Lemon Pepper Air Fryer Catfish
Delight your taste buds with flaky, flavorful lemon pepper air fryer catfish. It’s an easy, healthy meal that’s packed with zesty goodness!
The Cooking Bride is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
This post is sponsored by The Catfish Institute. The opinions contained within are my own.
In the rush of trying to get a healthy meal on the dinner table in a short amount of time, I frequently feel like I get stuck in the chicken or beef rut. At least twice a month, I try to mix things up with a fish or seafood dish. A meal of U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish is always a crowd-pleaser in my family.
While it certainly is the most popular preparation, deep frying catfish isn’t the only option. Catfish is a flavorful fish that lends itself well to a variety of different seasonings. Here, I’ve kept things simple by limiting the ingredients list to only three items. Pop everything in the air fryer and you’ve got a healthy meal that’s cooked to perfection in a fraction of the time.
Is catfish healthy?
You bet it is! Catfish is high in protein, low in fat and calories, and loaded with amino acids that promote heart health. If you’re trying to get more vitamin B into your diet, one serving of catfish provides 40 % of your recommended daily allowance of vitamin B-12, which is essential for red blood cell formation and metabolism. It’s also low in mercury, making it safe for pregnant mothers.
What to look for when choosing catfish filets from the store
In recent years, the news media has brought to light some of the unsanitary conditions of overseas catfish farms. Believe it or not, fish imported from foreign countries aren’t held to the same strict quality standards as U.S.-based fisheries; therefore, there are no regulations monitoring the condition of the ponds the fish are raised, how the fish are transported and if the processing facilities are clean.
That just doesn’t sit well with me. That’s why I never purchase fresh catfish that doesn’t have the U.S. Farm Raised Catfish logo on the packaging. Several years ago, catfish farmers in the United States pushed for stricter monitoring regulations and guidelines within their industry. That little seal assures that the fish you are eating was raised in fresh, aquifer-fed ponds, is hormone free and is a safe, sustainable, and environmentally friendly seafood choice for your family.
Ingredients and tools you will need
As I said, this easy air fryer catfish recipe only requires three ingredients. It also takes 10 minutes to prepare. Quick and easy weeknight meal for the win! To make delicious air fryer catfish fillets, you will need:
- 4 U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish fillets
- Cooking spray
- 4 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning – you can pick up a bottle at your local grocery store or check out my post on how to make your own homemade lemon pepper seasoning.
- Air fryer
How to make lemon pepper air fryer catfish
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Blot the surface of the catfish with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Spray both sides of the catfish with the cooking spray.
- Season both sides of the fillets with the lemon pepper seasoning.
- Line the bottom of the preheated air fryer basket with parchment paper.
- Place the fillets in the air fryer on top of the parchment paper. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the fish in batches. Do not overcrowd the fryer basket.
- Bake the catfish at 400 degrees for 10 minutes until the fish is flaky. Catfish is considered safe to eat once it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
- Garnish the fillets with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice before serving.
Oven instructions
Don’t have an air fryer? No problem! This recipe can also be prepared in the oven.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Line a cookie sheet with foil. Spray the foil with cooking spray.
- Arrange the seasoned catfish filets in a single layer on the baking sheet.
- Bake the catfish for 10-15 minutes until the fish flakes easily with a fork.
- For a nice, golden brown crust, broil the tops of the catfish for 2-3 minutes.
Storage, freezing, and reheating instructions
Storage. Transfer any leftover catfish to an airtight container within two hours. Refrigerate and consume within four days.
Freezing. Prepare these fresh fish fillets ahead of time and keep them in the freezer for the perfect single-serving meal! I recommend freezing the fish unbaked. Line a baking sheet with foil. Season both sides of the fish as instructed in the recipe. Then put the entire pan in the freezer on a level surface. Freeze the catfish lying flat on the pan, then gently remove them from the foil and wrap them in a layer of plastic wrap or foil. This technique prevents the seasoning from sticking to the wrapping. Consume the catfish fillets within three months. Thaw before baking.
Reheating. Reheat already baked catfish fillets in the air fryer at 400 degrees for five minutes until heated through.
Frequently asked questions
Wild-caught catfish or catfish that has been raised overseas can have an undesirable, muddy, fishy flavor. If that’s the type of catfish you are working with, you may want to soak the catfish in milk for 30 minutes to one hour to neutralize the flavor. On the other hand, U.S. Farm-Raised catfish does not have this muddy flavor because of the farming techniques utilized in the fisheries. It has a clean, mild flavor just like any other white fish. You will not need to soak your fillets in milk.
Yes! Any mild fish can be substituted for the catfish.
I don’t recommend cooking the fish from frozen. It will cook unevenly and the extra moisture from being frozen can affect the texture.
Sure! You could use Cajun seasoning or Old Bay Seasoning. We love using this Blackened Seasoning recipe or try my All-Purpose Seasoning for a more general-purpose flavor.
Healthy side dishes to serve with air fryer catfish
More easy air fryer recipes
Lemon Pepper Air Fryer Catfish
Ingredients
- 4 U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish fillets
- Cooking spray
- 4 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
- Spray both sides of the catfish with the cooking spray.
- Season both sides of the fillets with the lemon pepper seasoning.
- Line the bottom of the preheated air fryer basket with parchment paper.
- Place the fillets in the air fryer on top of the parchment paper. If you have a smaller air fryer, you may need to cook the fish in batches. Do not overcrowd the fryer basket.
- Bake the catfish at 400 degrees for 10 minutes until the fish is flaky.
