19 Fried Fish Recipes to Make When You Want Something Crispy and Delicious
We’re going beyond fish and chips.
Caitlin Bensel
Nearly every culture has its own version of fried fish, be it fish and chips, fish sticks, or a platter of fritto misto. And on nights when you just can’t eat one more chicken breast or slice of pizza, fried fish may very well be the answer to your dinnertime dilemma. For starters, several different types of fish do well when fried, including cod, sole, and tilapia, not to mention other seafood varieties like shrimp, clams, and squid. Plus, when frying fish you can experiment with the breading as well, using standard flour, cornmeal, or even a gluten free option like almond flour.
Ready to fry up some tender, crispy fish? Keep reading for our roundup of stellar fried fish recipes!
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Sheet Pan Fish and Chips
When you think of fried fish, this British pub staple is probably one of the first meals that comes to mind. This version is made almost entirely on one sheet pan, which means it’s ready in under an hour and leaves you with little to clean up once the meal is over.
Gluten-Free Crispy Fish Fillets
For people who can’t have gluten, fried fish may seem like a meal they’d have to skip. However, this recipe uses almond flour and chili powder to make the flavorful crust, which means anyone with a gluten intolerance can still dig in. Serve the fish with a vegetable side for a complete meal, or use the crispy fillets in a fish sandwich.
Fish Stick Tacos
For an easy fried fish dinner that’ll delight the whole family, give these fish stick tacos a whirl. You’ll use premade frozen fish sticks and pair them with a homemade cabbage slaw and a dollop of rich sour cream. Make sure you warm the tortillas before assembling the tacos for the best results.
Baja Shrimp Tacos With Creamy Slaw
Fried shrimp always hits the spot, especially when they are nestled in a taco alongside a tangy cabbage slaw topping, hot sauce, sliced scallions, and a squirt of zesty lime juice. When making the batter for the shrimp, don’t forget to add the seltzer and use a combination of flour and cornstarch. This helps ensure that the shrimp will be light and crispy.
Oven-Baked Fish Sticks
Channel your inner child (or delight your own little ones) with this nostalgic meal. Here, skinless tilapia fillets are bathed in a combination of panko bread crumbs, seafood seasoning, olive oil, and salt. These fish sticks are technically baked in the oven, but you can fry ‘em if you want to. Serve alongside store-bought coleslaw and enjoy.
Pan Fried Lemon Sole
Don’t have a deep fryer? Take a cue from this recipe and pan-fry your fish instead. For this dish, delicate sole fillets are breaded and cooked in a tangy caper-butter sauce. For a balanced meal, serve with roasted potatoes and a simple green salad.
Fried Mixed Seafood
Vicky Wasik
You’ll find this classic fried fish dish on many restaurant menus, and it’s surprisingly easy to make at home. Here, a blend of flour, cornstarch, and baking powder coats all of the fish without masking its delicious flavor or unmistakable texture. For the best results, fry each type of seafood separately to ensure that everything cooks quickly and evenly.
Air-Fried Crispy Fish Po' Boys with Chipotle Slaw
These New Orleans-inspired famous 'po-boy' sandwiches are ideal for an easy lunch or dinner, seeing as they take only 30 minutes to make. Here, crispy air-fried white fish is topped with chipotle coleslaw and served on toasted hoagie rolls. When buying fish to use in this recipe, opt for cod, flounder, or tilapia.
Related: Everything You Need To Know About Tinned Fish
Fried Fish Sandwich With Tartar Sauce and Hand-Cut Chips
The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi
This meal has three components to it, but still comes together in 30 minutes. The fish is coated in a tempura-like batter, fried until crisp, and served on a toasted bun with homemade tartar sauce and a side of hand-cut potato chips. We love to whip this up during the summer, but it’s delicious all year round.
Fried-Fish Subs with Chili Sauce and Herbs
If you’re a fan of Thai food, you’re probably going to dig these fried fish sandwiches that are inspired by the flavors of Thailand. Fried shallots add crunch, while Thai chili sauce, a shower of fresh herbs, and a squeeze of zesty lime juice bring plenty of flavor.
Shrimp Cakes
For a twist on crab cakes that still satisfies a craving for fried seafood, try shrimp cakes instead. In this recipe, chopped shrimp and sweet potatoes are mixed with garlic and other spices to form hearty, tasty patties that take just ten minutes to cook. Serve with tartar sauce and coleslaw, and dig in!
Persian Fried Fish with Saffron and Turmeric
Allrecipes Magazine
AllrecipesThis Persian fish recipe gets its flavor from an array of colorful spices, including ground saffron, turmeric, and paprika, all of which help coat the fish along with plenty of flour. To complete the meal, serve it with sabzi polo—a savory Persian rice dish.
Thai Fried Fish with Spicy Chile Sauce
Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christine Keely
This Thai fried fish, also called Pla Pad Cha, is made with fried snapper fillets that are served over rice. The robust flavor comes from several ingredients, such as red and green Thai chiles, white peppercorns, brined green peppercorns, and oyster sauce. Just make sure you handle the fish carefully as it fries so the pieces will stay intact.
Easy Cornmeal Fried Shrimp
The Spruce
Believe it or not, this popular appetizer comes together in just 30 minutes. The secret here is soaking the shrimp in egg and milk prior to coating it in a combination of cornmeal and flour. The result is light yet crispy fried shrimp you’ll want to make again and again. For an even bolder flavor, add a teaspoon of Creole or Cajun seasoning to the flour mixture prior to dredging the shrimp.
Classic Fried Whitebait
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
Also known as fried tiny fish, this British dish is a popular snack across the pond. Here, blue anchovies are dusted in flour and fried until golden brown and crispy. Since the fish are so small, they cook quickly and don’t even need to be deboned before you fry ‘em. A dipping sauce is a must here, such as an aioli or classic tartar sauce.
Bengali-Style Fried Fish in Onion and Tomato Curry
Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik
Also known as fish bhuna—a type of South Asian curry that’s thick and paste-like—this dish certainly doesn’t skimp on flavor. It’s made with Kashmiri red chili powder, tomato, and vinegar, and additional ingredients such as ginger, cumin, and turmeric also add flavor. As is the case with many curries, this one is also served with rice.
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Air-Fried Crumbed Fish
Not a fan of making fish in the oven or on the stove and stinking up the whole house? Use your air fryer instead. Here, flounder fillets are coated in egg and breadcrumbs and cooked for just 12 minutes—about the same amount of time it takes to set the table and pour a glass of wine.
Moroccan Fried Whiting Fish
The Spruce / Katarina Zunic
For this Moroccan recipe we suggest using hake or whiting. Both fishes have a mild flavor and texture, with bones that are easy to remove. You’ll start by seasoning the fish with a Moroccan spice blend made with ingredients such as ground cardamom and allspice, and then you’ll coat the fish in flour and start frying. Serve with lemon slices on the side if you want a pop of acidic flavor.
Potato-Crusted Arctic Char
Coat this arctic char in fried hash browns for a crusty coating. The potato gives the otherwise buttery fillet a crunch. Pair it with green beans and Greek yogurt, and sprinkle the dish in fresh chives for a full flavor profile.
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