Extra Crispy Finger Steaks

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Finger Steaks are a staple out west, however, if you have not heard of them, you have to try them. If you love them already, you have to try them with this extra crispy flavor packed coating. They are amazing! Crispy on the outside and so tender on the inside.

Square white plate with finger steaks on them with a side of campfire sauce.

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This post is sponsored by the New York Beef Council.  As always, all opinions are my own.

What Exactly Are Finger Steaks?

Finger Steaks are crispy fried strips of beef. The name comes from the shape of the steak. Cube steak is cut into long strips that look like fingers, then they’re coated in batter and deep fried in oil.

The recipe originated in Idaho in the late 1950’s and has become a western US staple. You can find finger steaks on restaurant menus throughout Idaho and the surround areas. You can learn more about Finger Steaks here.

My recipe is a twist on the classic Idaho Finger Steak. Instead of using a batter and deep frying them in oil, I have a hack that produces the same crispy crunch without the added fat from deep fat frying.

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This finger steak recipe takes a very economical cut of meat, cube steak, and transforms it into a fun, delicious meal that your family will love! You will be so mad that you have not had them sooner and dipping them in the incredible campfire sauce is so good!

What is cube steak? Find out more here.

  • 30 Minute Meal: This is a great meal for any night of the week because it is so quick and easy.
  • Easy Ingredients: This finger steak recipe does not require many ingredients and is very economical.
  • Family Friendly: Anything kids can eat with their fingers is fun. It is also great for family get togethers.
  • Makes Great Leftovers: I doubt that there will be some but if there are, these are great leftovers.
A steak finger dipped in sauce with a red napkin in the background. Fingers are on a white square plate.

What You Need to Make Finger Steaks

Ingredients

  • Cube steak
  • Corn flakes
  • French fried onions
  • Burger Seasoning Blend
  • Eggs
Finger Steaks on a white round plate with garlic, eggs and cornflakes with a red napkin in background.

Equipment

How to Make Finger Steaks – Step by Step

Steaks on parchment ready to be seasoned.
  • Preheat: First, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Then place a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet and spray the wire rack with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Season: Second, season the cube steaks with 2 teaspoons of Burger Seasoning Blend. Next, cut the steaks into strips about 1/2 inch thick.
  • Coating: Put the corn flakes, french fried onions and remaining Burger Seasoning Blend in a food process and pulse until the mixture is fine crumbs; Pour into a shallow dish.
  • Eggs: Whisk eggs in a shallow dish.
Shot of cornflakes in foodprocessor, steak cut into strips and steaks layed out on a baking tray after coating.
  • Coat: Place each steak strip in the egg mixture, ensuring that both sides are coated.
  • Bread: Roll the steak strip in the cornflake mixture, pressing the crumbs onto the steak; Set coated strip on prepared wire rack.Repeat with remaining steak strips.
  • Bake:  Once completed, bake for 15 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 145 degrees F. 
  • Serve: Finally, Serve with campfire sauce.

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What Kind of Beef is Used to Make These

The best type of beef to use for these Idaho Finger Steaks is cube steak or Swiss steak. It’s usually the top round or sirloin that is run through a mechanical meat tenderizer which mades cube shaped indentations in the meat. Cube steak is pretty lean and doesn’t have a lot of fat or marbling and the cubing process makes the beef tender.

Beef is one of my favorite proteins to cook with because it’s delicious and nutritious.  Plus, cube steak is a very affordable cut, making it the perfect family-friendly option. With a growing teenage boy, I love recipes that use affordable cuts of protein-rich beef.

I feel good knowing beef provides energy, protein, vitamins and minerals that we all need as part of a healthy diet. Including one 3 ounce cooked serving of beef will deliver on that goal with B-vitamins, iron and zinc.  One serving of ground beef also has approximately half of the recommended daily serving of protein.

You can learn more about the nutritional benefits of beef here.

Common Questions About Recipe Name

WHO CREATED THE ORIGINAL FINGER STEAK

The Finger steak originated in Idaho, find out more here.

CAN I SUBSTITUTE OTHER BEEF?

Traditionally, the cube steak is used but round steak, ground beef or ground steak can be used but the cooking times will vary as well as the tenderness.

CAN THIS RECIPE BE DOUBLED OR HALVED?

Absolutely, simply adjust the ingredients accordingly.

CAN THIS RECIPE BE FROZEN?

Absolutely, You can freeze the finger steaks before or after cooking and follow the directions for cooking after thawed. Make sure that the internal temperature of the meat reaches 145 degrees.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH FINGER STEAKS?
So many things pair well with this dish, french fries come to mind but also:

> Campfire sauce is a MUST!
>Rosemary Roasted Sweet Potatoes
>Baked Sweet Potato Fries
>Parmesan Cauliflower Rice

Top shot, close up of the finger steaks on a plate with just a peak of the dipping sauce on the top.

Expert Tips for Making Fingers

  • Add your favorite seasoning: Italian Seasoning Blend, HOUSE SEASONING BLEND or your other favorite seasoning.
  • Short cut tip: Use a premade coating mix or Homemade Bisquick.
  • Alternate ingredient: Feel free to add a little heat from your favorite hot sauce or cayenne pepper.
  • Alternate cooking method tip: Make these in a conventional frying pan, on the grill or the air fryer. They come out great any way you make them.
  • Different Dippers: Feel free to use your favorite sauce, all though the campfire is amazing, you can use gravy, barbeque sauce, boom boom sauce or ketchup.
  • No Food Processor: You can also crush the corn flakes and french fried onions by placing them in a zipper bag and crushing them with a rolling pin.

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Square white plate with finger steaks on them with a side of campfire sauce.
5 from 9 votes

Finger Steaks

Yield: 4 servings
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Finger Steaks are a staple out west, however, if you have not heard of them, you have to try them. If you love them already, you have to try them with this flavor packed coating. They are amazing! Crispy on the outside and so tender on the inside.
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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!

Ingredients

  • 1 pound cube steak
  • 3 cups corn flakes
  • 1 cup french fried onions
  • 1 tablespoon Burger Seasoning Blend, divided
  • 4 eggs
  • Non-stick cooking spray
  • Campfire Sauce for dipping

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Place a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet and spray the wire rack with non-stick cooking spray; Set aside.
  • Season the cube steaks with 2 teaspoons of Burger Seasoning Blend.
  • Cut the steaks into strips about 1/2 inch thick; Set aside.
  • Place the corn flakes, french fried onions and remaining Burger Seasoning Blend in a food process and pulse until the mixture is fine crumbs; Pour into a shallow dish.
  • Whisk eggs in a shallow dish.
  • Place each steak strip in the egg mixture, ensuring that both sides are coated.
  • Roll the steak strip in the corn flake mixture, pressing the crumbs onto the steak; Place coated strip on prepared wire rack.
  • Repeat with remaining steak strips.
  • Bake for 15 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 145 degrees F.
  • Serve immediately with Camp Fire Sauce.

Expert Tips

 
  • Add your favorite seasoning: Italian Seasoning Blend, HOUSE SEASONING BLEND or your other favorite seasoning.
  • Short cut tip: Use a premade coating mix or Homemade Bisquick.
  • Alternate ingredient: Feel free to add a little heat from your favorite hot sauce or cayenne pepper.
  • Alternate cooking method tip: Make these in a conventional frying pan, on the grill or the air fryer. They come out great any way you make them.
  • Different Dippers: Feel free to use your favorite sauce, all though the campfire is amazing, you can use gravy, barbeque sauce, boom boom sauce or ketchup.
  • No Food Processor: You can also crush the corn flakes and french fried onions by placing them in a zipper bag and crushing them with a rolling pin.

Estimated Nutritional Information

Calories: 447kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 245mg | Sodium: 401mg | Potassium: 522mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 676IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 111mg | Iron: 10mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American

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