Chuckwagon Sandwich

A chuckwagon sandwich is a deliciously crispy chicken-fried steak on a bed of lettuce, topped with tomato and wedged between beautiful sesame bread.

What is a Chuckwagon sandwich?

A chuckwagon sandwich is a beef patty or chicken-fried steak in sesame bread served with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. The steak is juicy and tender, and since it’s covered in batter, the outside is golden and crispy. There is also a deli version of the chuckwagon sandwich, generally made with an assortment of cold cuts and cheeses.

Chuckwagon sandwich as seen from the side with crispy batter and sesame bread

Chuckwagon Sandwich: Deli Version

The deli version of the chuckwagon incorporates a beautiful mixture of cheeses and meats, and makes a great sandwich for a snack or some lunch. Originally, chuckwagon food was generally easy to preserve food items such as coffee and salted meat since it was carried and distributed in a wagon, hence the deli version of the chuckwagon sandwich.

A deli version of a chuckwagon sandwich with cheeses and cold cuts

Here are some suggestions for cheeses and meats in a deli chuckwagon sandwich:

Cheeses

  • Gouda
  • Edam
  • Swiss
  • Cheddar

Meats

  • Salami
  • Smoked Ham
  • Beef Pastrami

We recommend using a brioche bun, some mustard and mayonnaise or chipotle as sauces, and serving with shredded lettuce and sliced tomato.

Chicken-fried Steak

A chicken-fried steak is made with lean meat, such as top round or sirloin tip. The cut of meat is a cubed steak which is tenderized or pounded meat.

It is important to use lean meat since the less fat on the cut, the better. Since the steak will be dipped in flour and batter, this means that the fat will not render well while being fried if the steak is fatty. This results in chewy fat on the cut of meat.

The steak is dipped in flour and then an egg wash which results in a beautifully crispy crust and a juicy, tender steak.

Buttermilk

We marinate the steak in buttermilk for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour. However, we really recommend that you leave the steak to marinate overnight. The buttermilk tenderizes the steak due to its acidity resulting in a tender and juicy cut of meat.

What can I add to a chuckwagon sandwich?

The typical chuckwagon sandwich is served simply with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. However, here are a few ideas of what to add to your delicious sandwich:

  • Sliced pickles
  • Crispy Bacon
  • Sliced red onion

Chuckwagon sandwich as seen from above with a crispy fried steak and sesame bread

What can I serve with a chuckwagon sandwich?

The chuckwagon sandwich is great as a stand alone meal, but it won’t go amiss if there’s a little something on the side of it, here are out recommendations:

  • Onion rings
  • Potato wedges
  • Green salad
  • Baked potato

Chuckwagon Sandwich

A chuckwagon sandwich is a deliciously crispy chicken-fried steak on a bed of lettuce, topped with tomato and wedged between beautiful sesame bread.

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Cuisine
American

Servings
2

Calories
653 kcal

Prep time
1 hour

Cook time
20 minutes

Total time
1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients

    Marinade and Batter

    • 2 cups buttermilk
    • 1 cup plain flour
    • 2 eggs
    • ¼ cup whole milk
    • 2 teaspoons salt
    • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
    • 2 teaspoons chili powder

    Chuckwagon Sandwich

    • 1 loaf sesame bread
    • 2 slices cube steak (top round or sirloin tip etc.)
    • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
    • 1 sliced tomato
    • 1 cup shredded lettuce
    • 2-3 cups frying oil

Instructions

  1. Marinade the slices of steak in buttermilk for 30 mintues to 1 hour, ideally overnight.
  2. Mix the 2 eggs, ¼ cup milk, 2 teaspoons salt, 2 teaspoons garlic powder and 2 teaspoons chili powder thoroughly. Place the 1 cup of flour in a separate bowl.
  3. Once the steaks have finished marinating, dip them in plain flour and then in the eggwash. Heat the 2-3 cups of oil at 350°F. Place the steaks into the oil once the oil has reached temperature.
  4. Fry the steaks in the oil for roughly 5 mintues and turn them periodically. After 5 minutes, place the steaks on a plate lined with kitchen roll to absorb the excess oil.
  5. Toast the slices of bread and once toasted, add the mayonnaise, shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes and finally the cooked steak.

Nutrition

  • Calories 653 kcal | 
  • Carbohydrates 58.4 g | 
  • Protein 61.4 g | 
  • Fat 18 g | 
  • Saturated fat 5.1 g | 
  • Cholesterol 288 mg | 
  • Sodium 754 mg | 
  • Fiber 3.4 g | 
  • Sugar 5 g |