Name: Battered Fried Fish
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3-4 pounds firm white fish; 2 cups all purpose flour; 1 tablespoon sugar; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/4 teaspoon onion powder; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 2 teaspoons salt; 2 large eggs; 2 cups milk; 2-3 quarts oil for frying ((such as canola, vegetable, or peanut)); Lemon wedges and tartar sauce for serving (optional)

This is the bestFish Batter Recipefor making battered fried fish! It’s quick and delicious and is the perfect fried fish recipe when making fish and chips.

A basket of crispy golden fried fish fillets, made with a classic fish batter recipe, served with lemon wedges and a small bowl of tartar sauce, placed on a striped cloth.

Fried fish is a crowd-pleaser for any season.It is great for busy evenings or when you need something substantial but quick. You willlovehow simple it is to fry up some delicious fish.

Fromsimple fish tacostoperfect grilled fish fillets, fish for a quick and delicious dinner is always a great choice. This battered fish is so crispy and everyone loves the flavor. It’s also super simple to make and needs to find its way to your dinner table soon!

crispy golden deep fried and beer batter fish on a baking dish.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easy Recipe:All of the ingredients are pantry staples so it is easy to throw together any time.
Use Your Fave Fish:It works well with any firm white fish.
Lots of Side Choices:It goes well with so many side dishes. I especially love to serve this dish with somecreamy coleslawandperfect oven fries.

Recipe Ingredients

Firm white fish:Pick your favorite, fresh or frozen!
Flour
Baking powder
Spices:Smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt
Eggs
Milk: You can use beer instead if you’d like.
Oil for frying:Use a light oil suitable for high temps, like lard, vegetable, canola, or peanut.

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

top view - crispy golden deep fried and beer battered fish with tartar sauce and lemons.

How to Make Batter Fried Fish

raw fish fillet drying on a baking sheet with a paper towel.

Step 1:Prepare your fish — make sure it’s fully thawed and pat it dry to help the batter stick.

pourable mixing bowl with a wooden handled spatula mixing beer batter.

Step 2:Make your batter — mix the flour, egg, milk, and spices together.

Step 3:Heat the oil to 375°. Dip the dry fish into the batter and fry until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes on each side.

crispy deep fried and beer battered fish and hush puppies with tartan and lemons and coleslaw.

Step 4:Drain the fish on a paper towel-lined pan, keeping warm while finishing other batches of fish.

Recipe FAQs

What fish is best fried?

You want to fry a fish that is firm and holds up well. I have found success in frying tilapia, cod, haddock, and bass. I’ve also fried catfish with this recipe, though I usually like it better in a cornmeal batter.

What is the best oil to pan fry fish in?

Canola oil is a great oil for frying fish because it has a very neutral flavor. You can also use lard, shortening, vegetable oil, peanut oil, or corn oil for this recipe. Be sure you have an ample amount of oil in the pan that covers the bottom completely, or you will risk the fish sticking to the pan.

How long will fried fish last in the refrigerator?

Fried fish will last in the fridge for 3-4 days when properly stored in an airtight container.

How do you reheat fried fish?

If you have an air fryer, I recommend reheating it in there for about 6 minutes at 375 degrees. You can also heat them in an oven of the same temperature for about 15 minutes.

How much fried fish do I need per person?

Of course, this all depends on if you are feeding adults or children and appetite sizes but generally plan on 1/2 pound to 1 pound of fish per person. If you are serving a lot of sides, you can do less.

How to know when fried fish is done?

You will know when the fish is done because it will not be translucent anymore and will flake easily with a fork. If you have a meat thermometer, fish needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees to be fully cooked.

Expert Tips

Best Fish For Frying:The type of fish matters when you are frying it. I have had the best results when I use a firm white fish. Something like tilapia, cod, bass or haddock works the best.
Making Batter Stick:Batter sticks best to dry fish fillets.Make sure you lightly pat each fillet down with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture.
Preheat Oil:Make sure you preheat your oil before adding any fish. (You want it to be between 350°F and 375°F.) If you add the fish before the oil is hot enough it will too greasy. Also, don’t crowd the pot for the same reason; cook in batches if needed, keeping the cooked fish on a rack on a rimmed baking sheet in a warm oven until ready to serve.

Should I Use a Deep Fryer for Fish?

You don’t have to use a deep fryer for this recipe, but theT-fal 3.5-liter deep fryeris a great choice if you do.

It has a super handy oil filtration system that ensures your oil is always clean and easy to clean up and has a temperature range of 350 to 375 degrees F (this recipe calls for the latter!).

I also like that there’s a locking lid (no splatters here!), viewing window, automatic shut-off, and cool-touch handles, all of which ensure you’re easily able to fry up your fish.