Air Fryer Catfish

4.67 from 3 votes

This Air Fryer Catfish recipe is made by coating catfish fillets with eggs and fish fry mix, then air frying until crispy. Serve hot with lemon wedges and optional sauces.

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Total Time30

Servings:

Calories: 351kcal

Author: Karin and Ken

Ingredients

2 catfish fillets rinsed
2 large eggs
½ cup Louisiana fish fry mix
1 tablespoon olive oil or olive oil spray
½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning optional
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Lemon wedges for serving

Instructions

Prepare Your Catfish: Pat your catfish fillets dry with paper towels. This helps to remove any excess moisture, which can make your fish soggy instead of crispy.
Set Up Your Coating Station: Crack the eggs into a shallow bowl and beat them well. In another shallow dish, pour in the Louisiana fish fry mix. If you like a bit of spice, you can add the Cajun seasoning to the mix.
Coat the Catfish: Dip each catfish fillet into the beaten eggs, making sure that they're completely covered, and then transfer the fillets to the bowl with the fish fry mix. Coat them evenly, pressing gently so the mix sticks to the fish.
Preheat Your Air Fryer: Turn on your air fryer and preheat it to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes.
Prepare the Air Fryer Basket: Lightly brush or spray the air fryer basket with olive oil. This will prevent the fish from sticking to the basket during cooking.
Cook the Catfish: Carefully place the coated catfish fillets into the air fryer basket making sure they're in a single layer and not overlapping. Drizzle a little olive oil over the top of each of the fillets. This will help them get that crispy crust.
Cook the catfish in the air fryer at 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes and then, flip them over and cook them for another 5 minutes, or until they're golden brown and crispy.
Serve and Enjoy: Once the air fryer catfish fillets are cooked through and crispy, remove them from the air fryer. Squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the fillets for a burst of flavor and serve your delicious air fryer catfish hot, with hot sauce, remoulade sauce, homemade tartar sauce, air fryer hush puppies and lemon wedges on the side for an extra hot and tangy kick.

Notes

Pat the Catfish Dry: Before coating the catfish fillets, make sure to pat them dry with paper towels. Removing excess moisture will help the coating stick better and ensure a crispy exterior.

Even Coating: When dipping the catfish fillets in the egg and fish fry mix, make sure they are evenly coated on all sides for consistent browning and flavor.

Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheating the air fryer helps create a crispier exterior on the catfish. It also ensures that they are evenly cooked.

Don't Overcrowd the Basket: Make sure the catfish fillets are arranged in a single layer in the air fryer basket, with some space between each fillet. This will allow for proper air circulation and ensure they cook evenly.

Flip Midway Through Cooking: Flipping the catfish fillets halfway through the cooking process ensures that both sides are evenly browned and crispy.

Serve Immediately: For the best texture and flavor, serve the air fryer Cajun catfish immediately after cooking. This will ensure that it remains crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

Nutrition