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Simple is best, and this Southern fried catfish is no exception. The easy dinner only requires a handful of pantry staples, and it’s ready in about 20 minutes. Pair the crispy pan fried fish with classic sides like Jiffy cornbread with creamed corn, traditional coleslaw, or flaky biscuits for an old-fashioned supper that everyone at the table will love!
Table of Contents
If you love easy fish recipes, be sure to try this Southern cornmeal-crusted baked catfish, the perfect 15-minute grilled salmon, and this 5-ingredient Parmesan-crusted tilapia, too!
How to Fry Catfish | 1-Minute Video
This is the best catfish recipe I’ve tried — just the right amount of seasoning and great cornmeal crust. Other recipes have been too spicy and salty for my taste. For acidity, I subbed in white wine vinegar for lemons. Delicious!
– Jonathan
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. This is seafood at its best, y’all! A golden and super-crispy exterior, with a delicate, tender, and flaky inside. Join me for a fish fry, will you? Southern pan fried catfish is on the menu!
- Affordable. Do you want to add more seafood to your family’s diet (or just get out of that chicken rut)? For those of us who live in the middle of nowhere, it can be challenging to find tasty, easily-accessible fish. We don’t even have a seafood counter at our local grocery store, but I know that I can always find catfish at our local country market — and it won’t break the bank.
- Easy. This Southern fried catfish recipe takes advantage of the simple process of dredging the fish in seasoned cornmeal and pan-frying in shallow butter and oil. There’s no need to haul out a deep fryer! The catfish filets are crispy, have great flavor, and they cook quickly. This meal is ready from start to finish in about 20 minutes.
Ingredients
This is a quick overview of the simple ingredients that you’ll need for a simple pan fried catfish recipe. As always, specific measurements and complete cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- Catfish fillets: you’ll need about 1 pound total, with each fillet weighing 3-4 ounces. Catfish is a popular source of protein that’s low in fat and low in calories. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, catfish is one of the five most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury and high in Omega-3 fatty acids. Farmed catfish is a sustainable, clean, and safe seafood option (source). And yes — frozen catfish (thawed in the refrigerator overnight) works beautifully for this recipe.
- Yellow cornmeal: adds a crispy crust to the outside of the fish.
- Seasoned salt: such as Lawry’s brand, which includes salt, herbs, and spices to add great flavor to the crust quickly and easily.
- Black pepper and garlic powder: for even more flavor in the cornmeal.
- Milk: helps the cornmeal mixture adhere to the fish. You can use buttermilk for a rich, tangy flavor instead.
- Vegetable oil and butter: for frying the fish. The oil has a higher smoke point, while the butter adds great flavor. You can substitute with other mild oils like canola oil or peanut oil.
Directions
You’ll love how quickly and easily this simple fried catfish recipe comes together! I’ve included the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here’s the overview:
- Combine the dry breading mixture with a whisk in a shallow dish (cornmeal and seasonings).
- Pour milk into a separate shallow bowl.
- Dip the fish in the milk to get it wet, and then shake off any excess. While it’s certainly not necessary, some folks like to soak catfish in milk or buttermilk to remove an overly fishy smell or flavor.
- Dredge the fish in the cornmeal mixture and gently coat the fillets on all sides.
- Fry the catfish in a hot cast iron skillet or Dutch oven with oil and butter. The catfish is thin, so it cooks through in the time that it takes the exterior to become a beautiful, crispy golden brown. You don’t have to burn the exterior in order to finish the inside, and you don’t have to transfer the skillet to the oven to finish baking. The catfish will take about 5-7 minutes per side. You know that it’s done when it becomes opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
- Keep the fish warm while you’re frying subsequent batches by placing a wire rack over a baking sheet. Put the cooked fried fish on the wire rack and place it in a 200°F oven for up to 30 minutes, until you’re ready to serve the meal. Do not cover the cooked fish with foil or wrap it up. The exterior will not stay crispy if you do so.
Serving Suggestions
For the perfect fried catfish dinner, serve the fish with lemon wedges and tartar sauce for dipping, plus classic Southern sides like hush puppies, vinegar coleslaw, Southern-style green beans, succotash, okra and tomatoes, collard greens, and Dutch oven mac and cheese. You might also like a basket of old-fashioned corn sticks or a pan of cast iron cornbread to round out the meal.
This was my first time making catfish, & the family really enjoyed this. Easy to make with simple ingredients. The coating stayed on well when cooking, which was a plus.
– Renee
Storage
- How to Store: The fried fish is best served warm, directly from the fryer. Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 2 days.
- How to Freeze: If you need to store the fried fish longer, you can freeze the leftovers for up to 1 month. It’s important to note, though — this crispy catfish tends to get a little soggy as it sits in the fridge.
- How to Reheat: The oven is the best way to reheat your fried catfish in order to keep that crispy exterior. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Allow the fish to come to room temperature on the counter while the oven heats. Place the fish fillets on a baking sheet and warm in the oven for 10-15 minutes, or just until heated through.
Recipe Variations
- Cooking just for two? Cut the ingredients in half. The rest of the instructions remain the same.
- This is a mild fish. If you prefer some heat, you can add a dash of cayenne pepper to the breading, or add hot sauce to the milk.
- Mix additional herbs and seasonings into the cornmeal breading. Try thyme, rosemary, chives, or parsley. You might like some paprika or onion powder, Old Bay seasoning, lemon pepper seasoning, or Creole or Cajun seasoning.
- Make fried fish sandwiches by serving the fillets on hoagie rolls with lettuce, tomato, and tartar sauce.
- Serve fried catfish tacos by serving the fillets in taco shells or tortillas with fresh salsa, guacamole and all of your favorite Mexican-inspired toppings!
Helpful Tips
- Shake off the excess milk and cornmeal each time you dredge the fish to make sure that you just have a light coating on each piece.
- Depending on the size of your skillet, you may need to fry the fish in batches so that you don’t overcrowd the pan. This will keep the oil at a steady temperature and will ensure crispy (rather than soggy) fish fillets.
- Serve the fried catfish with lemon wedges and a fresh parsley garnish for a bright finishing touch.
- Season the catfish with additional kosher salt and ground black pepper, if desired, while the fish is still warm.
So, I made this meal for my family, let me tell you.. it was by far one of the best recipes for catfish. My family gave me so many compliments on this dinner that night. Even my kids have already asked me to make it again. Blair, It was so simple and easy to make, it didn’t take very long to make it at all. Will definitely be making this again and again!! Thanks for the recipe!
– Shan-Tel
More Fried Seafood Recipes to Try
Southern Fried Catfish
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 catfish fillets (about 3-4 ounces each)
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon seasoned salt (I use Lawry's brand)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup milk
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- Optional garnish: lemon wedges and fresh parsley
Instructions
- 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.
Video
Notes
- Shake off the excess milk and cornmeal each time you dredge the fish to make sure that you just have a light coating on each piece.
- Depending on the size of your skillet, you may need to fry the fish in batches so that you don’t overcrowd the pan. This will keep the oil at a steady temperature and will ensure crispy (rather than soggy) fish fillets.
- Serve the fried catfish with lemon wedges and a fresh parsley garnish for a bright finishing touch.
- Season the catfish with additional kosher salt and ground black pepper, if desired, while the fish is still warm.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in February, 2018. It was updated in June, 2024.
Southern recipes are always a hit with my Southern man so I’m going to have to try this! Thanks Blair!
He’ll appreciate this one for sure! My husband was so happy when I served it recently. 🙂
I don’t think I’ve seen catfish in the grocery stores where I live. What would an alternative fish be? Snapper?
Hi, Caitlin! You might check in the frozen seafood section at your store — I find it there, too. If not, you can substitute with tilapia or flounder. The snapper would be fine, but it’s more like cod — meatier and thicker, so the cooking time will be different and you might get the crust a bit too dark while you wait for the inside to cook through. The snapper does have a mild taste, similar to the catfish, so from that standpoint it would be fine. You just want a thin, mild white fish. 🙂
Delicious! My husband and i had it last night and are still talking about it! The coating works great on shrimp too. Had that tonight. Excellent recipe. Thank you!
Thanks so much, Barbara! Great tip to use it on shrimp, too!
The recipe was very good…..easy and quick to make; fish was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. My only problem is that it said it was 222 calories and when I plugged it into My Fitness Pal it came up as 541….pushed my daily calorie intake right over the edge 🙁
Tried this recipe for my pot luck. Catfish turned out very tender and was delicious. Catfish went very quickly.
Thanks, Cindy!
Didn’t have ant cornmeal so I used oatmeal ,still delicious, loved it????????
Awesome! I would never have thought to use the oatmeal, but I’m glad it worked for you! 🙂
Catfish is not “Seafood”. It is a freshwater fish.
There’s saltwater catfish as well. Used to catch em at Jeckyll Island down off the coast of Georgia.
Did you eat the saltwater catfish? We never did because they were too boney. When we moved to Oklahoma I couldn’t believe people actually ate catfish! It is now my favorite fish and this is my favorite receipe.
There are saltwater catfish as well. Used to catch em at Jeckyll Island down off the coast of Georgia.
Thanks for sharing! Yes, there are saltwater catfish, and seafood is often used to refer to any edible aquatic creature. No matter how you classify catfish, we hope you enjoy the recipe!
We are trying to fit more fish in our diet because it is so good for us. I love your idea of putting it on a hoagie roll and making a yummy sandwich. I will make this recipe for dinner tomorrow. It sounds delicious!
Wonderful! I hope you enjoy it, Mindy!
Hi, Blair
Thanks for the recipe, I will be sure to try it out with my kids this spring. I grew up near Charlottesville, so your post seemed quite relatable! We (my fishing-age kids and I) were wondering what recipes you would recommend for other white fish like Sunfish- I love trout almandine, but not sure how that would work with sunfish.. Would you happen to have any suggestions? Something other than breaded or fried? Thanks!
-Matthew
Hi, Matthew! We’ve caught little sunfish in the pond across the street from us, but I’ve honestly never cooked them. 🙂 I don’t have any other cooking suggestions besides the classic pan-fried version. Maybe you can bake it with butter and garlic like this simple tilapia? https://www.theseasonedmom.com/baked-tilapia/
This is the best catfish recipe I’ve tried — just the right amount of seasoning and great cornmeal crust. Other recipes have been too spicy and salty for my taste. For acidity, I subbed in white wine vinegar for lemons. Delicious!
Perfect! Thanks, Jonathan! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it, and I appreciate you coming back here to let me know. 🙂
Good Morning Blair-
Thank you for featuring this recipe this week. I have filets in the freezer I’d forgotten about. Today’s a good day to make your recipe!
Thank you for sharing your talents & the beautiful photos of your area, Spring is here!
Have a wonderful week!
Yay! It’s one of my personal favorites, Kris. Hope you enjoy the fish, and have a great week ahead. I always love hearing from you on Sundays!
Wow! The catfish had me drooling, lol. Had it in some restaurant while on a vacation many years ago, and have never forgotten it.
Catfish isn’t available everywhere in our state. After seeing that luscious looking fish, I’m going to go on a hunt for some in the stores that have a fairly large selection of fish. If they don’t have it, (maybe it’s a seasonal thing in some areas?) I’ll be asking the person behind the counter a few questions. Wish me luck on this hunt.
Cornbread looks very tasty, & it’s so versatile because you can make either muffins or a cake with it. A great pair fot the family to have for sure!
Thank you so much for these Sunday blogs! It’s the first one that gets opened every Sunday.
Have a great week!
Sandra W.
Thank you, Sandra! I’m so honored that you catch up with us here each Sunday! I hope you can get your hands on some catfish — that’s one of my favorite meals. We don’t have access to much fish at all around here, but catfish is definitely a staple. 🙂 Take care, and have a great week ahead!
This was my first time making catfish, & the family really enjoyed this. Easy to make with simple ingredients. The coating stayed on well when cooking, which was a plus.
Perfect! Thanks, Renee! I’m so glad that your first attempt was a success. Thank you for coming back here to leave a note and let me know. 🙂
Hi Blair,
Would you mind telling me what kind of skillet that is in the pics, the one with hammered finish.
Thanks
Gary
Hi, Gary! That’s the carbon steel round roaster made by Smithey Ironworks. Here’s the link: https://smithey.com/collections/carbon-steel/products/roundroaster
Cooking it now
Great, hope you enjoy!
Simply delicious!!
Thanks, Harriet!
A nice quick recipe for Catfish. Fillets came out perfect and delicious. Substituted almond milk since I did not have milk, I also subbed a fish fry batter mix that was seasoned already since I did not have any corn meal. Served with white rice, broccoli and I used some tobasco sauce on the fillets. Your recipe is very adaptable when your short ingredients. The catfish I used was caught at our local lake (Folsom Lake) and whether its deep fried in beer batter or sautéed, it always tastes delicious. And I don’t need to remember this recipe since it is so simple yet delicious.
After reading some of the reviews i see some cannot find catfish at their local markets. I have an answer to that, go out and catch your own! There are catfish in every state just about. Go to Youtube and type in one of your local lakes and put in “catfish fishing” and the lake name, and you should be able to find the info you need to catch your own catfish fresh out of the lake. Good luck!
We’re so glad you were able to make the recipe work for you and enjoyed your fish! Thank you for sharing.
sounds good I will try it
We hope you enjoy it, Danny!
Blair,
Greetings from Afton Mountain in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains! I feel like I already know you, or at least that I should! We had dinner with your Southern Fried Catfish recipe this evening and my friend just fell all over herself about how wonderful it was. And I was pleased equally as well.
It was her first time cooking fish ever. She was altogether unsure it would come out edible when we started, but she really was in the mood for fish in a big way tonight. So I searched Google for a “quick simple recipe” and yours popped up first on my search results.
Thank you so much for providing such an amazing recipe!
I hope you have a blessed weekend.
Sincerely,
howard
Hi, Howard! I’m so happy to hear that the catfish was a success. Thank you for such a kind note!
My parents live in Nelson County, not far from Afton Mountain. We’re definitely all neighbors! 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Delicious
Thank you, Payton!
So, I made this meal for my family, let me tell you.. it was by far one of the best recipes for catfish. My family gave me so many compliments on this dinner that night. Even my kids have already asked me to make it again. Blair, It was so simple and easy to make, it didn’t take very long to make it at all. Will definitely be making this again and again!! Thanks for the recipe!
Thank you, Shan-tel
Thank you, Shan-Tel! We’re so happy to hear the recipe was a hit.
Love the variations as well
Thanks, Nancy!
CAN YOU FRY CATFISH IN REGULAR BREAD DCRUMBS ?
We don’t recommend it as they’re often too heavy. Cornmeal or flour typically works best. Hope this helps!