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Soul Food Fried Catfish

Catfish fillets coated in seasoned cornmeal and fried until crisp and golden, a soul food Friday-night favorite.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 10 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Soul food fried catfish

Catfish fillets coated in seasoned cornmeal and fried until crisp and golden, a soul food Friday-night favorite.

Friday nights, golden and crisp

Catfish in a well-seasoned cornmeal crust, fried in hot oil until crackly — the fish fry that built Friday traditions.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Soak the catfish in the buttermilk with 1 teaspoon of salt for 30 minutes.
  2. Mix the cornmeal, flour, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, and pepper in a shallow dish.
  3. Drain the fillets and dredge in the cornmeal mixture, pressing to coat.
  4. Heat 1/2 inch of oil to 350°F in a heavy skillet.
  5. Fry the fillets 3-4 minutes per side until deep golden and crisp. Drain, season with a pinch of salt, and serve with hot sauce and lemon.

💡 Chef tips & storage

The buttermilk soak keeps the fish moist and helps the crust stick. Don't crowd the skillet — crisp crust needs room.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook10 min
Servings4
CategoryDinner
PublishedAugust 16, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →