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
Don't forget to PIN for later!
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below or snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
If you loved this recipe you'll LOVE all the others in this category. Check out all my main dish recipes here!
Beer Battered Fish
Ingredients
Batter
- 2 cups flour
- ⅓ 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 ½ -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.
Leah says
Awesome batter! This was like a melt in your mouth kind of beer battered fish
Kathy says
Thanks, Leah! 🙂
Brandy says
I love this recipe! First time trying beer battered fish and it turned out great!
I used an IPA because that’s what I had on hand, but next time will do with a light beer. The batter tasted a little heavy, but I know that was due to the beer.
Thanks for sharing! Will definitely be using this recipe in the future
Kathy says
Hi Brandy,
Thanks so much for you comment! The type of beer does make a difference. I prefer a lighter beer when making this. I hope you have some on hand the next time you make this fish!
Thanks,
Kathy 🙂
Rita . says
I made this recipe using halibut and shrimp. Both were delicious. I would definitely make this again.
Kathy says
Thanks, Rita! I love the idea of using shrimp! This batter does work well on so many things!
Thank you!
Kathy
Dale chase says
Would let me give 5 stars. This was insanely delicious and very crispy! Thank you, this is a keeper!
Kathy says
Hi Dale,
Thanks so much for your comment and glad you love this fish! My star rating system was not working and I'm so glad you let me know. I think it's all fixed now!
Thanks 🙂
Ceri Thomas says
It was tasty, however it was far too thick with the flour and cornstarch amounts. I had add a second bottle of beer to it. Guinness stout sure made it extra tasty. We'll be making it often. Thanks.
Kathy says
A Guinness would offer a ton of flavor. Thanks for the note about needing to add more beer to the batter. 🙂
Mary says
Just delicious, light and crispy. Better than most nice fish restaurants we’ve been to.
Kathy says
Thanks Mary! I think it is a really great recipe and I'm so glad you think so too! Thank you for leaving a comment and letting me know how much you loved it!
Kathy
Janine Hendricks says
I have never tried to make fish like this but gave it a try. WoW!!! It was amazing. so easy and turned out great. Crispy and crunchy. Making it again tonight for my son and his wife. Thank you so much for sharing.
Kathy says
Thanks so much for your comment! I'm so glad you love this recipe as much as we do! We make it again and again! 🙂
Laura Kirklin says
Hi Kathy! I love your recipe for beer battered fish! It is delicious!!! I wanted to tell you that I used Swai fish with your recipe and it turned out soooooo good! Even the kids were begging for more! As you probably know, swai is a very inexpensive fish, but it does have great flavor. So for those of us who need to watch our pennies, swai is a great alternative to the more expensive fish. Give it a shot!
Kathy says
Hi Laura,
I'm so glad you loved this! I haven't heard of swai before, but now I'll need to look for it! This recipe really does work well with so many types of fish. Thanks for sharing that great tip! 🙂
Laura Kirklin says
Just wanted to tell you that I used your recipe again to fry fish for fish tacos. Everryone fell in love and wanted more! Thanks again!
Kathy says
Wonderful! I'm so glad everyone loved it!
Sophie Rosso says
This was amazing. Our new go to. Thanks so much for sharing
Kathy says
Thanks! I love that you love it!!! 🙂
Linda says
Delicious recipe! We made some onion rings with the leftover batter 👍
Kathy says
Thanks, Linda! What a great idea for the leftover batter! 🙂