget-friendly, comfort food, done right.
Pork Cube Steak
I am always on the lookout for a hearty, comfort food meal that’s as inexpensive as it is delicious.
This skillet version of pork cubed steak is made with Panko bread crumbs, so you get a super-crunched exterior that totally complements the deliciously soft and tender center. I also like panko bread crumbs on my Cast Iron Skillet Mac and Cheese.
And because cube steaks come to us pre-tenderized (thank you, little waffle pattern all over each side), they always cook quickly and turn out fall-apart tender. Yep, they practically melt in your mouth!
We really like these cube steaks served with the dipping sauce, but if your family prefers the more traditional route, you can always serve them drizzled with gravy alongside my Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes.
Ingredients and Substitutions
For a complete list of ingredients, see the detailed recipe card below.
- Panko bread crumbs: Panko bread crumbs are a light, flaky type of bread crumb that makes breading much crisper, since the flakes are large and irregular in shape. The texture of the breading stays crunchier and more delicate, which is a very nice contrast to the super-soft interior of a cube steak. If you only have flour for breading instead of Panko, it works just fine. You can also substitute regular bread crumbs for the Panko bread crumbs, if that’s what you’ve got on hand.
- Pork cube steaks: You’ll recognize cube steaks by the small punctures that cover the surface of the meat. These small cuts puncture the meat fibers, making the pork tender and quick-cooking.
Step by Step Instructions
Create your prep station by laying out the breading ingredients in three wide, flat bowls.
Step 1: In the first bowl, combine the flour with the salt and pepper. In the second bowl, beat the eggs with the cream. In the third bowl, place the Panko bread crumbs.
Step 2: Working one at a time, dredge each cube steak on both sides in the prepared flour mixture. Next, dip the same floured cube steak into the egg mixture, coating both sides.
Step 3: Now dredge the cube steak into the Panko crumbs, using your fingertips to press them in a bit so they stick well.
Step 4: Place the breaded cube steak onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet while you repeat the breading process with the remaining three cube steaks.
Step 5: Into a 10-inch or 12-inch heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat, add enough oil so that it’s about 1/4-inch deep. When the oil is hot, add the prepared cube steaks, working 1 or 2 at a time, depending on the size of your skillet.
Step 6: Cook the cube steaks about 2 minutes per side, just until each side is a deep golden brown.
Using a large fish spatula works very well for turning the cube steaks. Don’t use tongs to turn the steaks, as this will usually cause them to fall apart.
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Step 7: Remove the browned cube steaks from the hot oil and place onto a paper-towel-lined cookie sheet or on a cooling rack placed over a cookie sheet. Keep the cube steaks warm in the oven on the lowest setting while continuing to cook the remaining cube steaks.
Make the optional dipping sauce, if desired. Serve the warm cube steaks with the dipping sauce on the side.
My Recipe Tips
- Be sure the oil is nicely hot before adding the cube steaks to the skillet. To know if the oil is ready, sprinkle a bit of flour over the oil. If it sizzles, the oil is ready!
- I like to use a nice, thin fish spatula for turning the cube steaks in the oil. Sometimes I even have a second sptaula in my other hand just so I can make the turn a little easier keeping the hot oil from splattering.
- You can also use this same recipe for beef cube steaks – it works perfectly.
- Use the fried pork cube steaks to make pork tenderloin sandwiches or sliders. Just add buns and mayo (and maybe some good pickled red onions?) and you’ve got yourself something really terriffic for a quick meal or that tailgating party.
Pork Cube Steak Recipe FAQs
Use vegetable or canola oil to fry the cube steak, especially since you are frying at medium-high to achieve ultimate browning. These types of oils have what’s called a “high flash point,” so they won’t burn when you are browning the cube steaks at a medium-high temperature.
Preheat the skillet over medium-high heat for a few minutes. To see if it’s ready for frying, sprinkle a bit of flour over the surface of the oil. If it immediately sizzles upon contact, the oil is hot and ready!
You sure can. Follow the recipe as directed in Steps 1-8 with the breading. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. for 5 minutes. Working one cube steak at a time, spray the top with oil, then place it onto the greased air fryer rack. Air-fry for 5 minutes; turn over and spray the top with oil. Air fry another 5 minutes. Repeat with the remaining cube steaks.
What side dishes go best with Pork Cubed Steak?
Pork cube steak is so versatile. You can add a creamy corn salad, cheezy orzo, and either one perfectly complements the crispy pork. Because we are all about carbs, my family also likes Air Fryer Garlic Bread or this easy No-Yeast Bread.
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Pork Cube Steak
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Ingredients
Cube Steak
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 large eggs
- 1/4 cup whipping cream
- 3 cups seasoned or unseasoned Panko bread crumbs
- 4 each pork cube steaks about 1 1/2 pounds of pork cube steaks total
- 1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil for browning the cube steaks
Dipping Sauce (Optional)
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1-2 tablespoons Heinz chipotle ketchup may substitute regular ketchup
Instructions
- Create your prep station by laying out the breading ingredients in three wide, flat bowls.
- In the first bowl, combine the flour with the salt and pepper.1 cup all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon pepper
- In the second bowl, beat the eggs with the cream.3 large eggs, 1/4 cup whipping cream
- In the third bowl, place the Panko bread crumbs.3 cups seasoned or unseasoned Panko bread crumbs
- Working one at a time, take a cube steak and dredge it on both sides in the prepared flour mixture.4 each pork cube steaks
- Next, dip that same floured cube steak into the egg mixture, coating it on both sides.
- Now dredge the cube steak into the Panko crumbs, using your fingertips to press them in a bit so they stick well.
- Place the breaded cube steak onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet while you repeat the breading process with the remaining 3 cube steaks.
- Into a 10-inch or 12-inch heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat, add enough oil so that it’s about 1/4-inch deep.
- When the oil is nicely hot, add the prepared cube steaks, working 1 or 2 at a time, depending on how large your skillet is.*To know if the oil is hot enough, sprinkle a tiny bit of flour over the surface at the center of the skillet. If the flour immediately sizzles, the oil is ready!
- Cook the cube steaks about 2 minutes per side, just until each side is a deep golden brown. **Using a large fish spatula works very well for turning the cube steaks. Don’t use tongs to turn the steaks as this will usually cause them to fall apart.
- Remove the browned cube steaks from the hot oil and place onto a paper-towel lined cookie sheet. Keep the cube steaks warm in the oven set to the lowest setting, continuing to cook the remaining cube steaks.
- Serve the warm cube steaks with the dipping sauce on the side, as desired.
Make the Dipping Sauce (Optional)
- To prepare the dipping sauce, combine the mayonnaise with the ketchup until smooth.1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1-2 tablespoons Heinz chipotle ketchup
Notes
- Be sure the oil is nicely hot before adding the cube steaks to the skillet. To know if the oil is ready, sprinkle a bit of flour over the oil. If it sizzles, the oil is ready!
- I like to use a nice, thin fish sptaula for turning the cube steaks in the oil. Sometimes I even have a second sptaula in my other hand just so I can make the turn a little easier keeping the hot oil from splattering.
- You can also use this same recipe for beef cube steaks – it works perfectly.
- Use the fried pork cube steaks to make pork tenderloin sandwiches or sliders. Just add buns and mayo (and maybe some good pickled red onions?) and you’ve got yourself something really terriffic for a quick meal or that tailgating party.