Grilled Catfish

When summer rolls around it’s time to throw seafood on the grill. For those who’ve only had fried catfish, you’re in for a treat—grilled catfish is absolutely delicious. The trick is to coat the catfish in a tasty spice rub before pan-frying it to perfection in a cast-iron skillet. Serve the fish with lemon wedges and fresh parsley (and even homemade tartar sauce if you really want to kick things up a notch) and you’ve got one scrumptious summer meal. If you want to learn how to grill catfish, keep reading.

Ingredients for Grilled Catfish

• All-purpose flour: Don’t overdo it on the flour or the crust will turn out soggy; shake off any excess flour before grilling the fish.
• Cornmeal: Cornmeal creates the fish’s light and crispy crust when grilled.
• Seasonings: We use a blend of onion powder, dried basil, garlic salt, dried thyme, white pepper, cayenne pepper and pepper to season this fish; feel free to swap something out if you’re working with what you have on hand.
• Catfish fillets: Pat it completely dry with paper towels before cooking it to prevent the fish from having a mushy texture whether you’re using fresh or frozen catfish
• Butter: Brown the butter a bit in the skillet before adding the fish to give it a nutty, rich flavor.
• (Optional) Lemon wedges and fresh parsley: Though technically optional, lemon and parsley brighten the flavors in this dish.

Directions

Step 1: Combine the ingredients

In a large shallow dish, combine the first nine ingredients. Add the catfish one fillet at a time and turn to coat.

Step 2: Prepare the skillet

Place a large cast-iron skillet on a grill rack over medium-high heat. Melt the butter in the skillet.

Step 3: Grill the fish

Add catfish in batches (if necessary). Grill, covered, until the fish begins to flake easily with a fork, for about five to ten minutes on each side. If desired, serve with lemon wedges and parsley.

Grilled Catfish Recipe Variations

• Spice it up: Add a bit more cayenne than what the recipe calls for, along with a dash of paprika if you like spice.
• Serve with homemade tartar sauce: The creaminess and tanginess of tartar sauce pair wonderfully with grilled catfish.
• Top it with mango avocado salsa: Sweet and fresh mango avocado salsa would really elevate this fish.

How to Store Grilled Catfish

Use airtight containers to store this fish in the fridge. When reheating in the microwave, place the fish in a dish with a little water in the bottom to prevent it from drying out. We also like adding a bit of butter on top of the fish before microwaving for extra flavor.

How long does grilled catfish last?

Leftover grilled catfish should be consumed within three to four days.

Grilled Catfish Recipe Tips

Can I marinate the catfish overnight?

You could marinate the fish in the spice blend overnight but shouldn’t coat it in the flour and cornmeal overnight; this will make the fish soggy.

Can I bake this catfish in the oven?

Aside from grilling catfish, baking it in the oven is a great way to prepare it. You can expect it to stay intact more easily than other types of fish because it’s a firmer fish. We’d recommend checking out our baked herb catfish or our zesty baked catfish.

What should I serve with grilled catfish?

You definitely can’t go wrong with rice pilaf, roasted broccoli and a nice Riesling.