Air Fryer Southern Fried Catfish

Classic southern-style fried catfish in the air fryer! Crispy air fried catfish fillets in seasoned cornmeal breading, tender and mild fish on the inside with a golden brown crust on the outside.

Fried catfish is a southern tradition and is on the menu at every fish fry in the St. Louis area during Lent. And fish fries are crazy popular here! I get fried catfish dinners to go all the time at our favorite neighborhood grocery. They do a mean hot bar full of southern comfort food!

Southern-style fried catfish is often soaked in buttermilk, coated in a seasoned cornmeal mixture and then fried. Same concept here but cooked in the air fryer until golden brown and crispy. It's delicious and super easy to make this mild-tasting white fish.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS

• Catfish fillets  depending on the size, two large fillets for two people.
• Buttermilk  for soaking, sometimes catfish can have a "muddy" flavor and a quick soak in milk or buttermilk gets rid of that.
• Yellow cornmeal and flour  for the dredge.
• Seasoned with  Cajun seasoning and lemon pepper.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

1. Soak the catfish fillets in buttermilk and several dashes of hot sauce.
2. Mix together the cornmeal, flour and seasonings in a small tray or pie plate.
3. Remove catfish from buttermilk and shake off excess.
4. Dredge catfish fillets in cornmeal mixture until well coated.
5. Place in air fryer basket, spray evenly with olive oil and cook for about 20 minutes, flipping a couple times until golden and crispy.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH FRIED CATFISH

• Homemade tartar sauce, malt vinegar, hot sauce and/or lemon wedges on the side.
• French fries or hush puppies
• Cole Slaw
• Old Fashioned Potato Salad
• Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese
• Easy stovetop Southern Style Green Beans with bacon.

RECIPE NOTES AND TIPS

1. Don't crowd the fish in the air fryer basket so it will cook evenly and get crispy. Use your judgement on cooking one or two fillets and the size of your air fryer basket, you can also cut large fillets into a couple pieces to fit better.
2. I usually cook one piece at a time (unless the fillets are small) and keep warm in the oven while I cook the second fillet.
3. You can use regular milk or buttermilk to soak the catfish, although my preference is buttermilk.
4. Spray the basket well with olive oil spray to help keep the fish from sticking. No worries if a little of the breading sticks when flipping the catfish fillet, it'll be fine.
5. If you have one, a fish spatula comes in handy for turning the delicate fish half way through cooking.
6. While I usually make two servings of catfish, this makes enough seasoned cornmeal mixture for more fillets, enough for at least four pieces of catfish.

Air fryer southern catfish, such an easy way to make this beloved fried fish at home. You will love it, and definitely whip up some easy homemade tartar sauce to serve along side it! xxo- Kelly

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Air Fryer Southern Fried Catfish

Classic southern-style fried catfish in the air fryer!

5 from 9 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Cajun, Southern

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Servings: 2 servings

Calories: 222kcal

Author: Kelly Wildenhaus

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Ingredients

• ▢ 2 (6-8 ounce) catfish fillets about 1 pound
• ▢ ½ cup buttermilk, shaken
• ▢ Few dashes hot sauce
• ▢ ½ cup yellow cornmeal fine grind for breading
• ▢ 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning preferably unsalted blend
• ▢ ½ teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
• ▢ Kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper
• ▢ Extra virgin olive oil spray comes in a spray can
• ▢ Tartar sauce, hot sauce, lemon wedges for serving

Instructions

• Place buttermilk in large shallow dish or pie plate, add a few shakes of hot sauce and mix to combine. Add catfish fillets and turn to coat. Let soak for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make seasoned dredge. In another large tray or pie plate, add the cornmeal, flour and seasonings, a few grinds of black pepper and combine well with a fork or whisk.
• Remove catfish from buttermilk to a plate, shaking off excess. Lightly pat dry and season with a sprinkle of salt. Place catfish one at a time in seasoned cornmeal mixture and coat well on both sides. Shake off excess and place on a plate.
• Preheat air fryer at 400º.
• Open and spray basket evenly with olive oil spray. Lay catfish fillets in basket, one or two depending on size, spritz catfish evenly on top with olive oil spray. Close basket and air fry at 400º for 8 minutes.
• Open basket and carefully flip fish over with spatula, air fry for another 8 minutes.
• Open basket and carefully flip fish one more time. Air fry another 2 to 4 minutes until crispy and golden brown.
• Serve immediately with tartar sauce, hot sauce and lemon wedges.

Recipe Notes

• This makes enough seasoned cornmeal dredge for more catfish, up to at least 4 fillets.
• Use your judgement on how much catfish fits in the basket without crowding. Keep cooked catfish warm in a 180º – 200º oven.
• You can cut large fillets in half into portions, if desired.
• If you spray the air fryer basket first and top of the catfish, you should be good but if you feel the need for another spritz after flipping, go for it!
• Fried catfish is delicious with homemade tartar sauce, hot sauce and/or malt vinegar!

Nutrition

Calories: 222kcal Carbohydrates: 38g Protein: 7g Fat: 5g Saturated Fat: 2g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 7mg Sodium: 66mg Potassium: 250mg Fiber: 4g Sugar: 4g Vitamin A: 595IU Vitamin C: 1mg Calcium: 77mg Iron: 2mg

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