10 Best Fish Fry Recipes

Garlic powder and paprika spice up this simple batter. The fish fries up light and crispy and beautifully golden brown. "This is a great beer batter fish recipe, and is very easy to do," says Linda Olar. "We often fish all day with friends, and then cook the fish afterwards out on deck. Yummy and great!"

Side dish recommendation: Chef John's French Fries

This version calls for Cajun spices, seasoned breadcrumbs, and roasted onion flakes to create a crispy, flavorful crust. Fresh tilapia fillets hold up great here but cod or halibut would be equally delicious. "This was an easy and tasty meal," says chickletL2. "Great for those frozen tilapia filets. I'll definitely be making it again."

Side dish recommendation: Creole Okra

Here's a classic New England-style fried fish. "This simple recipe works best with cod (scrod) and flounder," says Meghan Briggs. "The result is a fresh, buttery-tasting fillet. Goes so well with french fries or oven fries (chips)."

Side dish recommendation: Boston Baked Beans

A little beer, crushed cornflake crumbs, and Cajun seasonings are the surprising secrets to success with this simple batter. SANDRA DEE raves, "This is wonderful! Crispy, tasty, and just darn good! Don't need to change a thing."

Side dish recommendation: Sweet Restaurant Slaw

This super-simple batter combines a few basic ingredients you probably have on hand in the pantry. "In the early 1950's, I received this recipe on an open-line, talk-radio show," says MargeBC. "It makes the lightest, crispiest batter imaginable. This makes enough to coat approximately 2 pounds of fish." 

Side dish recommendation: Black Bean and Corn Salad

"Awesome breading," raves tysonyohe. "Stayed crispy for a long time but is not heavy at all."

Side dish recommendation: Southern Dill Potato Salad

"An exceptional dill flavored, beer batter for deep frying," says Karen David. "Fish options include cod, haddock, sea bass, and orange roughy. Suggestions for side dishes are french fries, hush puppies, and ginger coleslaw."

Side dish recommendation: Pickled Ginger Asian Pear Coleslaw

"Fried catfish is a Southern tradition, along with buttermilk hush puppies and buttermilk coleslaw," says Mama Smith. "Try these traditional foods together."

Side dish recommendation: Buttermilk Hush Puppies

Ready for a San Diego-style fish fry? Turn your beer-battered fried fish into tacos fixed up with shredded cabbage and fresh salsa. "Great recipe — the beer batter is delicious," raves nikkiskitchen. "We really enjoyed it with spicy salsa."

Side dish recommendation: Avocado Corn Salsa

Here's how they rock the fish fry up north! Big in Minnesota, it's also "an awesome Canadian delicacy!" says clarkie24. "This recipe is light and clean-tasting — there's no sense in masking the naturally delicious flavor of the walleye fillets." Bethany66 adds. "Crushed saltines create a great crunchy coating that stays on the fish much better than others."

Side dish recommendation: Easy Lemon and Garlic Broccoli