Name: Italian Breaded Steak Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 6 min
Total time: 36 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 2 shell steaks, cut about 1 inch thick; ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1/3 cup dried bread crumbs; 2 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; Salt and pepper, to taste

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This Italian Steak Recipe is made with steaks, olive oil, garlic cloves, dried bread crumbs, parmesan, dried oregano and broiled.

This Italian Steak Recipe is made with shell steaks, olive oil, garlic cloves, dried bread crumbs, parmesan, dried oregano and broiled.

This is a delicious Italian version of a Milanesa, but it uses trimmed shell steaks instead. This steak is east, simple, affordable, and it is full of flavor. This is perfect for a weeknight recipe and special occasions like Father’s day or Memorial day weekend to start off the summer. This is a Sicilian style steak. Sicily is known for being a meat-loving region in Italy and use so many flavors that burst into your mouth. The combination of the garlic, bread crumbs, oregano and parmesan is to die for. You need to make sure that the steak is not super close to the heat source, as the crust will burn very quickly on broil. Once you cook the steak, the juice will slowly come out when you cut it. It is absolutely perfect.

If you love this recipe, you need to make the Air Fried Chicken Cutlets and my Air Fried Shake and Bake Pork Chops.

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What is Italian Fried Steak?
Why you will love Sicilian Steak
Bistecca alla Milanese Ingredients
How to make Italian Steak Recipe
Substitutions
Italian Steak Recipe Variations
Equipment
How to store Italian Steak
Italian Breaded Steak Top tips
Italian Breaded Steak Recipe
Food safety

What is Italian Fried Steak?

Italian fried steak, also known as "Bistecca alla Milanese," is a traditional Italian dish that consists of a breaded and fried veal or beef steak. The dish originated in Milan, Italy, and is made by coating a thin slice of meat in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, and then frying it until it is golden brown and crispy. The dish is often served with a squeeze of lemon juice and sometimes accompanied by a salad or vegetables. It is a popular dish in Italian cuisine and can be found in many Italian restaurants around the world.

Why you will love Sicilian Steak

This Italian Steak Recipe, also known as "Bistecca Impanata" or "Cotoletta alla Milanese," is a delicious and satisfying dish that is popular in Italian cuisine. Here are some reasons why you might want to try it:

It is flavorful: Italian breaded steak is seasoned with a variety of herbs and spices, including garlic, parsley, and Parmesan cheese, which add to the dish's savory flavor.
It is crispy and crunchy: The steak is coated in a layer of breadcrumbs, which creates a crispy and crunchy texture when fried or baked.
It is versatile: Italian breaded steak can be served as a main course with a side of vegetables, or sliced and served as a sandwich.
It is easy to make: While the dish requires some preparation and cooking time, the recipe is straightforward and easy to follow, making it a great choice for home cooks looking to try something new.

Bistecca alla Milanese Ingredients

Shell Steaks
Olive oil
Garlic
Bread crumbs
Parmesan
Oregano

See recipe card for quantities of this Italian Steak Recipe.

How to make Italian Steak Recipe

Taste the excess fat from the sides of the steak. Combine the oil and garlic in a baking dish and place the steaks in the baking dish, and let them stand for 15 minutes, flip and another 15 minutes.

Mix the bread crumbs, cheese, oregano, salt and pepper together in another shallow dish. Remove the steaks from the oil, letting the oil cling to the steaks. Dip each piece of steak into the bread crumb mixture, patting to coat both sides. Let stand 10 minutes to set the crumbs.

Position a broiler rack 6 to 8 inches from the heat, and preheat the broiler. If the steaks are too close to the heat, the crust will burn. Lightly oil the rack. Place the steak on the rack and broil until the crust is lightly browned, about 3.5 minutes on each side. If the crust begins to scorch, move to the next furthest rack in the oven from the heat source. Turn the steaks and cook on the other side for 3.5 minutes.

Transfer to a platter and let stand for 3 minutes. Cut across the grain into ½ inch thick slices and serve.

Hint: Make sure to keep the rack 6 inches below the heat source of the crust will burn.

Substitutions

Steak: For this recipe, I used shell steaks, but you could use a ribeye, strip, or sirloin as long as it is 1 inch thick, and about 1 ½ pounds.

Breadcrumbs: I used Italian bread crumbs although panko bread crumbs works as well.

Olive oil: For best quality crust, I would use extra virgin olive oil.

Garlic: I love using fresh garlic for this, although using a pinch of garlic powder works wonders.

Oregano: Oregano is the traditional spice used for the crust of this Sicilian steak. You could also try using dried basil, parsley or thyme.

Italian Steak Recipe Variations

There are several variations of Italian fried steak, which vary based on the type of meat used, the seasoning and breading, and the cooking method. Here are a few popular variations:

Veal Milanese: This variation of Italian fried steak uses veal instead of beef, and is often served with a side of arugula and tomatoes.
Chicken Milanese: This variation uses chicken breasts that are pounded thin, breaded, and fried until crispy. It is often served with a lemon wedge. Check out this Breaded Chicken Piccata.
Pork Milanese: This variation uses thin slices of pork that are breaded and fried until golden brown. It is often served with a side of roasted potatoes or vegetables.
Eggplant Milanese: For a vegetarian version of Italian fried steak, thin slices of eggplant are breaded and fried until crispy. It is often served with a tomato sauce or fresh tomato salad.

Equipment

To make Italian breaded steak in the oven, you will need the following equipment:

Baking sheet: A large, rimmed baking sheet is ideal for cooking Italian breaded steak in the oven. The rim helps to contain any juices or oil that may drip off the steak during cooking. I love using my Caraway baking sheets for best quality. Get yourself a discount by clicking here!
Parchment paper: Lining the baking sheet with parchment paper will help to prevent the steak from sticking to the pan.
Meat mallet: A meat mallet is used to pound the steak thin and tenderize it. This is an important step in the preparation process to ensure that the steak cooks evenly and is not tough.
Shallow bowls: You will need shallow bowls to create the breading station. One bowl for oil and garlic and one bowl for breadcrumbs.
Aluminum foil: If you want to keep the Italian breaded steak warm after it comes out of the oven, you can wrap it in aluminum foil.
Meat thermometer: A meat thermometer is useful to check the internal temperature of the steak to ensure that it is cooked to the desired level of doneness.
Oven: You will need an oven to cook the Italian breaded steak. The oven should be preheated to the desired temperature before cooking the steak.

How to store Italian Steak

If you have leftover Italian fried steak, it is important to store it properly to ensure that it stays fresh and safe to eat. Here are some steps you can follow to store Italian fried steak:

Let it cool down: Allow the Italian fried steak to cool down to room temperature before storing it. This will help to prevent condensation from forming inside the storage container, which can cause the steak to become soggy.
Store in an airtight container: Place the Italian fried steak in an airtight container, such as a plastic container or a resealable plastic bag. Make sure to remove as much air as possible to prevent the steak from becoming stale.
Refrigerate: Store the Italian fried steak in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. It is important to keep the steak at a temperature of 40°F or below to prevent bacterial growth.
Reheat properly: When reheating the Italian fried steak, make sure to heat it thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165°F to ensure that it is safe to eat.