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Home 6 Ingredients or Less

Catfish Nuggets

★★★★★ 5 /5
Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe
Rachel Tiemeyer
By: Rachel TiemeyerPosted: 2/13/23Updated: 2/13/23

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This shallow pan-fried Catfish Nuggets recipe is super easy to follow and has layers of flavor. All ages love this fun way to eat fried catfish. Serve with our Easy Remoulade Sauce.

a catfish nugget being dipped in cajun remoulade sauce
Contents hide
Ingredients Needed
Video Tutorial
How to Make Catfish Nuggets
How to Make Fried Fillets Instead
How Long to Fry Catfish Nuggets
Can You Freeze Fried Fish?
What to Serve with Catfish Nuggets
Catfish Nuggets
Did you make this?

Believe it or not, these Fried Catfish Nuggets cost me just under $5 to put together and my whole family loved them. Let’s just say that catfish in mid-Missouri is not hard to come by. I don’t fry foods very often, so this shallow pan-fried version was a treat for my crew.

In fact, my son is quite the catfisherman (is that a term?). He loves to bring home his catch for me to fry. Read more about our family’s catfish adventures here.

teenager boy holding a catfish

Ingredients Needed

To give these catfish nuggets layers of flavor and a crispy texture, you’ll bread them by dredging in a flour mixture, egg mixture, and finally a cornmeal mixture before pan-frying in a high-heat oil.

ingredients for fried catfish

Here are the ingredients you’ll need on hand:

  • White whole wheat flour or unbleached all-purpose flour – To make this gluten-free, use 1:1 gluten-free baking flour (like Bob’s Red Mill brand).
  • Fine cornmeal
  • Salt and pepper
  • Old Bay Seasoning
  • Eggs
  • Avocado oil – I highly suggest using this kind of oil for frying, because it has a high smoke point and is healthier than vegetable oil. However, you can use peanut oil or vegetable oil as a substitute.
  • Catfish fillets – Remove any skin and dark, fatty tissue under the skin. Then, cut these into 1 1/2 inch, evenly-sized chunks. (see image below)
  • For serving: Lemon wedges and/or our Easy Remoulade Sauce
cut up catfish nuggets

Video Tutorial

If you haven’t fried catfish before, our 2-minute video will help you understand how this recipe works.

How to Make Catfish Nuggets

Take a peek at our step-by-step photos and overview before using my detailed recipe below.

Set Up Breading Station

Set a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet.

Then, set up your breading station:

  • Dish #1: Whisk together flour, cornmeal, salt, pepper, and Old Bay seasoning in a shallow dish.
  • Dish #2: Whisk together eggs, a little water, salt, and pepper.
  • Dish #3: Whisk together flour, salt, and pepper.
dredging stations for frying catfish fillets

Dredge the Catfish Fillets

Dry the catfish nuggets with a paper towel. Season lightly with salt and pepper on both sides. Dredge the catfish on both sides in the flour, then the eggs, and finally coat with the cornmeal mixture on both sides. Lay on the wire rack and finish dredging all the fillets.

catfish nuggets that have been dredged

Pan-Fry the Nuggets in Batches

In a large, heavy-bottomed Dutch oven or cast iron skillet, add just enough oil to cover the bottom in a thin layer. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until shimmering.

Important: The oil is ready when you drop some of the cornmeal mix in and it sizzles right away. The oil should not smoke, but it will come close. Adjust the heat as necessary.

hot oil in a cast iron skillet

Using tongs and working in batches, carefully place catfish fillets in the bottom, making sure they do not touch. Pan fry for about 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Fish is done when it flakes easily with a fork and is no longer translucent in the middle.

Set on a plate or pan that is lined with paper towels. Add more oil and adjust the heat in between batches as needed.

Serve

Serve immediately with a squeeze of lemon and Cajun Remoulade Sauce.

fried catfish nuggets on a platter with lemons and remoulade sauce

Tip: To keep catfish warm in between batches, put it on a sheet pan in a 200°F oven.

fried catfish on a wire rack

How to Make Fried Fillets Instead

If you’re wanting to serve up some fried catfish fillets, use our Fried Catfish recipe.

Fried Catfish Fillets Recipe

How Long to Fry Catfish Nuggets

Since the catfish fillets are cut into smaller pieces, nuggets only take 2-3 minutes on each side to cook through when shallow pan frying them. Fish is done when it’s no longer translucent inside and flakes easily with a fork.

Can You Freeze Fried Fish?

No, and yes. As a freezer cooking expert (we’ve published two cookbooks and have been featured in People magazine, on Hallmark Channel, and more), I can safely say you cannot freeze fried catfish. It will get mushy and gross when thawing.

However, like our Parmesan Crusted Tilapia recipe, you CAN bread these fillets, flash freeze them (set on a sheet pan and freeze until solid), and store in a freezer bag. Then, thaw them in the refrigerator on a baking rack set over a sheet pan (cover the fillets with plastic wrap). Fry according to the recipe.

What to Serve with Catfish Nuggets

Here are some side dishes that would be delish with fried catfish nuggets.

The BEST Boiled Baby Potatoes

Oven Roasted Asparagus

How to Cook Corn on the Cob in the Microwave

whole wheat mac and cheese in the instant pot

6-Ingredient Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

chopped cucumber, red onion, tomatoes, basil, garlic and crumbled feta in a white bowl

Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad

Roasted Vegetables

Summer Strawberry Salad

5-Ingredient Coleslaw

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

a catfish nugget being dipped in cajun remoulade sauce
★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews

Catfish Nuggets

This Catfish Nuggets recipe is super easy to follow and has layers of flavor. All ages love this fun way to eat fried catfish. 

Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Prep: 15 minutesCook: 15 minutesTotal: 30 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup white whole wheat flour or unbleached all-purpose flour, divided
  • 1/2 cup fine cornmeal
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning (or more to your preference)
  • 2 large eggs
  • Avocado oil (sub: peanut oil or vegetable oil)
  • 1 1/2 pounds catfish fillets, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces (skin and dark fatty tissue under the skin removed)
  • For serving: lemon wedges and/or our Remoulade Sauce

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

  1. Set a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet.
  2. Place 1/2 cup flour and the cornmeal in a shallow dish. Add 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, and the Old Bay Seasoning. Whisk until combined.
  3. In a second shallow bowl, whisk the eggs with a splash of water. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  4. In a third dish, add the other 1/2 cup of flour. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  5. Dry the 1 1/2 inch catfish pieces with a paper towel. Season lightly with salt and pepper on both sides. Dredge the catfish on both sides in the flour, then the eggs, and finally coat with the cornmeal mixture on both sides. Lay on the wire rack and finish dredging all the fillets.
  6. In a large, heavy-bottomed Dutch oven or cast iron skillet, add just enough oil to cover the bottom in a thin layer. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Important: The oil is ready when you drop some of the cornmeal mix in and it sizzles right away. The oil should not smoke, but it will come close. Adjust the heat as necessary.
  7. Using tongs and working in batches, carefully place catfish nuggets in the bottom, making sure they do not touch. Pan fry for about 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. (Note: Fish is done when it flakes easily with a fork and is no longer translucent in the middle.) Set the fried nuggets on a plate or pan that’s lined with paper towels. Add more oil and adjust the heat in between batches as needed.
  8. Serve immediately with a squeeze of lemon and Cajun Remoulade Sauce. Tip: To keep catfish warm in between batches, put it on a sheet pan in a 200°F oven.

Equipment

dutch oven

Dutch Oven

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Silicone Tip Tongs

Tongs

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Cast Iron Skillet

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avocado oil

Avocado Oil

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Notes/Tips

Make Catfish Fillets: Use our Fried Catfish recipe instead.

Gluten-Free Version: Use 1:1 gluten-free baking flour in place of wheat flour.

© Author: Rachel Tiemeyer
Cuisine: American Method: Stove Top

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Recipe by: Rachel Tiemeyer

Photos and Video by: Whitney Reist

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Rachel Tiemeyer

Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!

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Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

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  1. LillyLilly says

    Posted on 2/27/23 at 7:55 am

    Love that this recipe is healthier than others!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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