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

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.

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.

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 tablespoon 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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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