AirFryer Cat Fish Recipe

Tender, crispy catfish have all the flavor without the guilt (and mess) of fried food!

Catfish isn’t a fish that’s used in a lot of kitchens, and I think that’s an outright crime. When prepared correctly, catfish is really one of my favorite fishes to eat! Made with ingredients like cayenne powder, paprika, and panko, this air fryer catfish is too good to ignore.

Air fryer catfish has the perfect combination of crunchy texture and bold flavors that have made it a staple dinner in my house.

What is catfish?

These days when you look up “what is catfish” you’re inundated with the definition of deceptive activity that targets victims especially on dating sites. If it needs clarification, we are not talking about that type of catfish here. We are talking about the actual fish here.

Why You’ll Love This

Crunchy and tender. The crunchy, air fried exterior is incredible to sink your teeth into! I also love how the air fryer cooks the fish to perfection – it’s juicy, tender, and not dried out at all.

Bold flavors. Ingredients like cayenne, paprika, and lemon, you can be sure this recipe has well-rounded flavor that you won’t be able to miss.

Perfect for seafood lovers and dabblers. If you like seafood, you’ll love this recipe. Honestly, even if you don’t love seafood you’ll love this recipe!

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 25 mins

Total Time: 45 mins

Servings: 4

INGREDIENTS FOR AirFryer Cat Fish Recipe:

24 ounces (680 g) catfish filets
1 cup (237 ml) milk
1 tablespoon lemon juice
⅓ cup (83 g) mustard
½ cup (30 g) panko
½ cup (80 g) yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon cayenne
½ teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon (4 g) fresh parsley
1 lemon cut in wedges

INSTRUCTIONS FOR AirFryer Cat Fish Recipe

Mix the milk and lemon juice and let sit for 1 minute. Pour into a flat container and add the catfish, turn to coat. Place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
In a bowl, combine the panko, cornmeal, seasoning salt, black pepper, cayenne, paprika and parsley. Place in a shallow, wide dish for dipping.
Remove the catfish from the milk and place on a plate. Brush mustard over one side of the catfish.
Place the fish, mustard side down in the panko. Brush the other side, then flip it over, pressing gently to help the panko adhere to the fish.
Place fish in the air fryer basket and repeat. Make sure not to overcrowd the basket.
Spray all the fish with oil or non stick cooking spray.
Place in the air fryer and set for 400 °F (204 °C) for 7 minutes. When time is finished, flip the fish and spray the fish with nonstick cooking spray. Return to the air fryer and cook for an additional 6 minutes.
Remove and serve with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.

Tips for Success

Air fryers make life easy and I’m here to make life easy too. Here are some tips and tricks to help you make the best air fryer catfish!
Lay it on thick. Make sure the breading is on relatively thick. I love a crispy crust on my fish and it really makes it seem like it’s deep fried breaded when it’s on a little thicker.
Don’t overcrowd the basket. You don’t want to overcrowd the air fryer basket with too many filets. The crust won’t crisp up and may be soggy. In addition, the fish won’t cook if they’re stacked on top of each other.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

In an airtight container in the fridge, this air fried catfish will stay fresh for about 3-4 days.

NUTRITIONAL INFO: