Crispy Southern Fried Catfish
This Crispy Southern Fried Catfish is everything you want when you’re craving that perfect fried fish—crispy on the outside, tender and flaky on the inside. The cornmeal coating gives it that classic Southern crunch, while the mix of Creole seasoning, garlic, and lemon pepper adds a kick of flavor that’s just right. The best part? It’s quick and easy to make, ready in just 20 minutes. Whether you’re whipping it up for a family dinner or just treating yourself, this catfish always hits the spot. You’ll be hooked from the first bite!
6 Servings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds catfish fillets
- 1 ½ cups yellow cornmeal
- 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Accent seasoning
- 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning
- ½ teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
- ½ teaspoon powdered crab boil seasoning
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- First, grab a mixing bowl and toss in the cornmeal, flour, garlic powder, onion powder, Accent seasoning, Creole seasoning, lemon pepper, and crab boil seasoning. Give it all a good stir so everything’s nicely combined.
- Now, pour some oil into a skillet and get it heating over medium-high. You want it nice and hot, but not so hot that it starts smoking.
- While the oil’s heating up, take the catfish fillets and dredge them in your seasoning mix, making sure each piece is fully coated.
- Once the oil is ready, carefully place the fillets in the pan and fry them for about 4-5 minutes on each side until they’re golden and crispy, and the fish is cooked through.
- When they’re done, lay them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain off any excess oil.
- Serve hot, and dig in!
Notes
Want to make this recipe gluten-free? It’s super easy! Just swap out the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free alternative—cornstarch or gluten-free flour works perfectly in this recipe. The cornmeal is naturally gluten-free, but as always, double-check that the brand you’re using doesn’t have any added gluten. Everything else in the recipe is naturally gluten-free, so you won’t be missing out on any of that crispy goodness. You’ll still get that crunchy, flavorful coating and tender catfish without worrying about the gluten. Easy, right?