Baked Catfish In Air Fryer Recipes

GLUTEN FREE AIR FRYER CATFISH

Steps:

• Add buttermilk to a bowl and gently place the catfish fillets (or nuggets) into the milk. If you don't have buttermilk, it is easy to make by adding lemon juice to milk. Soak the fish for 30 minutes. This step is important to remove the fishy flavor from the catfish.
• Mix up the cornmeal seasoning mix in a large bag. Place the cornmeal fish breading and seasoning ingredients into a large bag and shake to mix it up. When the catfish is done soaking in buttermilk, hold the catfish over the bowl to allow the extra milk to run off.
• Place the catfish in the bag, one fillet at a time. Shake gently so the raw catfish fillet is coated in the catfish breading mixture. Preheat your air fryer to 375º F.
• Spray the bottom grill of the air fryer with a high heat oil like avocado or canola. (Do not use olive oil or another heat intolerant oil or your fish will turn out rancid.) Place a breaded catfish fillet in the air fryer. Make sure the fish isn't touching so the air can circulate around each piece of fish.
• Spray the top of the gluten free breaded catfish with more oil. This will help the crust get nice and crispy!
• Cook your catfish in the air fryer for 12-15 minutes. The actual cook time will vary depending on the size of your catfish fillets, and whether you use catfish nuggets or fillets. You will know the catfish is done cooking when it is crispy and the cornmeal breading is a golden color.
• Note, many will recommend flipping your catfish over partway through the cooking cycle. I find this difficult without the catfish falling apart in the air fryer. It is up to you if you want to try this. I did not flip it and my catfish was still crispy and delicious on both sides.
• Drizzle fresh lemon juice over the fish and enjoy!

SOUTHERN AIR FRYER CATFISH

Steps:

• Preheat your air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 400 degrees.
• In a dish, measure and mix your cornmeal, flour, cheese, garlic and onion powders, cayenne, paprika, salt and pepper.
• In a different dish, use a fork or a whisk to scramble up your egg and buttermilk.
• Pat each catfish fillet dry with a paper towel, then dip into the egg mixture, coating both sides letting the excess drip back into the dish. A thin coating is all you need to get the crust to stick.
• Press the catfish into the cornmeal mixture on both sides of fish, making sure to coat fully and evenly.
• Using your tongs, carefully set your fillets evenly on the air fryer basket surface. If you wish to give a light spray of olive oil for extra crispiness and to prevent sticking, do this now.
• Set your timer for 12 minutes, turning with your tongs halfway through the cooking time. At the halfway point, you can also remove from the basket to spray a small amount of lemon juice or oil to prevent it from drying out. Place back in the basket and cook the additional time.
• Remove from air fryer and check to be sure that your catfish is cooked all the way through.

AIR FRYER CATFISH NUGGETS

Steps:

• Preheat an air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place seasoned breading mix in a gallon-size plastic resealable bag. Drop catfish pieces inside, close, and shake to coat fish with breading on all sides.
• Spread out nuggets on a baking sheet and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Place nuggets in an even layer in the air fryer basket, sprayed side down. You may need to work in batches depending on the size of your air fryer. Spray the tops with non-stick cooking spray.
• Air fry for 8 minutes. Using tongs, flip nuggets over and cook for 4 minutes more.

AIR FRYER BLACKENED CATFISH FILLETS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Whisk melted butter, olive oil, and blackened seasoning together in a small bowl until it forms a paste. Brush paste on both sides of the catfish fillets.
• Place fillets in the basket of the air fryer and cook until fish is browned and flakes easily with a fork, about 15 minutes.