This breaded cubed steak recipe (bistec empanizado) is a Puerto Rican staple, and making it in the air fryer is easy and healthier!
Air Fryer Breaded Cubed Steak
If you’re in a cooking rut and need new dinner ideas, your family will love this breaded steak! Beef cubed steak is an inexpensive cut of meat, the same used in country fried steak (I have that recipe in Skinnytaste Air Fryer Dinners). Tommy grew up on this dish, which is now on our dinner rotation. Last year I started cooking Breaded Cubed Steak in the air fryer, and we all loved it. It’s crispy golden perfection, and now we don’t eat it any other way! I serve it with Puerto Rican Beans and rice and some lime wedges on the side. So good! And for more steak recipes without the breading, try this Air Fryer Steak.
You might not think of breading thin steaks, but in many Latin countries, fried breaded steaks (bistec empanizado), like chicken cutlets are very popular. It’s a tasty way of taking a cheap cut of beef and making it flavorful.
What is Cube Steak
Cube steak or cubed steak is an inexpensive cut of beef that’s been tenderized, usually top round or top sirloin. It is tenderized and flattened by pounding with a meat tenderizer. The name refers to the shape of the indentations left. This is also the meat used for the American dish chicken-fried steak. I personally like to tenderize it again at home with a meat mallet, so it’s extra tender.
Breaded Cubed Steak Ingredients
- Cubed Steak: Buy 16 ounces of cubed steak, also called cube steak or beef round sirloin that you can tenderize yourself.
- Eggs: Beat three eggs with one tablespoon of water.
- Salt to season the beef.
- Breadcrumbs: I used seasoned breadcrumbs, but if you only have regular, you can add spices, like onion powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
- Olive Oil Spray to spray on the beef
How Long to Air Fry Breaded Cubed Steak
- After you salt the beef, dip it into the egg mixture and then the breadcrumbs. Pat the crumbs onto the meat with a fork to make it stick.
- Spray the top of the steaks with oil and air fry them at 400°F for five minutes. Flip the steaks over, spray the other sides with oil, and cook them for another five minutes.
What to Serve with Breaded Cubed Steak
I love to serve these cubed steaks with rice and beans and a salad or sliced avocado. I always have sofrito in my freezer, so Puerto Rican rice and beans are a staple in my house, but any version will work, like these Black Beans and Rice or Dominican Beans.
How to Store Cubed Steak
The steak will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It’s best to reheat it in the air fryer so the breading stays crispy.
More Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer
More Breaded Meat Recipes You’ll Love:
- Breaded Pork Cutlets with Lime
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Breaded Chicken Cutlets with Deconstructed Guacamole
- Crispy Breaded Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Air Fryer Chicken Sandwich with Sriracha Mayo
Air Fryer Breaded Cubed Steak (bistec empanizado)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 pieces cubed steak (beef round sirloin), 16 ounces total
- 3 large eggs, with 1 tablespoon water
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs*
- olive oil spray
- white rice and lime wedges, optional for serving
Instructions
- Season the beef with salt on both sides.
- Beat the eggs in a shallow bowl with water.
- Dip the beef in the egg, then into the breadcrumbs, patting it with the back of a fork so it sticks.
- Transfer to the air fryer basket in batches as needed.
- Spray the top of the beef with oil then air fry 400F in a single layer 5 minutes on each side, spraying the other side when you flip. Serve with rice and lime wedges, if desired.
This turned out so good! I’m making it again tonight for dinner!
I made this with pork cubed steak.
I had whole wheat panko crumbs to which I added the suggested seasonings. The only thing I did differently was to let the meat rest , on a rack for air circulation, for about 20 mins after covering with the panko. I think this helped the crumbs to better adhere to the meet. The pork was moist .
We love your cubed steak recipe! I made it last night. I am on a pretty strict diet, and can only have 1300 calories per day. This recipe rocks and tastes like it was deep fried!
I followed all the directions but the cube steak didn’t fry up golden brown like the photo but came out a little soggy looking. I was a bit disappointed
Simple, quick, delicious! Served with sides for dinner (green beans and baked yam), then for lunch the next day reheated in the air fryer and made a toasted sandwich with caramelised onions and it was delicious all over again.
Perfect!
Great recipe! Saved it to a recipe app called Cookmate. 🙂 I did this a little different though, I coated the meat in seasoned flour, then egg, then panko and followed your cooking instructions. Came out crispy and still tender. I recommend this recipe y’all!
Simple, easy and my favorite go to meal.
Really good. I rubbed steaks with nonfat yogurt. Let it sit a couple of hours. Before prepping to cook I pressed the steaks with a metal meat tenderizer. I put the recipe together and sprayed it with ghee spray. Really good.
I made this several times using pork loin cubed steaks instead of beef, then followed the recipe as written. My family LOVES this! It’s tender, crispy and easy. Today it was served with rice, pickled red cabbage, and roasted asparagus. I made enough for another meal.
My husband says he isnt a fan of air fried foods, so I made this recipe and he loved it. I used plain bread crumbs and added season salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and spanish paprika. I think we will be using the air fryer more.
I needed a fast meal and hadn’t had time to marinate my cubed steak. After trying this recipe, I’ll never waste my time with marinades again! The steak was delicious! And so tender I couldn’t believe I was eating cubed steak! I halved the recipe, thinking I would have the other piece tomorrow. But I actually ate it all! I had a Kaiser roll in the freezer, so air fried that to warm and crisp it, then had one piece on the roll with cheese. Best cheese steak I’ve had in a while! Thank you SO much for this easy and tasty recipe! Definitely going to be having this again!
This was hearty and satisfying. I think the only extra thing I would have done would have been to tenderize the cube steaks a bit more before seasoning and breading. I used Lawry’s to season the cube steks and Italian bread crumbs to coat. Made it with some garlic mashed potatoes and fresh green beans. It felt like a homemade, filling meal without all the work. Thank you.
I love this, I can’t believe I slept on cube steaks for so long. Quick and easy!
This is one of our many favorites of your recipes. My husband loves breaded cube steak and I love this
healthier version for him. Pair with Puerto Rican beans and rice. Yum! It’s a treat we don’t have to feel guilty about!!
This was delicious!!
What can you use instead of the oil sprays?
You can buy a spritzer and fill it with your oil. But I use Bertolli.
I was so excited to try this, but I had an issue where the meat was “bleeding” so when I flipped it to the second side, everything was soggy and it didn’t get crispy at all. In general, I didn’t really feel like the outside was crispy and it kind of fell apart. Is there a trick to getting a nice crispy, not soggy outside?
Start by making sure your meat is dry with a paper towel and if it’s thick, pound it to make it thinner. Mine gets super crispy. Assuming you are using cubed steak?
This was delicious. I turned it into a “chicken fried steak” and served it with powdered gravy (shh…) and it was amazing! My whole family loved it!
I thought this was pretty good, but I have a problem when I have to spray olive oil on the breadcrumb tops. I spray away all the breading. Is there a trick to doing this so you don’t lose the topping?
I usually wait ten minutes after breading anything because I feel it prevents the breading coming off. Might be worth a try for this recipe? Also spraying at a fair distance may help.
I put anything with breading on it in the fridge for 10 minutes befor I spray it with oil and cook it. It helps the breading to “set” and, I think, fries up a little crispier.
I use my olive oil spritzer instead of the canned oils. It’s a lot cleaner and because it’s not pressurized, it doesn’t blow off the breadcrumbs.
Just spritz a few times.
Every time I spray with oil the breading comes off. How do you prevent this?
Let your meat sit 10 minutes before spraying. Longer will help too if you want to put them in the fridge.
I made this tonight and it was very good! Did not have seasoned breadcrumbs, Only had Panko & I mixed it with oregano, grated romano cheese, and some Badia Adobo seasoning. Crunchy and yummy. Served with yellow rice. Thank you for sharing your recipe!! A keeper!
Great!!
Simple, fast, tasty meal. My husband said to add it to the monthly rotation! I will use a lighter hand with the salt and add some black pepper to my breadcrumbs.
GREAT!
What seasoning amounts are good to use if you only have plain breadcrumbs?
You can add 1/4 teaspoon each of dried parsley, garlic powder, onion powder to your crumbs.
What seasoning is good to use with plain breadcrumbs?
I couldn’t find cubed steak, so I tenderized the round steak as directed. So easy, so good. This really felt like cheating. Thank you!
Isn’t it!!
Made it tonight but it taken longer than 5 minutes on each side
Sounds like your steak was thicker?
This was shockingly insanely good. I used top round not minute steak. I will definately be making this again. Thank you!!!
This was tender and crispy. I enjoyed it so much. It was quick to put together. I definitely will make again.
Has anyone done this in the oven?
I am about to make it in oven with convection setting! Hoping it works. Was big hit in air fryer last time.
Did it work?
Soooo yummy!!! Easy for a work night. Paired it up with rice and beans.
This is a keeper.
We have a convection oven and a convection feature in our microwave as well. Would either of those be an option instead of an air fryer?
Not sure?
Hopefully 5 star but haven’t tried it yet as I have a question. I just got a new range and it has an air fryer in the oven. I’ve not had experience with either type of air fryers. What, or is there, a difference in temperature and time to cook the air fryer breaded cubed steak in the oven, or in a counter air fryer? Don’t want to ruin a good piece of meat. Thanks
I have a Frigidaire with the air fryer feature and did buy the air fryer rack. There definitely is a difference in both timing and temperature…both need more. I love that it can accommodate larger batches, but honestly, I’ve yet to master it. I also have a counter top air fryer and find myself still using it more, simply because I know how it works, and how long I need to cook to coordinate with the rest of my meal. So I think I can safely say there is a learning curve involved, and I need to dedicate more time to it.
I use my oven air fryer all the time and have found I need to cook at a higher temperature and a little bit longer. Took me a while but I’m getting better and not so frustrated!
Whats the side shown in the photo – is there plantain in that rice/ bean mixture?
Curious as to what makes this Latin, as most seasoned bread crumbs are seasoned with Italian seasoning.
It’s just a Latin dish, you can use any breadcrumbs.
I do not own an air fryer. It would be really nice if you could add information for cooking without using an air fryer. Thank you!
They would be fried, like chicken cutlets.
Thank you! Just making sure. We LOVE your many recipes and have been using them solely for the last 7 years. Thank you for showing us a way to make delicious meals that are healthy.
Hi Gina, I’ve heard convection settings can be used to sub for an air fryer. I’ll be trying that tonight with an air fryer rack/pan I purchased online. I’m pretty sure I’ll need to bump it to 425 degrees and cook a little longer. I’ll give feedback if you like.
can you cook in oven or stovetop?
On the stove they would fried in oil, like chicken cutlets. I don’t think they would be good baked, but I could be wrong!
I bought Gothum steel roasting pan from amozon works great in oven similar to the fryer
Can’t wait to try this – this is DHs favorite meal- never thought of air frying it
I would love to try this. Does anyone know what the type of beef would be called in Canada? I can’t find “round sirloin”. I see “inside round” or “outside round”. Thank you!
Can you find cubed steak?
Minute Steak