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    The ULTIMATE Crispy Fried Grouper Recipe (Made In 20 Minutes)

    by Brendan Cunningham 8 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    These fried grouper fillets are packed with flavor. They're perfectly crispy on the outside and tender & flaky on the inside. And they're seasoned with just a touch of spice that is so, so addictive. Plus, the best part about this fried grouper recipe is that you need just a handful of basic ingredients and about 20 minutes to make it.

    Fried grouper fillets sliced in half and piled on top of each other. The fish is on a blue plate alongside a set of silverware and two lemon wedges. In the background are plates of more fried fish and lemons.

    Table of Contents

    • The Best Fried Grouper
      • Ingredients
        • Ingredient Add-Ons
      • How To Make Fried Grouper
        • Step 1: Prep Work
        • Step 2: Bread The Fish
        • Step 3: Heat The Oil
        • Step 4: Fry The Fish
      • How To Store Fried Grouper
        • How To Reheat Fried Grouper
      • FAQs About This Fried Grouper Recipe
        • What does grouper taste like?
        • How is grouper supposed to be cooked?
      • Wrapping It Up
    • More Seafood Recipes
    • The ULTIMATE Crispy Fried Grouper Recipe (Made In 20 Minutes)
      • Ingredients
      • Instructions
      • Nutrition
      • Did you make this recipe?

    The Best Fried Grouper

    When it comes to fried fish, it's hard to make something at home that's restaurant-quality. Well, that is until you try this easy fried grouper recipe!

    This recipe takes grouper fillets and coats them in the perfect balance of tangy buttermilk and hot sauce before being breaded and pan fried to golden brown deliciousness. The results are fish fillets that are so tender and juicy on the inside with an irresistibly crispy coating.

    Gah, it's just so good! Even the pickiest of eaters will dig this recipe, and I can say that from experience. My sister doesn't typically go for seafood, but I made this pan seared grouper last time I had her over for dinner, and she loved it!

    Anyway, in addition to tasting great, it also couldn't be easier to make. All you need to do is a little mixing, coating, and frying. That's seriously all there is to it!

    By the way, since this recipe comes together so fast, you'll have plenty of time to work on some tasty sides to go with it. I recommend pairing the pan seared grouper with these fried potatoes and onions or this old fashioned baked macaroni and cheese. They're always a winning combination at my house.

    Fried grouper fillets sliced in half and piled on top of each other. The fish is on a blue plate alongside a set of silverware and two lemon wedges. In the background are plates of more fried fish and lemons.

    Ingredients

    This recipe calls for pretty basic ingredients since it's really the grouper that shines.

    Besides the fish, all you need are a few common kitchen/pantry staples. In fact, you might even have all of the ingredients lying around at home!

    Anyway, here's what you'll need to make this pan fried grouper recipe: 

    • 1lb. grouper fillets
    • ¾ cup buttermilk
    • 1 tbsp hot sauce
    • 1 cup cornmeal
    • ⅓ cup all purpose flour
    • Salt and pepper, to taste
    • Oil, for frying

    Pretty simple stuff, eh?

    By the way, this fried grouper is delicious on its own, but it's even better dipped into this copycat McDonald's tartar sauce.

    An assortment of ingredients including a plate of raw grouper and bowls of cornmeal, flour, buttermilk, and spices.

    Ingredient Add-Ons

    While I recommend making this pan fried grouper with the ingredients listed above, there are definitely a few ways you can switch things up and make it your own. 

    There are a lot of flavors packed in this dish, but you can add additional seasonings and toppings to it if you want to. For the breading mix, you can add things like cajun seasoning or Old Bay seasoning to give it more of a kick.

    Then, to finish off the fish, you can add some fresh lemon juice, a sprinkle of kosher salt, or even a drizzle of lemon butter on top of it.

    A clear bowl with buttermilk and spices. There is a whisk in the bowl.

    How To Make Fried Grouper

    Now it's time for the fun part - it's time to make some fried grouper!

    As I mentioned before, it seriously could not be easier to make this fried grouper recipe. Even if you don't cook fish often, I guarantee you'll have no trouble making this recipe turn out like it came from a restaurant.

    Anyway, let's stop wasting time and get cooking.

    A clear bowl with a buttermilk and spice mixture and two grouper fillets soaking in the buttermilk mixture.

    Step 1: Prep Work

    First, you'll want to take the grouper out of the packaging and pat it dry with some paper towels.

    Then, if it's not already, you can cut the grouper into fillets or thin portions to make them easier to fry. Once they're cut, season both sides of the filets with some salt and pepper.

    A clear bowl with flour and cornmeal. There is a whisk in the bowl.

    Step 2: Bread The Fish

    Now you'll want to grab a large bowl - or baking dish - and combine the buttermilk and hot sauce in it. Then, once those are combined, you can add the fresh grouper to the buttermilk and hot sauce mixture. Make sure to coat it well on both sides.

    Next, in a separate bowl, you can combine the cornmeal and flour, and any other seasonings that you want to add. Once they're mixed together, you can transfer the buttermilk-soaked grouper fillets into the flour mixture - make sure that the grouper is fully coated with it on each side. 

    Clear bowl with a grouper fillet coated in a flour and spice mixture.

    Step 3: Heat The Oil

    Now, once you've coated all of your grouper fillets in the flour mixture, you'll want to heat at least 1 inch of oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven. I suggest starting at medium-high heat until the oil reaches 375°F, then scale it down to medium heat to fry the fillets.

    Oh, and if you don't have a thermometer to check the oil temperature, then you can carefully sprinkle a couple of drops of water into the pan. If it sizzles, then you're good to go.

    Grey skillet with a wooden handle and two fried grouper fillets frying in the skillet.

    Step 4: Fry The Fish

    As soon as your oil is hot, you can add the coated fish fillets to the skillet and fry them for a few minutes until they're crispy and golden brown. Then you'll want to transfer each fried fish fillet to a paper-towel-lined plate with a fish spatula.

    Finally, once all of your grouper is cooked, you can serve it warm. Enjoy!

    Fried grouper fillets sliced in half and piled on top of each other. The fish is on a blue plate alongside a set of silverware and two lemon wedges. In the background are plates of more fried fish and lemons.

    How To Store Fried Grouper

    This recipe for fried grouper makes about 4 servings so it's perfect for a small family dinner. However, if you want to make more, it's pretty easy to double or triple the recipe with little to no added prep time.

    Now, if you end up with any leftovers, you can just store your cooked fried fish in an airtight container, and it'll last for up to 3-4 days in the fridge. Just make sure that it cools completely before refrigerating it.

    Oh, and if you want your leftovers to last even longer, then you can freeze your fried grouper in an airtight container - or freezer bag - for up to 3 months.

    Fried grouper fillets sliced in half and piled on top of each other. The fish is on a blue plate alongside a set of silverware and two lemon wedges. In the background are plates of more fried fish and lemons.

    How To Reheat Fried Grouper

    When you're ready to enjoy your fried grouper again, you'll definitely want to reheat it first. To best reheat fried grouper, I suggest putting the leftovers in the oven or air fryer.

    If you're using the oven, transfer the leftover grouper to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and heat it at 350°F for 8-10 minutes or until it's fully reheated.

    Alternatively, if you want to use an air fryer to reheat your fried grouper, just cook it at 375°F for about 4-5 minutes - or until it's warmed through.

    Overhead view of two plates of fried grouper fillets, both of which have lemon wedges on the plate. A set of silverware is on one of the plates and a bowl of lemons is between the two plates of fish.

    FAQs About This Fried Grouper Recipe

    What does grouper taste like?

    Grouper is a mild tasting fish that really takes on the flavor of whatever you season it with. The grouper in this recipe is a little tangy from the buttermilk, spicy from the hot sauce, and has a slightly sweet flavor from the cornmeal to tie it all together.

    How is grouper supposed to be cooked?

    Grouper can be cooked in a number of different ways, but many people think pan frying grouper is the best way to cook it. By pan frying grouper, you're able to get a slightly crispy crust to the fish while still keeping the inside still juicy and flakey.

    Fried grouper fillets sliced in half and piled on top of each other. The fish is on a blue plate alongside a set of silverware and two lemon wedges. In the background are plates of more fried fish and lemons.

    Wrapping It Up

    Well, that's how to make fried grouper!

    This honestly might be one of my favorite seafood recipes I've come up with lately. It's just so simple to make, and I love how flavorful, tender, and crispy the grouper turns out. Like I said earlier, even if you don't normally like fish, I think you'll love this grouper recipe. 

    Anyway, I hope you enjoy this easy fried fish recipe as much as I/we do.

    As always, if you give it a try, be sure to leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts!

    More Seafood Recipes

    If you love fish, we have a ton of other delicious seafood recipes on the blog that are just as tasty as this one.

    Here are some of our most popular ones:

    • Sushi bake
    • Seafood casserole
    • Seafood rice
    • Fried tilapia
    • Blackened shrimp

    Oh, and make sure to check us out on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for even more recipes! We post new ones on them every day.

    Print

    The ULTIMATE Crispy Fried Grouper Recipe (Made In 20 Minutes)

    Fried grouper fillets sliced in half and piled on top of each other. The fish is on a blue plate alongside a set of silverware and two lemon wedges. In the background are plates of more fried fish and lemons.
    Print Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 7 reviews

    These fried grouper fillets are packed with flavor. They're perfectly crispy on the outside and tender & flaky on the inside. And they're seasoned with just a touch of spice that is so, so addictive. Plus, the best part about this fried grouper recipe is that you need just a handful of basic ingredients and about 20 minutes to make it.

    • Author: Brendan Cunningham
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings 1x
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: Seafood

    Ingredients

    Scale

    1lb. grouper fillets

    ¾ cup buttermilk

    1 tbsp hot sauce

    1 cup cornmeal

    ⅓ cup all purpose flour

    Salt and pepper, to taste

    Oil, for frying

    Instructions

    1. Pat the grouper dry and cut it into portions if it is not already cut.
    2. Season the grouper with salt and pepper.
    3. Combine buttermilk and hot sauce in a bowl or baking dish. Add the grouper to the buttermilk mixture and coat it well.
    4. In a separate bowl, combine cornmeal and flour. Coat the grouper fillets on both sides with the corn flour mixture.
    5. Heat at least 1 inch of the oil in a skillet or a Dutch oven to 375°F.
    6. Fry the fish for a few minutes until it is crispy and golden brown. Transfer the fish with a spatula onto a paper-lined plate.
    7. Serve the fried fish warm with desired sauce, salad, or veggies of choice.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 300
    • Fat: 3
    • Carbohydrates: 34
    • Protein: 33

    Keywords: fried grouper, fried grouper recipe, pan fried grouper recipe, pan fried grouper, best grouper recipe, easy grouper recipe, easy fried grouper recipe, best fried grouper recipe, how to cook grouper, best way to cook grouper, how to fry grouper, fried fish recipe, fried grouper fillets,

    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. Meggie McGee

      February 23, 2023 at 4:41 pm

      I've want to make a fish fry for a while and came across this recipe. I took it as a sign. Let me just say that this was better than I could have ever imagined! So happy I found this!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Juliet

      February 23, 2023 at 10:12 pm

      Loved how flakey and crispy this grouper recipe turned out.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Jimmy

      February 24, 2023 at 3:25 pm

      Turned out yummy AF

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Allison

      February 24, 2023 at 5:14 pm

      I tried a grouper recipe before and wasn't a fan. This one on the other hand was fantastic!! I will totally make it agin!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Brendan Cunningham

        February 25, 2023 at 9:13 am

        We're glad you liked it!!

        Reply
    5. Amy T.

      February 26, 2023 at 7:24 pm

      Best fish I've ever made at home.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Liam

      February 27, 2023 at 6:06 pm

      5 stars for sure.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    7. Paul Febby

      February 27, 2023 at 11:07 pm

      Man this rocked.

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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