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    Air Fryer Catfish Made Southern Style

    by Brendan Cunningham 6 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    This air fryer catfish recipe is a modern take on a Southern classic. The fish turns out crispy, crunchy, and filled with flavor, and it's so easy to make. Plus, since this catfish is made in the air fryer, it's a healthier alternative to fried catfish! And best of all, it's super quick to whip up too - it only takes about 20 minutes to make!

    Breaded catfish on top of another piece of bread a catfish on part of a pink plate.

    Table of Contents

    • The Best Air Fryer Catfish
      • Ingredients
      • How to Cook Catfish In Air Fryer 
        • Step 1: Prep 
        • Step 2: Breading Catfish
        • Step 3: Air Frying Catfish 
      • How to Store Catfish
      • FAQS ABOUT THIS AIR FRYER CATFISH RECIPE
        • Is catfish good in the air fryer?
        • How long do you put catfish in an air fryer?
        • Is it bad to air fry fish?
      • Wrapping It Up
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Air Fryer Catfish
      • Ingredients
      • Instructions
      • Nutrition
      • Did you make this recipe?

    The Best Air Fryer Catfish

    Catfish is a traditional southern dish, and air frying is no doubt one of the best ways to make it. And the reason I say that is because by cooking it like that, you get a crispy crunchy golden crust on the outside of it, while the inside stays perfectly tender and juicy.

    Not to mention, the mixture of panko and regular breadcrumbs gives the fish a crunch like no other, and you'll be amazed by how crispy the air fryer makes it. Seriously, it's addictingly good.

    And the fried catfish fillets go really well with these biscuits and also this Instant Pot corn on the cob! Also, for a classic fish fry, you can make this coleslaw to have with the crispy catfish!

    A piece of air fryer catfish wine on another piece of catfish on a pink plate.

    Ingredients

    This recipe really shows off how delicious catfish really can be, and how just a few simple ingredients is all you need to make it that way,.

    Having said that, here's what you'll need to make this Southern style fried catfish:

    • 4 catfish filets
    • 1 ½ cup Panko Breadcrumbs
    • ¼ cup Breadcrumbs
    • 2 tsp. Paprika Powder
    • 1 tsp. Garlic Powder
    • 1 tsp. Ground Coriander
    • Cooking Spray
    • 2 Eggs
    • 1 cup Wheat Flour
    • Salt and pepper

    By the way, this air fryer catfish is delicious with my tartar sauce, seafood boil sauce, McDonald's sweet and sour sauce, or even this blove sauce. So, I highly recommend making one of those sauces to go with this recipe.

    Oh, and by the way, I use a similar breading to make this baked haddock and popcorn shrimp. So, if you're looking for more delicious breaded seafood recipes, give those a try next!

    Catfish on a plate, bowl of breadcrumbs, a jar of flour, and a small plate of more breadcrumbs on the white counter.

    How to Cook Catfish In Air Fryer 

    As I mentioned, this recipe is pretty simple to make. It's just a basic egg, flour, and breadcrumb coating technique, and then the air fryer takes care of the rest. 

    Now, grab the ingredients, and let's make some air fryer southern fried catfish!

    Step 1: Prep 

    Start by patting the catfish dry with paper towels. Then, put it on a plate, sprinkle on salt and pepper, and cover both sides with the wheat flour.

    Next, mix the panko breadcrumbs, regular bread crumbs, paprika, garlic powder, dried coriander, salt, and pepper in a bowl.

    Then, whisk the eggs in a separate bowl, and set up a breading station with the catfish and two bowls next to it.

    A hand holding a fork breading a piece of catfish in a breading mixture. Behind it is a bowl of west egg and in front of it is a jar of flour.

    Step 2: Breading Catfish

    Now, let's bread the catfish!

    And to do so you'll want to work with one catfish fillet at a time and fully bread it, and then move on to the next.

    So, first, soak a catfish fillet in the egg wash and completely cover it. Then, thoroughly coat both sides in the breading mixture, and set it aside. Now repeat the same process with the other fillets until they've all been breaded.

    A piece of breaded fried catfish on a paper towel in an air fryer.

    Step 3: Air Frying Catfish 

    So, now that the air fryer catfish fillets are coated in the crispy crust, you can spray your air fryer basket with baking spray and add some of the filets to it.

    How many you can fit in your air fryer depends on the size of it, but the main thing you'll want to make sure of is that they're lying flat in the basket when you air fry.

    Next, air fry the catfish at 350°F (180°C) for about 15 minutes - or until golden and crispy. Then, serve the fried fish fillets with some b love sauce, seafood boil sauce, Szechuan sauce, or any other sauce of your choice - and enjoy!

    Two pieces of catfish on top of one another on a pink plate. Behind it is a small cup of B love sauce.

    How to Store Catfish

    So, this catfish recipe will make 4 air fryer catfish fillets. But if you want more, just double or triple the breading, depending on how many fillets you use.

    And if you end up making more than can be eaten, you can store the leftover fried fish in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days.

    Then, if you want to reheat it, I suggest putting it back in the air fryer at 350°F (180°C) for about 5-10 minutes, flipping it halfway through heating.

    Or, you can put it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and pop it in the oven at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes, flipping it every 3-5 minutes until it reaches your desired temperature.

    A piece of catfish on top of another piece of breaded catfish and a pink played on a white tablecloth and a white counter. Behind it is a small cup of beloved sauce.

    FAQS ABOUT THIS AIR FRYER CATFISH RECIPE

    Is catfish good in the air fryer?

    Yes, it's delicious! Air fryer catfish gives you the best results next to frying if you want to end up with a breading that's super crispy and crunchy.

    How long do you put catfish in an air fryer?

    I've found that cooking the catfish in the air fryer at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes without preheating the air fryer - and about 10-15 minutes if you preheat the air fryer - yields the best results.

    Is it bad to air fry fish?

    No, it is not bad. Air frying fish is a totally safe cooking method that creates perfectly cooked fish in a super quick and easy way. Another great air fryer fish recipe is this air fryer mahi mahi, so you might want to give that one a try next!

    A hand drizzling beloved sauce on top of a piece of catfish that is stacked on another piece of catfish. They are both on a pink plate on a white tablecloth on a white counter.

    Wrapping It Up

    Well, that is how to make fried catfish in the air fryer.

    Truly, this recipe is the best way to cook catfish if you want it to have a super crunchy exterior while keeping the inside perfectly tender & juicy.

    So, next time you want to enjoy a Friday fish fry at home, give this easy air fryer recipe a try!

    Anyway, I hope you enjoy this air fryer fish recipe. If you make it, leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts!

    A piece of catfish with some bee love sauce on top of it line on another piece of catfish on a pink plate. Behind it is a small cup of blove sauce.

    Seafood Recipes

    If you like seafood and want to make some more delicious fish recipes, we have a bunch on the blog to try out next!

    Here are a few of our favorites:

    • Instant Pot Paella
    • Fried Mahi Mahi 
    • Firecracker Shrimp
    • General Tso Shrimp
    • Seafood stuffing
    • Instant Pot Clam Chowder

    And, of course, for even more deliciousness, check out our YouTube channel as well!

    Print

    Air Fryer Catfish

    Breaded catfish on top of another piece of bread a catfish on part of a pink plate.
    Print Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 4 reviews

    This air fryer catfish is a Southern classic that is crispy, crunchy, and filled with flavor. It's a healthier alternative that tastes just as good as fried catfish! And best of all, it only takes about 20 minutes to make!

    • Author: Brendan Cunningham
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings 1x
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Air Fryer
    • Cuisine: Seafood

    Ingredients

    Scale

    4 catfish filets

    1 ½ cup Panko Breadcrumbs

    ¼ cup Breadcrumbs

    2 tsp. Paprika Powder

    1 tsp. Garlic Powder

    1 tsp. Ground Coriander

    Cooking Spray

    2 Eggs

    1 cup Wheat Flour

    Salt and pepper

    Instructions

    1. Pat the catfish dry with paper towels.
    2. Season the fillets with salt and pepper and cover with wheat flour.
    3. Mix panko, breadcrumbs, paprika powder, garlic powder, dried coriander, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
    4. Whisk the eggs in a separate bowl.
    5. Soak each fillet in the egg and then cover both sides thoroughly with the panko mixture.
    6. Spray the air fryer basket with baking spray. Place 1-2 fillets in the air fryer basket (make sure they are lying flat). 
    7. Bake in the air fryer at 350°F (180ºC) for about 15 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 295
    • Fat: 12.5
    • Carbohydrates: 27.75
    • Fiber: 2
    • Protein: 19

    Keywords: air fryer catfish, air fryer catfish recipe, air fried catfish, air fryer catfish panko, air fryer catfish fillets recipes, how to cook catfish in air fryer, air fried catfish recipe, catfish air fryer recipe, panko catfish air fryer, catfish recipe for air fryer,

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag us @ImHungryForThat — we can't wait to see what you've made!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Pam Greiner

      February 05, 2022 at 10:31 pm

      It did make an excellent fish fry with a great sub for deep frying. Very good recipe.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Lisa Delpo

      March 13, 2022 at 1:21 pm

      Made this on a Friday for lent! Very yummy.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Garth

      March 15, 2022 at 12:26 pm

      Dayum!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Kevin

      August 04, 2022 at 10:49 am

      Breading was top notch.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Sheila

        September 17, 2022 at 8:12 am

        I hadn’t had catfish since we took a cross country trip in 1983. I had recently found some at the grocery store, and I’m addicted to my air fryer! So glad I found this recipe. My husband is not really a fish fan, and he loved it, as did I. I will definitely be making it again, as soon as I find more catfish!

        Reply
        • Brendan Cunningham

          September 17, 2022 at 11:40 am

          Awesome!! We're so happy you like the recipe!

          Reply

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