Mamá Maggie's Kitchen

Easy and Authentic Mexican Recipes for the Busy Home Cook

Milanesa de Res + VIDEO

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Milanesa de Res is a breaded thin cut of beef that is fried. This classic Mexican recipe is ready in minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Serve with fries and your favorite salsa. Watch the video or the step-by-step pictures to make this delicious dish.

Milanesa de Res and homemade french fries sitting on a white plate. The meat is topped with avocado and surrounded by cilantro leaves.

I’m a busy work-at-home mom. I live for easy recipes. Even when it comes to tamales that normally take hours and hours to make, I have my ways of making tamales faster. Milanesa de Res is one of those super yummy and super quick recipes that moms everywhere are sure to love.

Bottom round meat in a white plastic container

Use a thin cut of beef like top round or bottom round. The grocery store sold and packaged just like this. It’s ready to go! If you can’t find this cut of beef, you can pound the meat to make it thinner. Be sure not to get a cut of meat that’s not too fatty. Lean and thin for the win. That’s what you’re looking for.

Hand holding a thin slice of beef.

My friends, this is bottom round. See how thin it is. Season the beef with salt and set aside. Some people get fancy and add powdered garlic and pepper. If that’s you, go for it. I find that serving Milanesa de Res with a good salsa verde is all I need.

Hand holding a small brown plate filled with sea salt.

The next step is to set up a working station for the breading process. Two eggs whipped with a fork. This is enough for 4 slices of Milanesa de Res. Add some salt to the eggs. The eggs don’t come seasoned.

Meat slices on the far top left corner. Oval white plate on the far top right corner. Plate with egg mixture on the bottom left corner. Plate with breadcrumbs on the bottom right corner.

I used to make my own bread crumbs, using the ends of the loaf, or the heel. Nowadays, the hubs or my son will eat the ends. Seriously, I can’t buy enough food to feed those two! Thankfully, buying a container of bread crumbs is cheap and a great timesaver.

Fork dipping meat in the egg mixture.

The trick to breading is to use one hand. This will give you one clean hand that’s free just in case you need to scratch your eye or someone knocks on the door. No one wants two yucky hands. Dip the meat in the eggs. Or, use a fork.

Plate with breaded beef. Fork is also sitting on the plate.

Place the meat in the breadcrumbs. Cover both sides of the meat. I go to a grocery store that sells Milanesa de Res already breaded. Isn’t that cool?! Instead of pizza, you can have a home cooked meal in minutes.

Four breaded milanesa steaks on a white plate.

Place your breaded meat slices on a plate while you’re waiting for the oil to get hot. Even though these might look small, I find that one per person is more than enough.

Oil in a skillet on a black stove.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Get your oil nice and hot. I really beat up my pans with all this cooking. Fortunately, they only silently scream. LOL. I can’t stress the value of investing in good pans and good knives that will last you a long, long time.

Breaded meat cooking in hot oil. Oil bubbles surround the meat in the skillet.

Fry time! Fry the meat on each side for a few minutes. I’ve heard of people baking it in the oven, but I’ve never tried it. If you try it, please let me know how it turned out.

Meat cooking in hot, boiling oil in a metal skillet.

To make it “flipping” good, flip your meat and fry the other side. Open up the windows and doors. You don’t want the smoke to set off the alarm. Unless you want to see some hunky firemen…. iHola Bomberos!

Milanesa de Res sitting on a paper towel.

Place on a paper towel. Do you see how much oil came out of it? Too much oil can spoil. Definitely don’t want to feed my family more oil than necessary.

Milanesa de Res and homemade french fries sitting on a white plate. The meat is topped with avocado and surrounded by cilantro leaves.


Wiener Schnitzel vs. Milanesa de Res
Germany vs. Mexico – Mexican World Cup soccer fans are still basking in that victory!

German and Mexican flag side by side

My German husband had one bite and said, “schnitzel.” No, he wasn’t swearing, but he swears that he’s had this before. In Germany, to make wiener schnitzel, they use veal and pound out the meat so it’s good to eat.

In Mexico and most Latin American countries, Milanesa de Res is made with a thin cut of beef. It is almost always served with fries. Add your favorite salsa, and you’ve got a delicious and easy recipe.


Don’t miss the Milanesa de Res Video

Yield: 4

Milanesa de Res

Milanesa de Res
Milanesa de Res is a breaded thin cut of beef that is fried. This classic Mexican recipe is ready in minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Serve with fries and your favorite salsa.
Prep Time 8 minutes
Additional Time 20 minutes
Total Time 28 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 bottom or top round steaks
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 cup oil
  • Salt

Instructions

Salt the steaks. 

Set aside until ready to use.

Lay out three plates. 

In one plate, add 2 eggs and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Beat the eggs. 

In another plate, add the breadcrumbs. 

Leave the third plate alone. It is to add the breaded meat. 

Take one of the steaks and dip it in the eggs. 

Next, add the steak to breadcrumbs. 

Cover the steak well on both sides. 

Place the breaded meat on the third plate. 

Repeat with each steak until done. 

Heat oil in a large frying pan.

Add one steak to the pan. 

Cook for 3-4 minutes. 

Flip the steak, and cook for 3-4 minutes. 

Both sides should be golden brown.

Remove and place on a paper towel to drain any excess oil.

Repeat to cook the remaining steaks.

Serve with fries and enjoy. 

Notes

You can also season the beef with pepper and garlic powder.

© Maggie Unzueta
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: Dinner
Milanesa de Res is a breaded thin cut of beef that is fried. This classic Mexican recipe is ready in minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Serve with fries and your favorite salsa. By Mama Maggie's Kitchen


More Mexican Beef Recipes:

Slow Cooker Birria de Res
Beef Tamales
Classic Ground Beef Taquitos
Salpicón de Res
Carne En Su Jugo
Bistec Encebollado
Bistec a la Mexicana
Alambre de Res
Mexican Picadillo
Caldo de Res
Northern-Style Mexican Beef Skewers
Barbacoa de Res
Chile Colorado with Beef Shanks
Slow Cooker Ancho Beef Tacos
Beef with Roasted Poblano Chile and Potatoes
Caldillo Durangueño

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

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About Maggie Unzueta

Maggie Unzueta is the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer, videographer, and creator of In Mama Maggie's Kitchen. She has been developing easy and authentic Mexican food, Mexican-inspired recipes, and traveling tips since 2010. From family recipes to her extensive travels throughout Mexico, she brings traditional Mexican flavors from South of the Border and into your kitchen. Maggie has been featured in notable culinary websites and other media outlets. For more details, check out her About page.

Comments

  1. Katie says

    December 30, 2018 at 4:38 pm

    This looks pretty yummy. I haven’t fried much meat but it’s a definitely comfort food. My husband even bought a deep fryer, so it would be good to use it more often.

    Reply

  3. Marianna Frances says

    December 30, 2018 at 8:49 pm

    As I’m reading this post it makes me reflect on the meals I don’t make for my kids and how if I prepare ahead and have a plan, I could be the mom that cooks a great meal every night. Thank you for inspiring me more than you probably planned on doing.

    Reply

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