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Beer Battered Fish with a crispy coating and light tender fillets of fish. This lightly seasoned beer batter is easy to make and makes perfect crispy fish for fish and chips.
Beer Battered Fish is one of our favorite ways to make fish at home. Who can resist that crunchy coating and the perfect flaky fish? Not me!
We have a summer fishing/camping tradition. We always spend one weekend on Lake Roosevelt, on the Columbia River camping and fishing.
We have several families that go together. There’s a core group that’s always there, but we always have a few more families that are able to join us each year. This year there were a total of 15 of us.
We go for the fish – Walleye, but it’s also about having a great time and hanging out with everyone.
Walleye are a tender fish and need a net in order to bring them into the boat. Otherwise they tend to fall off the hook just as you bring them out of the water.
Sometimes the fishing gets a bit slow.
Some years the fishing is better than others, but we always catch enough to have a huge fish fry back at camp.
Most years we also have enough to bring back home and stock our freezers. I use the same recipe for making beer battered fish at home as I do at camp. I also make this pan fried Walleye and a fish salad with the frozen fish.
To make batter ahead of time
Since I’m never quite sure how much batter we will need at camp, I mix up all the dry ingredients and place in a zip top bag. I mix one batch in each bag and I usually bring 3 or 4 bags with me.
At camp you just add beer until the mixture is the right consistency. You could just mix right in the bag and have one less thing to clean up. We usually dump the dry ingredients into a big bowl since we do so many fish.
Rod is always our fish fryer at camp.
And he cooks up a ton!
At home, we use the same method – just in smaller portions. If you don’t have walleye, any light white fish will work – cod, haddock, halibut and flounder are good choices.
How to make homemade beer batter
- Mix flour, salt, paprika, baking powder and corn starch together
- Add beer and mix
- Mixture should be thick, like pancake batter
- If mixture becomes too thick, add a bit more beer
- If mixture is too runny, add a bit more flour
What type of beer is best for beer batter?
You can use any type of beer for beer batter. I like to use a light pilsner type beer because I don’t want a heavy tasting beer in my batter.
What should I serve with this fish?
We keep it pretty simple when eating beer battered fish. We often just have a crisp green salad or a coleslaw or even a couscous salad. Onion Rings would also be delicious with this fish.
More delicious Walleye recipes
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Beer Battered Fish
Ingredients
Batter
- 2 cups flour
- 1/3 cup corn starch
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- 1 12 oz beer
Remaining Ingredients
- 1 -2 pounds fish fillets
- corn oil (for frying)
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl. Add beer and stir. Mixture should be like pancake batter.
- Add 1 1/2 -2 inches oil to pan. Heat oil to 375 degrees.
- Pat fish fillets dry with a paper towel. Dip fish, one at a time, into beer batter. Add to heated oil. Cook 3-4 pieces at a time so pan is not overcrowded.
- Cook 2-3 minutes per side. Place cooked fish on a baking sheet lined with a baking rack. Place in a preheated 250 degree oven to keep warm while remaining fish cooks.
- Repeat until all fish is cooked.
Notes
- I use Walleye fish, but any light fish will work.
- Use a light beer.
- If batter is too thick, add a bit more beer.
- If batter is too runny, add a bit more flour.
- This recipe makes a large amount of batter. There is enough to dredge all fillets and there will be extra batter leftover.
51 Comments
Leonore Garcia
June 7, 2019 at 9:26 pmOh my gosh! I made this tonight and it was a big hit!! So yummy in tacos with chipotle sauce. Thank you!
I’ll send a pic on IG.
Kathy
June 8, 2019 at 9:35 amLenore, Thanks so much! It’s always a hit in our house and I’m glad it was in yours too. Using in tacos is a perfect idea!
Maui Brown
April 16, 2019 at 5:24 pmWow! This is restaurant quality beer battered fish. Thank you for sharing
Kathy
April 16, 2019 at 7:22 pmThank you! It’s one of our favorites. I’m so glad you love it as much as we do! 🙂
Fred G
December 1, 2018 at 9:39 amBeer and fish. What a good idea. Catch the fish while drinking a beer, then follow your recipe.
Kathy
December 1, 2018 at 4:42 pmIt all makes for good fun! 🙂
Ros
September 21, 2018 at 1:42 pmWow these look so delicious! Yum yum yum! Never heard of walleye either! But I’m sure the recipe works for any type of fish. Thanks for sharing!
Kathy
September 22, 2018 at 6:16 amYou can use almost any type of fish as long as it’s mild tasting and holds together.
Adina
September 20, 2018 at 10:41 pmHow fun! I have only been fishing once when I was about 13. My step father would go almost every weekend, my mother agreed to it once and never again… Too bad, I remember us children having fun. Your beer battered fish looks perfect, better than any fish (and chips) I have ever had when in the UK. And I am so sure it taste like a million times better.
Kathy
September 22, 2018 at 6:17 amFishing is fun, especially when the fish are biting!
Karen Graham
July 30, 2019 at 1:56 amHELLO KATHY YOUR RECIPE FOR THE BEER BATTER FISH IS AWESOME, I GOTTA TRY YOUR RECIPE😃 DO YOU HAVE A CHANNEL THAT I CAN SUBSCRIBE TO? I LOVE TO SEE MORE OF YOUR AMAZING RECIPES.
Kathy
July 30, 2019 at 8:01 pmThanks, Karen! I started a YouTube channel a bit ago, but never did anything with it! You’ve inspired me to upload some videos and get started! You could be my first follower! 🙂
Fran @ G'day Souffle'
September 18, 2018 at 2:53 amI have never heard of walleye fish before, but then again, I’m no fisherman. You must get lots of fish filleting experience! Hard to believe that such a simple recipe could be so delicious!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
September 17, 2018 at 12:49 pmI love fishing trips with the family Kathy. Our boys used to go crazy when they were little when they caught a fish! Love this beer battered version. Can’t wait to give it a try.
Dawn
September 17, 2018 at 9:33 amBeer battered fish is a classic around here! How freakin’ good does this look?! All golden brown and crispy! Cod is the popular choice of fish around here…we don’t get walleye. Your fishing trip sounds fun and talk about fresh! You’re seriously making me hungry right now 🙂
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September 17, 2018 at 7:13 amOH MY GOODNESS! This is a dish I can never resist! So crunchy and flaky! Great post, Kathy!
David @ Spiced
September 17, 2018 at 5:36 amHoly cow, Kathy! Err…holy Walleye, I mean. These fried fish look amazing. I’ve been wanting to try my hand at a beer-battered fish here at home, but I just haven’t gotten around to it yet. I clearly need to move that up the list as now I’m craving a good plate beer-battered fish ‘n’ chips! And of course I’d have to serve that with a tasty beer. Thanks for sharing, and the photos from the trip were fun, too! 🙂