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Crispy 3-Ingredient Air Fryer Catfish Recipe

Crispy Air Fryer Catfish


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4.8 from 15 reviews

  • Total Time: 32-33 minutes
  • Yield: 5 1x

Description

Southern kitchens come alive with this simple air fryer 3 ingredient fried catfish recipe, celebrating crisp, golden fillets. Home cooks can easily create restaurant-quality seafood without complicated steps or extensive preparation.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 catfish fillets
  • ¼ cup (60 ml/2 fl oz) Louisiana fish fry coating
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml/0.5 fl oz) olive oil
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml/0.5 fl oz) chopped parsley (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Meticulously dry catfish fillets using paper towels, eliminating excess moisture to create an optimal seasoning surface and ensure uniform cooking.
  2. Seasoning: Lavishly coat both sides of fillets with Louisiana Fish Fry Coating, thoroughly massaging the seasoning to maximize flavor intensity and coverage.
  3. Oiling: Delicately mist olive oil across seasoned fillets to promote a golden, crispy exterior and elevate textural complexity.
  4. Air Frying Setup: Carefully position fillets in a single layer within the air fryer basket, maintaining strategic spacing to facilitate optimal hot air circulation and prevent unwanted steaming.
  5. Cooking Process: Set air fryer to 400°F and cook for 10 minutes, allowing the coating to develop a robust, crunchy exterior. Midway through, rotate fillets to ensure even browning and complete cooking on all surfaces.
  6. Finishing Touch: Execute a final 2-3 minute crisp cycle, vigilantly monitoring to achieve a deep golden-brown crust without risking overcooking or burning.
  7. Serving: Transfer crisp catfish to serving plates, garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant aromatic accent, and serve immediately to preserve maximum crunchiness and flavor intensity.

Notes

  • Blot Fillets Dry: Remove excess moisture completely to help seasoning adhere and create a crispy exterior.
  • Massage Seasoning Thoroughly: Ensure full flavor coverage by working coating into every inch of the catfish fillets.
  • Maintain Proper Air Fryer Spacing: Keep fillets separated to allow hot air circulation and prevent steaming for optimal crispiness.
  • Watch Final Cooking Closely: Monitor last 2-3 minutes carefully to achieve golden-brown crust without burning the delicate fish.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 22-23 minutes
  • Category: Dinner, Lunch
  • Method: Frying
  • Cuisine: Southern American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 5
  • Calories: 210
  • Sugar: 0 g
  • Sodium: 780 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 12 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 20 g
  • Cholesterol: 60 mg