Go Back
–+ servings
A white plate with breaded chicken pieces, thin potato slices, and steamed green beans, placed on a wooden surface.
Print Recipe
No ratings yet

Air Fryer Catfish Nuggets

Crispy air fryer catfish nuggets coated in seasoned cornmeal and flour, cooked to golden perfection, and served with a creamy garlic bay aioli for dipping. An easy Southern-style meal the whole family will love.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Total Time27 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 690kcal
Author: Wendy

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Shallow mixing bowl
  • whisk
  • Gallon-size storage bag
  • Cooking oil spray
  • Cutting Board and Knife

Ingredients

  • 1 pound catfish fillets
  • ½ cup flour
  • ½ cup fine cornmeal
  • 2 teaspoons seafood seasoning Old Bay or the like
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 egg

Garlic Bay Aioli Ingredients

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon seafood seasoning Old Bay or the like
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Let the fillets dry to touch, and then chop into 1” - 2” nugget pieces.
    Cubes of raw white fish placed on a wooden cutting board atop a wooden surface.
  • In a shallow bowl, combine the butter milk with the whisked egg.
  • Add the nuggets to the milk wash and make sure the fish is fully coated.
    Raw fish pieces soaking in a light yellow liquid, likely an egg or milk mixture, inside a square glass container on a wooden surface.
  • in a large gallon storage bag, combine the cornmeal, flour, garlic powder and seafood seasoning, shake it well.
    Raw fish pieces coated with flour in a clear plastic bag, placed on a wooden surface.
  • Add the nuggets to the flour cornmeal mixture, shake the nuggets until they are fully coated.
  • Fully spray the air fryer basket with oil and place the nuggets. Coat the nuggets in oil and cook in the air fryer at 370ºf for 10 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and crispy.
    Raw breaded chicken pieces arranged in a single layer inside an air fryer basket on a wooden surface.
  • Mix the ingredients for the aioli and serve with your favorite fried potato.

Notes

  • Cut nuggets evenly so they cook at the same rate.
  • Shake the coating bag well for even seasoning.
  • Lightly oil both the basket and the nuggets.
  • Let nuggets rest a minute after cooking for max crispiness.

Storage

Storage:
Store leftover catfish nuggets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating:
Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3–5 minutes until warmed and crispy again.
Freezing:
Freeze cooked nuggets on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag. Reheat straight from frozen in the air fryer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 690kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 50g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 27g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 137mg | Sodium: 631mg | Potassium: 639mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 291IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 122mg | Iron: 3mg