68 Jump to Recipe Print RecipeYou might’ve seen us making these Fried Catfish Strips on our TikTok, Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. Or maybe you saw the post on our Pinterest.Regardless of how you found it, we’re just glad that you did! No long, drawn out story– we just hope you enjoy! Fried Catfish Strips Print Recipe Pin Recipe Prep Time 15 minutes minsCook Time 20 minutes minsTotal Time 35 minutes mins Course Appetizer, Main Course Ingredients Fried Catfish Strips1-2 lbs Catfish Filets thawed if previously frozen 4-6 filets2 tsp Kosher Salt1 cup Buttermilk1 cup Yellow Cornmeal½ cup All-Purpose Flour2 tsp Seasoned Salt1 tsp Paprika½ tsp Black Pepper½ tsp Cayenne PepperPeanut Oil or Vegetable Oil for fryingGravy Dipping Sauce1 Chicken Stock Cube / Bouillon Cube sub 2 tsp powder1 Beef Stock Cube / Bouillon Cube sub 2 tsp powder2¼ cups Boiling Water4 tbsp Butter unsalted4 tbsp All-Purpose Flour½ tsp Onion Powder¼ tsp Ground Black PepperSalt if needed Instructions CatfishSprinkle the catfish filets with kosher salt on both sides. Cut fillets into strips. Place the seasoned strips in a shallow dish or resealable bag and cover with the buttermilk, turning to coat. Set aside to soak while preparing the rest of the ingredients and oil, or transfer to the fridge for up to 8 hours to marinate.Combine cornmeal, flour, seasoned salt, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a large resealable ziplock bag. Whisk or toss to evenly disperse spices.Heat ½ to 1 inch of oil in a large cast iron pan or skillet over medium-high heat until it reaches 350-365℉.Remove the catfish from the buttermilk soak 1-2 pieces at a time, letting excess buttermilk drip off. Transfer the catfish pieces to the bag of seasoned cornmeal and flour, seal, and toss to coat well. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining fish pieces and coating.Carefully add catfish pieces to the hot oil, working in batches so as not to crowd the pan. Fry for 4-8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown on the outside and cooked through in the middle. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the fillets. Be sure to watch the heat as the fish fries so you can adjust up or down to keep the oil temp in the 350 to 365℉ range as much as possible.Transfer the fried catfish to a baking sheet lined with a wire rack and place in a warm oven (225℉) while frying the remaining catfish pieces.GravyCrumble cubes into boiling water, mix to dissolve. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour, onion powder and pepper. Mix into butter with a wooden spoon or whisk. While stirring, slowly pour in half the liquid. Once incorporated into the flour butter roux (it will thicken quickly), add remaining liquid and mix. Stir for 1.5 – 2 minutes until it thickens to a gravy consistency (it's quick as water is already hot). Taste, add more salt and pepper if needed. Keyword Fish, Fried, Gravy Please leave this field empty get consistent tips, guides, and recipes We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info. Please check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.