How To Make Catfish Nuggets In An Air Fryer

Making juicy, crispy catfish nuggets in an air fryer is super easy and delicious. Not only can you avoid the extra oils used when frying, but air fried catfish nuggets have all the flavor and crispiness of deep fried nuggets – without the guilt!

There are TWO types of people, and catfish nuggets, the ones you make by hand and the frozen ones – we will run through both. First of all

Fresh Catfish Nuggets

Ingredients

• 1 pound catfish fillets, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• Cooking spray or oil

Directions

1. Place the catfish cubes in a shallow bowl and cover with the buttermilk. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. This helps tenderize the fish.
2. In a separate shallow bowl, mix together the cornmeal, flour, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper.
3. Remove catfish from buttermilk one piece at a time, letting excess drip off. Dredge in the cornmeal mixture, pressing to coat on all sides. Place on a baking sheet or plate.
4. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or brush lightly with oil. Place catfish nuggets in a single layer, without overcrowding.
5. Air fry at 400°F for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
6. Serve immediately with your choice of dipping sauces like tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, ranch or honey mustard. Enjoy!

Tips

• Foradded crunch, dredge coated nuggets in some panko breadcrumbs.
• Swap the Cajun seasoning for lemon pepper, garlic herb or italian seasoning blends.
• These catfish nuggets reheat well, so make extras! Refrigerate in an airtight container for snackingwithin 3-4 days.

Frozen Catfigh Nuggets

Ingredients

• 1 pound frozen catfish nuggets or fillets
• Cooking spray or oil
• Seasonings of choice (Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, etc.)

Directions

1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
2. Cut any large frozen catfish fillets into bite-sized nugget pieces if needed.
3. Spray the air fryer basket lightly with cooking spray or brush with oil.
4. Place the frozen catfish nuggets in the air fryer basket in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd.
5. Sprinkle desired seasonings over the top. Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper all add great flavor.
6. Air fry for 5-7 minutes until the nuggets are hot and crispy on the outside. Flip the nuggets halfway during cooking time.
7. Serve immediately while hot and crispy. Enjoy with dipping sauces like tartar sauce, honey mustard or ranch.

Tips

• For extra crunch, dip air fried nuggets in flour or breadcrumbs before cooking.
• No need to thaw frozen nuggets first – they cook up just as crispy from frozen!
• Double check cooking time on any packaged frozen nuggets for best results.

Key Takeaways

• Air frying makes crispy catfish nuggets without the oil of deep frying.
• Soaking catfish in buttermilk helps tenderize and add flavor.
• A cornmeal and flour coating gives the nuggets a crispy, golden exterior.
• Seasonings like Cajun spice blend add lots offlavor.
• Air fry at 400°F for 6-8 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
• Serve with dipping sauces like tartar sauce, cocktail sauce or ranch. Enjoy!

With this easy recipe, you can make restaurant-quality catfish nuggets with that perfect crunch at home in your air fryer. The combination of cornmeal and flour along with seasonings creates a flavorful, crispy exterior on tender, flaky catfish. So skip the deep fryer and give these delicious air fried catfish nuggets a try!