The lemon herb catfish fillet that is pan-seared is crispy on the outside and flaky on the inside, and it doesn’t need to be breaded or fried. It tastes great and is better for you than traditional cornmeal catfish.
Since lemon, thyme, and butter go well together, I thought they would be great with the catfish my husband caught. We don’t usually eat catfish, but I’m okay with it since my husband caught it and we know where it came from.
Catfish is a versatile and tasty fish that can be prepared in many different ways. If you’ve got catfish filets in your fridge or freezer and aren’t sure what to make, you’ve come to the right place! Here are 6 delicious ways you can cook catfish right in your own kitchen.
Pan-Fried Catfish with Lemon Butter
This is one of the quickest and easiest ways to cook catfish. All it takes is a simple cornmeal breading, a hot skillet, and a few minutes on each side to yield deliciously crispy pan-fried filets.
- Start by combining 1⁄2 cup cornmeal, 1⁄4 cup flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp Creole seasoning, 1⁄2 tsp paprika and 1⁄4 tsp pepper.
- Dip 4 catfish filets in milk, then coat thoroughly in the cornmeal mixture.
- Melt 2 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook filets 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Add juice of 1 lemon and 2 more tbsp butter to the skillet and baste the fish as it finishes cooking.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately with lemon wedges. The tangy lemon brightens up the flavor of the fish.
Baked Catfish with Wine and Herbs
Baking is a hands-off way to prepare moist, flavorful catfish A quick wine sauce infused with fresh herbs takes this simple dinner to the next level
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Season 2 catfish filets with salt and pepper and place in a baking dish.
- In a saucepan, melt 4 tbsp butter. Add 1⁄4 cup white wine, juice of 1 lemon, 1 tsp chopped garlic, 1 tsp chopped cilantro and simmer 2 minutes.
- Pour sauce over fish, sprinkle with 1 tbsp paprika and bake 10-12 minutes until fish flakes easily.
- The wine and herbs give the mild catfish a delicious flavor boost. Serve with rice or potatoes.
Fried Catfish Nuggets
Kids and adults alike will love these fun bite-sized morsels of catfish fried up crispy and golden. Perfect as an appetizer or main course.
- Cut 1 lb catfish filets into 1-inch chunks. Season flour with 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning, 1 tsp paprika, 1⁄2 tsp salt.
- Beat 1 egg with 1 tbsp water. Dip catfish pieces in flour, then egg, then back into the flour.
- Fry in batches at 375°F until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per batch.
- Serve with homemade tartar sauce, honey mustard or ranch dressing for dipping. Sprinkle with green onions if desired. Irresistible!
Grilled Catfish with Lemon Pepper
Grilling adds wonderful smoky flavors to mild catfish. A simple rub makes it pop.
- Make lemon pepper seasoning by combining zest of 2 lemons with 2 tbsp cracked black pepper and 1 tsp salt.
- Coat 6 catfish filets with olive oil or cooking spray and season both sides with lemon pepper.
- Grill over medium heat 4-5 minutes per side until fish flakes easily. Baste with lemon juice the last 2 minutes.
- The char from the grill combined with bright lemon pepper gives you restaurant-quality grilled catfish at home.
Blackened Catfish
This Cajun preparation yields spicy charred catfish with big bold flavors. Serve with rice and beans for a taste of New Orleans.
- Make blackening spice mix by combining 1 tbsp each paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cayenne, 1 tsp each thyme, black pepper, salt.
- Coat 4 catfish filets with olive oil, then liberally sprinkle both sides with the spice mix, pressing to adhere.
- Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat. Cook filets 2-3 minutes per side until charred and spice crust forms.
- The spice crust contrasts beautifully with the tender fish inside. Cool off with a cold beer or sweet tea!
Catfish Tacos
Take taco night from boring to fabulous with juicy fried catfish tacos with all the fixings. Can also be made into burritos.
- Season and fry catfish as above, breaking into smaller chunks. Warm corn or flour tortillas on the grill or in a pan.
- Top with fried catfish, shredded cabbage, diced tomatoes, sliced avocado, and chipotle mayo or crema.
- Garnish with cilantro and lime. The crispy catfish pairs amazingly well with the fresh taco toppings. Olé!
How to Cook Catfish ->
I’ve seen a lot of catfish recipes, and most of them call for breading the fish in egg or cornmeal. To change things up today, I chose to pan-sear them instead. This way, the outside will be nice and crispy. I like cooking this dish in cast iron because the fish gets a nice char. It should be cooked over medium heat so that the outside gets color and the inside stays flaky.
Ingredients for Pan-Seared Lemon Herb Catfish
There are only a few things you need to make it, and a cast iron pan is best if you have one. It just really gives the fish that charred flavor, which is amazing for this. It tastes great with rice and a roasted vegetable, but you can serve it however you like.
- good catfish—my husband caught ours at a lake that our family likes to visit.
- Lemon makes the dish taste better, and I love how well lemon goes with fish.
- dried thyme – this compliments the fresh lemon so well!
- good olive oil; avocado oil is also a good choice because it doesn’t have a strong flavor.
- Vegan butter is what I used, but you can use any kind of butter you like.
- salt & pepper – we can’t forget the staples
- fresh parsley—fresh herbs on top make food look nice and taste good.
Best Catfish Recipe – Crispy Oven-Baked Catfish
Can you cook catfish raw?
Catfish has a mild, sweet flavor and is less flaky and denser than other whitefish, allowing for a variety of cooking choices. The fillet marinated in brine can also be enjoyed raw. If you want to know how to cook catfish in a variety of ways, just follow these steps.
How can I prepare fish for kids?
This is really dependent on the personal preference of your children. Some children will eat fish the same way adults do for others you may need to make this more interesting by creating things like homemade fishcakes, fish burger patties, fish balls or by adding this to toast or even pasta. Involving your children in the preparation and cooking process can also encourage them to consume the fish.
How do you cook catfish?
Catfish is a tasty fish that is most commonly enjoyed by people living in the southern United States. The most common cooking method is deep-frying, but catfish can be grilled, baked and pan-fried with great success. Catfish has a mild, sweet flavor and is less flaky and denser than other whitefish, allowing for a variety of cooking choices.
Can you cook catfish on a grill?
Catfish is an excellent fish to cook on the grill. It’s a sweet and rather mild fish that absorbs other flavors easily. Keep in mind farmed catfish tastes much milder than wild-caught catfish. Wild catfish can be fishy and even a bit muddy.