Best 8 Frying Catfish Fillets In Skillet Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Crispy, golden brown catfish fillets are a Southern delicacy that can be enjoyed for lunch or dinner. This versatile fish can be prepared in a variety of ways, but frying is one of the most popular methods. In this article, we'll provide you with two different recipes for frying catfish fillets in a skillet: one for a classic Southern-fried catfish and one for a healthier baked catfish. Both recipes are easy to follow and result in delicious, flaky fish that the whole family will love. We'll also provide tips on how to choose the best catfish fillets and how to cook them perfectly so that they are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. So whether you're a seasoned catfish fry-er or you're new to cooking fish, we have the perfect recipe for you.

Let's cook with our recipes!

CRISPY SOUTHERN FRIED CATFISH



Crispy Southern Fried Catfish image

Simple is best, and this Southern Fried Catfish is no exception. The easy dinner recipe only requires a handful of pantry staples and it's ready about 20 minutes!!!

Provided by Blair Lonergan

Categories     Dinner

Time 20m

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 catfish fillets ((about 3-4 ounces each))
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon seasoned salt ((I use Lawry's brand))
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 tablespoons butter
Optional garnish: lemon wedges and fresh parsley

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.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 (4 ounce) fillet, Calories 222 kcal, Carbohydrate 5.9 g, Protein 14.7 g, Fat 15.8 g, SaturatedFat 4.1 g, Cholesterol 36.7 mg, Sodium 659.3 mg, Fiber 0.6 g, Sugar 0.1 g

PAN FRIED CATFISH FILETS



Pan Fried Catfish Filets image

Lightly fried and very flavorful. Sure to please all. Serve with lemon wedges and homemade tartar sauce.

Provided by EHOLT

Categories     Seafood     Fish     Catfish

Time 45m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 cup cornmeal
2 teaspoons ground cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder
⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
4 (4 ounce) fillets catfish
1 cup milk
4 cloves garlic, minced

Steps:

  • In a mixing bowl, stir together cornmeal, cayenne pepper, paprika and onion powder. Mix well. Pour mixture onto a large sheet of waxed paper.
  • Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  • Pour milk into a medium bowl. Dip catfish filets into milk and hold up and let the milk drip off. Roll the milk-soaked filet in the cornmeal mixture until completely covered. Set aside.
  • Fry the garlic in the hot skillet, but do not burn. Add the coated catfish filets and cook for 5 to 7 minutes on each side, sprinkling salt on the fish after each turn. Cook until golden brown and fish flakes easily with a fork. Drain on paper towels.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 489.5 calories, Carbohydrate 32.7 g, Cholesterol 57.5 mg, Fat 29.3 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 22.5 g, SaturatedFat 5.5 g, Sodium 88.2 mg, Sugar 3.9 g

PAN FRIED CATFISH



Pan Fried Catfish image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

4 (8-ounce) catfish fillets
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon creole seasoning
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3/4 cup milk
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
Lemon wedges, for garnish

Steps:

  • Rinse the fillets and pat them dry with paper towels. Mix the cornmeal, flour, salt, creole seasoning, paprika, and pepper together in a shallow dish. Pour the milk into a second shallow dish. Dip the fillets into the milk and then into the cornmeal mixture, coating them well and shaking of any excess.
  • Heat 1/2 the butter in a large skillet over high heat, and fry 2 of the fillets for about 3 minutes on each side, or until the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.
  • Transfer the fillets to a serving platter and keep warm. Repeat with remaining butter and fillets. Serve immediately, garnished with lemon wedges.

FRIED CATFISH



Fried Catfish image

Crispy fried catfish fillets coated in a seasoned cornmeal crust!

Provided by Hank Shaw

Categories     Dinner     Budget     Comfort Food     Quick and Easy     Fish     Southern

Time 30m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 11

4-6 catfish fillets, about 1-2 pounds
1 cup milk or buttermilk
Salt
3/4 cup fine cornmeal (do not use coarsely ground cornmeal)
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
Oil for frying (use peanut oil if you can)

Steps:

  • Heat oil in pan, heat warming oven: In a heavy frying pan (I prefer to use cast iron), pour enough oil to come 1/2 inch up the sides of the pan. Heat the pan on medium-high. Heat your oven to 200°F and lay a cookie sheet inside. Place a wire rack on top of the cookie sheet.
  • Mix together cornmeal, flour, spices for dredging: Mix the cornmeal, flour and spices together. (Or you can substitute your favorite seasoning instead.) Place in a shallow dish for dredging.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 665 kcal, Carbohydrate 34 g, Cholesterol 146 mg, Fiber 3 g, Protein 45 g, SaturatedFat 8 g, Sodium 439 mg, Sugar 3 g, Fat 38 g, ServingSize Serves 4, UnsaturatedFat 0 g

SO GOOD PANFRIED CATFISH (MAKEOVER)



So Good Panfried Catfish (Makeover) image

From Betty's Soul Food Collection... Purr-fect for catfish or any mild-flavored fish, this dish goes from pan to kitchen table in 20 minutes flat-with a spicy cornmeal breading that's sure to heat up dinner hour!

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Entree

Time 20m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 egg
1/2 teaspoon Frank's™ RedHot™ Original cayenne pepper sauce
1/2 cup cornmeal
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon seafood seasoning (from 6-oz container)
1 1/2 lb catfish or other mild-flavored fish fillets (about 3/4 inch thick), cut into 6 serving pieces
1 tablespoon olive or canola oil
Lemon wedges

Steps:

  • In shallow dish, beat egg and hot pepper sauce until well mixed. In another shallow dish, stir cornmeal, paprika, pepper, salt, onion powder and seafood seasoning until blended.
  • Dip each piece of fish into egg mixture, then coat with cornmeal mixture.
  • In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add fish; cook 4 to 8 minutes, turning once, until fish flakes easily with fork and is brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels. (To keep underside of fish crisp, immediately place fish on cooling rack until serving time.) Squeeze lemon juice over fish.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 Serving, TransFat 0 g

SECRET INGREDIENT FRIED CATFISH



Secret Ingredient Fried Catfish image

Pancake mix and carbonated water are the surprising secrets to these beautifully browned catfish fillets. Serve with coleslaw or sweet potato fries, and get ready for smiles. -Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 20m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 eggs
2 tablespoons carbonated water
1 cup pancake mix
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 catfish fillets (6 ounces each)
Oil for deep-fat frying

Steps:

  • In a shallow bowl, whisk eggs and water. In another shallow bowl, combine the pancake mix, seasoned salt and pepper. Dip fillets in egg mixture, then coat with seasoned pancake mix., In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Fry fillets, a few at a time, for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 475 calories, Fat 34g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 133mg cholesterol, Sodium 386mg sodium, Carbohydrate 10g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 29g protein.

SOUTHERN FRIED CATFISH



Southern Fried Catfish image

Fried catfish is a Southern tradition, along with buttermilk hush puppies and buttermilk coleslaw. Try these traditional foods together.

Provided by Mama Smith

Categories     Seafood     Fish     Catfish

Time 30m

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 8

½ cup buttermilk
½ cup water
salt and pepper, to taste
1 pound catfish fillets, cut in strips
1 ½ cups fine cornmeal
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay™
1 quart vegetable oil for deep frying

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1427.2 calories, Carbohydrate 131.6 g, Cholesterol 145 mg, Fat 78.6 g, Fiber 6 g, Protein 45.7 g, SaturatedFat 13.2 g, Sodium 799.9 mg, Sugar 5.9 g

SKILLET-GRILLED CATFISH



Skillet-Grilled Catfish image

The Cajun flavor is great in this skillet-grilled catfish recipe. You can use this recipe with any thick fish fillet, but I suggest catfish or haddock. -Traci Wynne, Denver, Pennsylvania

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 catfish fillets (6 to 8 ounces each)
1/4 cup butter

Steps:

  • In a large shallow dish, combine the first 9 ingredients. Add catfish, 1 fillet at a time, and turn to coat., Place a large cast-iron skillet on a grill rack over medium-high heat. Melt butter in the skillet; add catfish in batches, if necessary. Grill, covered, until fish just begins to flake easily with a fork, 5-10 minutes on each side.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 222 calories, Fat 15g fat (8g saturated fat), Cholesterol 51mg cholesterol, Sodium 366mg sodium, Carbohydrate 14g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 8g protein.

Tips for Frying Catfish Fillets in a Skillet:

  • Use fresh or frozen catfish fillets. If using frozen fillets, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight or under cold water for 30 minutes.
  • Season the catfish fillets with your favorite seasonings. Some popular options include salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
  • Coat the catfish fillets in a light dusting of flour. This will help the fillets to brown evenly and prevent them from sticking to the skillet.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add enough oil to cover the bottom of the skillet.
  • Carefully place the catfish fillets in the hot oil. Do not overcrowd the skillet or the fillets will not cook evenly.
  • Cook the catfish fillets for 3-4 minutes per side, or until they are golden brown and cooked through.
  • Remove the catfish fillets from the skillet and drain on paper towels.
  • Serve the catfish fillets immediately with your favorite sides.

Conclusion:

Frying catfish fillets in a skillet is a quick and easy way to prepare this delicious fish. By following these tips, you can ensure that your catfish fillets are cooked perfectly every time. Serve them with your favorite sides for a satisfying meal.

Related Topics