Follow this quick and easy recipe for fresh Baked Catfish fillets topped with herbs, butter, and lemon. A perfect weeknight dinner that the whole family will love, ready in under 30 minutes!
Here in the South, one thing we love is fresh catfish! And while my first instinct may be to fry it, baking catfish is really just as delicious.
I’m just going to say this: I love fried food. There. I’ve said it and I meant it, too. There’s just not much better in this world to me than a perfectly cooked piece of fried chicken. Or country fried steak. Or catfish. I could go on and on.
That having been said, I also know that deep frying isn’t the most healthful way to cook. Which really stinks because it tastes so good!
I realize that part of my love of fried food is cultural. When I was growing up, an everyday meal consisted of some kind of meat, more often than not fried, accompanied by two or three vegetables and bread. The proverbial “meat and three” that you see so often referenced these days.
My daddy loved (believe it or not!) a fried t-bone steak. Mama would salt and pepper a t-bone, dredge it in flour, and ease it down into hot oil in a black iron skillet to cook.
It came out golden brown and slightly crispy on the outside and juicy and moist on the inside. Hmmm…I hadn’t thought of that in years until I started writing this.
InstructionsHeat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. … Season both sides of the catfish with the salt, pepper, and thyme. … Let them cook for 2-3 minutes on the first side, then use a large spatula to flip.Squeeze the juice from half a lemon onto the fish as it cooks on the second side.
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Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. …
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Season both sides of the catfish with the salt, pepper, and thyme. …
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Let them cook for 2-3 minutes on the first side, then use a large spatula to flip.
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Squeeze the juice from half a lemon onto the fish as it cooks on the second side.
Questions? I’m happy to help!
If you have more questions about the recipe, or if you’ve made it and would like to leave a comment, scroll down to leave your thoughts, questions, and/or rating!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
❓ Questions About Baked Catfish
Sure! If using frozen fillets, let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator, pat dry, and then proceed with the recipe.
Catfish is done when it’s opaque and easily flakes when tested with a fork. If it doesn’t flake easily then it needs a little more time.
I haven’t tested this recipe in an air fryer, but I feel pretty sure it would work. However, I don’t have cooking times or temperature for that method.
Many people do soak catfish in milk or buttermilk before cooking it to remove any strong “fishy” taste. I think it depends on how fishy it smells. Farm raised catfish (which is what you’ll get from your local grocery store) tends to have far less fish odor than wild caught. It’s up to you whether or not to do that extra step.
Southern Fried Catfish: How to cook this delicious fish
FAQ
What do you soak catfish in before cooking?
How do you cook raw catfish?
What is the preparation for a catfish?
How to cook catfish?
If you want to know how to cook catfish in a variety of ways, just follow these steps. Prepare the catfish. To get the catfish ready to frying, you should first rinse 4 (8-oz.) catfish fillets under cool water and then pat them dry with paper towels until the extra moisture is absorbed.
How can I prepare fish for kids?
This is really dependent on the personal preference of your children. Some children will eat fish the same way adults do for others you may need to make this more interesting by creating things like homemade fishcakes, fish burger patties, fish balls or by adding this to toast or even pasta. Involving your children in the preparation and cooking process can also encourage them to consume the fish.
How do you cook catfish fillets in milk?
Place the catfish fillets into the milk and then coat them in the cornmeal mixture. The milk will help them absorb the cornmeal mixture. When you’re done coating them, shake them to remove any excess mixture. Heat 3 tbsp. of butter in a large skillet. Place the skillet over high heat. Fry both sides of two fillets for 3 minutes each.
How long does it take to cook catfish fillets?
Quick and easy recipe for fresh Baked Catfish fillets topped with herbs, butter, and lemon. A great weeknight dinner that’s ready in under 30 minutes! Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the parsley, salt, paprika, thyme, oregano, basil and pepper in a small bowl.