Jul 14 2026

Catfish Tenders Recipe

Time30m
Serves4

Cornmeal-Crusted, Flash-Fried

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Ingredients

Method

Directions

  1. 1

    Prepare the Catfish

    Rinse the catfish fillets under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels.

  2. 2

    Cut the fillets into strips about 1 inch wide to create tenders.

  3. 3

    Set Up Breading Station

    In a shallow bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and eggs until well combined.

  4. 4

    In another shallow bowl, combine cornmeal, all-purpose flour, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.

  5. 5

    Bread the Catfish

    Dip each catfish strip into the buttermilk mixture, allowing excess to drip off.

  6. 6

    Then dredge it in the cornmeal mixture, pressing lightly to adhere the coating.

  7. 7

    Fry the Catfish

    In a large, heavy skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C).

  8. 8

    Carefully add the breaded catfish tenders to the hot oil in batches, making sure not to overcrowd the skillet.

  9. 9

    Fry for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy.

  10. 10

    Drain and Serve

    Use a slotted spoon to remove the tenders from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.

  11. 11

    Serve hot with lemon wedges on the side.

More from Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill