Fried Catfish (Deep Fried or Air Fried)

Here's another delicious Cajun/Creole recipe to try at home. This fried catfish fillets recipe is so delicious! The catfish fillets are perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection with a crispy outside yet tender inside.  

This fried catfish fillet recipe is one of my favorite Southern foods to make for a crowd. The fish fillets are fried to a golden crisp, for that sought-after crispy and satisfying meal.

Anyone can follow the easy steps to make them, and the ingredients can be found at the local grocery stores.

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• Fried Catfish Fillets
• What to Serve with Fried Catfish Fillets
• Ingredients for Fried Catfish Fillets
• How to Make Fried Catfish Fillets
• How to Deep Fry Catfish Fillets in a Pan
• How to Air Fry Catfish Fillets
• 📖 Recipe
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Fried Catfish Fillets

One of the best things about this recipe is that you can make it a healthier dish by cooking the fried catfish fillets in an air fryer.

I've done this recipe using my air fryer many times and the results were quite similar to the traditional deep frying method.

For those interested in knowing how to air fry catfish fillets, just keep reading. I will show you how to cook the catfish fillets in an air fryer and on the stove below.

What to Serve with Fried Catfish Fillets

You can serve these fried catfish fillets with your favorite Southern side dishes (rice, cornbread, french fries, mac n cheese) plus lemon, remoulade sauce, or hot sauce on the side.

Alternatively, you can make a Louisiana Catfish Po-Boy sandwich by serving the fish fillets on French rolls with sweet and tangy coleslaw, or shredded iceberg lettuce and remoulade as a topping.

Ingredients for Fried Catfish Fillets

 
To make these fried catfish fillets you'll need catfish fillets, buttermilk, hot sauce, old bay seasoning, flour, egg, panko breadcrumbs, cornmeal, garlic powder, and onion powder. 

Catfish Fillets. You can use fresh or frozen catfish that have been thawed. Catfish is available at any seafood market or grocery store.

Buttermilk. It is a Southern staple, a secret to many great recipes from bread, bakes, and cakes to fried foods. I use buttermilk to marinate the catfish. Buttermilk helps tenderize and also adds delicate flavors to foods. 

Old Bay Seasoning. This unique blend of herbs and spices adds a wonderful flavor kick to seafood. You can find Old Bay Seasoning at any grocery market for about $3.69 per 6 oz jar.

Cornmeal. It's commonly used in cornbread and is the secret ingredient to any good Southern fish fry.

Panko breadcrumb: Panko breadcrumb may not be the most authentic ingredient in Southern food. I used panko breadcrumbs to bring out an awesome taste and texture. If it's not available in your pantry, feel free to skip it and use only cornmeal.

How to Make Fried Catfish Fillets

This fried catfish fillets recipe starts with marinating the fish in a buttermilk mixture for 30 minutes. It is optional and you can skip this step if you'd like.

After you marinate the fish, you are going to bread the fillets using traditional breading steps. Dredge the fish in flour, then egg, and finally coat them with the breadcrumbs mixture.

So here are some steps to follow.

Step 1. Marinate the Catfish

• In a large bowl, coat the catfish fillets with buttermilk, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder mixture.
• Cover the bowl and marinate for 15 - 30 minutes.

Step 2. Set Up a Breading Station

• Fill a large bowl with flour.
• Fill another large bowl with beaten eggs.
• Fill a large pie plate or large bowl with cornmeal, panko breadcrumbs, flour, and old bay seasoning.

Step 3. Bread Fish

• Dip the catfish fillets in the flour then shake off any excess.
• Dip them in the egg and again shake off any excess.
• Coat the catfish fillets with breadcrumb mixture then gently shake off excess.

Once coated, you have the option to either deep fry the fish fillets or fry the catfish fillets in an air fryer.

How to Deep Fry Catfish Fillets in a Pan

• In a large heavy-bottomed pan or pot, heat about 3 inches of oil over moderately high heat to 350°F.
• Gently drop the fish fillets in the hot oil and cook for about 3-4 minutes or until fully cooked, turning once.
• Drain the cooked fish fillets on a paper towel-lined plate.

How to Air Fry Catfish Fillets

• Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
• Brush the fish fillets with oil then place them in one layer in an air fryer basket or rack.
• Cook for about 12 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking.

Deep Frying Tips:

• Temperature. It's important to maintain the proper oil temperature during deep frying, usually between  350°F to 375°F to prevent greasy (too low) or burnt food (too high).
• Oil. Choose the oil that has a high smoke point, such as vegetable oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, grapseed oil, avocado oil, and canola oil.
• Quantity. Do not overcrowd the pan. Fry in batches to prevent the oil temperature from dropping too low, which can lead to greasy food.
• Cooking Time. It may vary depending on the thickness of the fish. Use a meat thermometer, if available. Per USDA guidelines, the safe internal temperature for cooked fish is 145°F, or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.

FAQ and Cooking Tips

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