Best 7 Easy Crispy Fried Catfish Recipes

SOUTHERN FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix buttermilk, water, salt, and pepper. Pour mixture into a flat pan large enough to hold the fillets. Spread fish in one layer over bottom of pan, turning to coat each side, and set aside to marinate.
• In a 2 gallon resealable plastic bag, combine the cornmeal, flour, and seafood seasoning. Add fish to mixture, a few fillets at a time, and tumble gently to coat evenly.
• Heat oil in deep fryer to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C).
• Deep fry fillets until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Avoid overcrowding so fillets have room to brown properly. Fish should be slightly crisp outside, and moist and flaky inside. Drain on paper towels.

CRISPY SOUTHERN FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Combine cornmeal, seasoned salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a shallow dish.
• Pour milk into a separate dish.
• Heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Dip a catfish fillet in the milk, and shake off any excess.
• Transfer milk-soaked fish to the cornmeal mixture and gently roll to coat on both sides.
• Repeat with remaining fillets.
• Place fish in the hot skillet and cook until golden brown on each side (about 5-7 minutes per side). The fish will flake easily with a fork when it's done.
• Depending on the size of your skillet, you may need to cook the fish in batches. Don't overcrowd the skillet! Feel free to wipe out the pan and use additional butter/oil, as necessary, for subsequent batches.
• Drain fish on paper towels.
• Serve warm, garnished with chopped fresh parsley and a lemon wedge, if desired.

EASY CRISPY FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• In a large skillet, fill pan with 1/2 inch of vegetable oil. Turn on heat to medium or medium high heat.
• Dip catfish in milk, then in cornmeal. Shake off excess cornmeal.
• Once oil is hot, begin frying fish in batches until they are golden brown. Flip fish so each side is cooked evenly.
• (On the 2nd or3rd batch of fish, you may want to reduce the pan heat because it will be extra hot). Add extra oil if needed.
• Drain fish on paper towels and sprinkle with salt or seasoning salt.
• Serve hot with tartar sauce.

OVEN-FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat with cooking spray.
• In a shallow dish, stir together the cornmeal, paprika, thyme, salt, celery seed, onion powder, garlic powder, and pepper. Dip the catfish fillets in milk, then place them into the cornmeal mixture and coat liberally; place on the greased baking sheet. Coat the tops of the fillets with cooking spray until wet.
• Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until fish is easily flaked with a fork.

CRISPY OVEN-FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Spray a baking sheet with vegetable oil cooking spray.
• Sprinkle fish on both sides with Cajun seasoning.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine egg substitute and skim milk.
• Place cornflake crumbs on a plate.
• One at a time, dip catfish fillets into egg mixture, then roll in cornflake crumbs.
• Dip and roll fillets again.
• Place on baking sheet.
• Place baking sheet on oven's bottom shelf.
• Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 350°F and bake for 5 more minutes or until crust is golden and fish flakes easily.

CRISPY FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Clean, wash and dry fish. Combine milk, salt and pepper. Combine flour, cornmeal and paprika. Dip fish in milk mixture and roll in flour mixture. Fry bacon in a heavy pan until crisp. Remove bacon, reserving fat for frying fish. Drain bacon on absorbent paper.
• Fry fish in hot fat for 4 minutes. Turn carefully and fry for 4 to 6 minutes longer or until fish is brown and flakes easily when tested with a fork. Drain on absorbent paper. Serve with bacon. Serves 6.

EASY LOW-FAT OVEN FRIED CATFISH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Heavily spray a large non-stick baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• Pour egg substitute in large shallow bowl.
• Sprinkle with some Emeril's essence; also some salt and pepper, if you prefer.
• Place fish coating on a large plate.
• Add some Essence to this also, if you wish.
• Rinse fish fillets.
• Squeeze lemon wedges over fish.
• Sprinkle with Essence, salt and pepper on both side of fish.
• Dip in coating.
• Dip fish in egg substitute, then again in fish coating, and place on baking sheet.
• Bake at 450°F for approximately 10-15 minutes, until bottom of fish starts to brown.
• Turn fish, and bake about 5-8 minutes more, until fish is browned and crisp.
• Serve.