Air Fryer Crispy Catfish Nuggets

Name: Air Fryer Crispy Catfish Nuggets
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 29 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1lb Catfish Filets, Fresh; 12 oz Fish Fry; 1 tsp olive oil; 1 tsp sea salt; 1 tsp ground black pepper; Optional: 1 tsp. hot sauce of your choice

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Last Updated on May 3, 2025 by Allison Lancaster

These Air Fryer Crispy Catfish Nuggets have quickly become a family favorite in our home! They’re satisfyingly crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and full of rich Southern flavor. The best part is, these fish nuggets are air-fried. That means you get to enjoy that indulgent, golden brown crunch without the greasy mess.

Flat lay shot of a plate of Air Fryer Crispy Catfish Nuggets.

The Perfect Fried Fish Dish

After a recent trip to Santee Cooper Lake in South Carolina, our freezer was well-stocked with catfish, thanks to my husband Josh and our son Levi. I’ve always loved how they’ve built such a bond over fishing. They can spend hours together, patiently waiting until they reel something in. Thanks to them, I’ve gotten the chance to be creative in trying different ways to enjoy their catch other than fried catfish!

Since we’ve got tons of whole catfish, I wanted to make an easy dinner that will use up a good amount of those. It had to be easy, quick to prepare, not costly a lot to make, and most importantly, kid-friendly. And so, these Air Fryer Crispy Catfish Nuggets were born.

There’s something so satisfying about turning fresh catch into a delicious, homemade meal. These Air Fryer Crispy Catfish Nuggets. I was able to use up the fish in our freezer while making sure the results feed everyone well. And trust me, these nuggets were gone fast. Try this one out if you’ve been looking for a stress-free fish recipe for busy weeknights without the hot oil splatters.

If you’re planning to give these a try, these Air Fryer Crispy Catfish Nuggets go so well with other classic Southern comfort food like Fried Okra and Potato Salad.

Air Fryer Crispy Catfish Nuggets

Why You’ll Enjoy These Air Fryer Crispy Catfish Nuggets

Quick and Easy: These Air Fryer Crispy Catfish Nuggets are ready in under 30 minutes with minimal prep. It’s one of those easy air fryer recipes you’ll add into your rotation for how good it is.
Air Fryer Friendly: You can achieve that crispy texture with less oil and mess by using just an air fryer.
Kid-Approved: These golden brown nuggets are bite-sized, flavorful, and perfect for dipping in ketchup or your favorite sauce.
Versatile: With the freedom to adjust the heat level, you can either turn the heat up by adding hot sauce, or keep it mild for little ones.
Great Use of Fresh or Frozen Fish: This recipe is ideal for using up your catch or store-bought filets.

Ingredients for These Air Fryer Crispy Catfish Nuggets

Flat lay shot of a bowl with the cat fish nuggets and a pack of the fish fry on the kitchen countertop.

Catfish Filets (Fresh): Catfish filet is perfect for frying or air frying for its mild, flaky and slightly sweet flavors. Ideally, fresh is the better option. But, thawed frozen filets also work great, just make sure to pat them dry thoroughly.
Fish Fry: Pre-seasoned fish fry mix is what provides these catfish nuggets with the perfect crunchy coating with consistent results. To achieve that Southern-style crust, look for cornmeal-based mix.
Olive Oil: Olive oil adds a subtle depth of flavor to the nuggets. It also helps season the fish evenly and promotes better crisping in the air fryer.
Sea Salt: As essential seasoning for the fish, sea salt enhances the natural flavor of the catfish. You can also use Kosher salt if that’s what you have available.
Ground Black Pepper: Adds a bit of earthiness and a slight bite, balancing the richness of the fish fry.
(Optional) Hot Sauce: This is an optional ingredient. Adding a touch of hot sauce gives the nuggets a little heat and tang. Any hot sauce works, but personally, I’d add Louisiana-style hot sauce because it works beautifully in this recipe.
Air Fryer-Friendly Oil Spray: Make sure you look for oil with a high smoke point such as avocado oil or canola oil spray that’s specifically labeled as “air fryer safe” or “propellant-free”. These make sure that the nuggets crisp up without burning.

How to Make Air Fryer Crispy Catfish Nuggets

Cut catfish filets into nugget sized bites.
In a large mixing bowl, add catfish pieces, olive oil, sea salt and black pepper. Mix and set aside for 15-20 minutes to allow fish to come to room temperature. If you want to add a bit of a spicy taste to your nuggets, add in a teaspoon of optional hot sauce and mix.
After 15-20 minutes, pat nuggets dry with paper towels.
Pre-heat your air fryer to 400 degrees F for 10 minutes.
While your air fryer is pre-heating, add your fish fry into an air tight bag or container (I use gallon zipper bags) and add the catfish nuggets in. Seal bag (make sure it’s sealed!) and shake well, coating each piece of fish well.
Add nuggets to your air fryer basket, leaving 1-2” of space between each nugget (this will vary depending on your air fryer size). Spray tops of the nuggets with a high smoking point oil such as canola oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil, or even peanut oil.
Air fry at 400F for 4 minutes.
Spritz the top of nuggets with air fryer-friendly oil, flip, then spritz again with air fryer-friendly oil, and air fry for another 4 minutes at 400°F.
Enjoy your Air Fryer Crispy Catfish Nuggets! My kids love these served with ketchup.

Flat lay shot of a bowl with the catfish nuggets seasoned with pepper and salt and then coated with olive oil.

Flat lay shot of a zip-top bag with the breaded cat fish nuggets in it.

What to eat with catfish

These Air Fryer Crispy Catfish Nuggets are incredibly versatile! Here are some ways you can serve them:

With Dipping Sauces: Serve these with your favorite dipping sauce! Whether it’s ketchup for the kids, remoulade or spicy mayo with lemon wedges on the side for adults, these will be devoured in no time.
As a Meal: Perfect as finger food, these Air Fryer Crispy Catfish Nuggets also pair well with coleslaw, fries, air fryer hush puppies, or mac and cheese.
In a Sandwich: Turn these nuggets into a sandwich by adding them into a soft roll with pickles and slaw for a Southern-style fish sandwich.
As a Salad Topper: Assemble your favorite greens with lemon vinaigrette and top with warm nuggets for a lighter meal.

How to Store Leftovers

Fridge: In case of leftovers, store your Air Fryer Crispy Catfish Nuggets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat: To reheat, re-crisp your nuggets in the air fryer at 350°F for 3–4 minutes.
Freezer: If freezing, make sure to lay everything out in a single layer, then transfer to everything to a freezer-safe bag. Reheat while frozen at 375°F in the air fryer for 8–10 minutes.

Closeup shot of a batch of Air Fryer Crispy Cat Fish Nuggets.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Can I use frozen fish filet?

Yes, you can. Just make sure to thaw them completely and pat dry with paper towels thoroughly before seasoning and coating. If you don’t pat dry with towels, the water content will be too high and they may become mushy.

What’s the best fish fry mix to use?

I recommend a cornmeal-based Southern-style fish fry. Zataran’s or Louisiana Fish Fry are both great options. Alternatively, you can also use panko bread crumbs. Season the bread crumbs with onion powder, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, salt, and lemon pepper. If you have Cajun seasoning, feel free to use that instead.

Can I bake these instead of air frying?

Yes, you can. But, the texture won’t be quite as crispy as when air fried. If baking, arrange the coated catfish nuggets in a single layer on a baking sheet that’s been sprayed with cooking oil spray. Then, bake at 425°F on a wire rack for 15–18 minutes, flipping halfway. Place nuggets briefly on a cooling rack for about a minute before serving.

Can I make this gluten-free?

Absolutely, just use a certified gluten-free fish fry mixture. Or, you can make your own breading mixture by mixing together the cornmeal and gluten-free flour.

Is this recipe spicy?

Air Fryer Crispy Catfish Nuggets aren’t spicy. But feel free to do so by adding hot sauce in the wet coating. Just adjust the amount of heat you’re using according to your preference.

How do I know when the nuggets are done?

The catfish nuggets should be golden brown and crisp on the outside, and with an internal temperature of 145°F.

Can I double this recipe?

Sure, you can! Just make sure to fry them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer. Do not over crowd the basket to ensure you have crispy nuggets that look like golden perfection.

These Air Fryer Crispy Catfish Nuggets are a simple, satisfying way to prepare fresh fish for your whole family. It’s one of those easy recipes you’ll surely keep on rotation. It’s perfect whether you’re serving the picky eaters in your family or if you’re having friends over. The beautifully fried catfish pieces are reminiscent of a Louisiana fish fry, but prepared in a healthy way without a lot of frying oil. I hope you enjoy this recipe. Let me know how yours go in the comments below!

Air Fryer Crispy Catfish Nuggets

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Additional Time: 1 minute

Total Time: 29 minutes

These Air Fryer Crispy Catfish Nuggets have quickly become a family favorite in our home! They’re satisfyingly crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and full of rich Southern flavor.

Ingredients

1lb Catfish Filets, Fresh
12 oz Fish Fry
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
Optional: 1 tsp. hot sauce of your choice

Instructions

Cut the Catfish. Slice your catfish fillets into nugget-sized bites, roughly 1 to 1.5 inches in size.
Season the Fish. In a large bowl, combine the nuggets with sea salt, black pepper, olive oil, and hot sauce (if you prefer a little heat). Toss everything gently to coat the fish nuggets with the liquids and seasoning. Set it aside for 15-20 minutes to allow it to come to room temperature and absorb flavors.
Prep for Frying. To help the coating to stick better, pat the fish dry with paper towels. Meanwhile, pre-heat your air fryer to 400°F for 10 minutes.
Coat the Nuggets. Next, pour the fish fry mix to a gallon Ziploc bag, a shallow, or airtight container. Then, toss in the nuggets and give them a shake until each piece is fully coated.
First Air Fry. Once each nugget is coated, arrange the nuggets in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Make sure that each piece has at least 1-2 inches between pieces. Lightly spray the tops with the oil of your choice. Next, air fry the nuggets for 4 minutes.
Flip and Finish. Now, open the air fryer, flip the nuggets, spray again with the oil, and cook for another 4 minutes.
Serve and Enjoy! Once the 2nd 4-minute cooking time is up, let the Catfish Nuggets cool for a minute. Serve it immediately with ketchup, tartar sauce, or even ranch. Then serve and enjoy!

Notes

If you want to add a bit of a spicy taste to your nuggets, add in the 1 tsp. of optional hot sauce and mix as well.
Make sure you're leaving 1-2” of space between each nugget. This ensures the catfish pieces cook evenly.
Spray tops of nuggets with a high smoking point oil such as canola oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil, or even peanut oil.