10 Best Fish Fry Recipes

We love the Friday Fish Fry that’s familiar to anyone from the Midwest or parts of the South. But who can wait until Friday for crispy fried fish with all the fixings? Not us. To save time on a weekday fish fry, we’ll prep side dishes over the weekend — sides like slaw and potato salad will only get more delicious with a day or two in the fridge. Here are all the recipes you’ll need to put on an expert fish fry. Mix and match the side dish recommendations with the fried fish recipes to your appetite’s content. And don’t forget the tartar sauce and malt vinegar!

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Beer Batter Fish Made Great

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Garlic powder and paprika spice up this simple batter. The fish fries up light and crispy and beautifully golden brown. « This is a great beer batter fish recipe, and is very easy to do, » says Linda Olar. « We often fish all day with friends, and then cook the fish afterwards out on deck. Yummy and great! »

Side dish recommendation: Chef John’s French Fries

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Jeannie’s Kickin’ Fried Fish

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This version calls for Cajun spices, seasoned breadcrumbs, and roasted onion flakes to create a crispy, flavorful crust. Fresh tilapia fillets hold up great here but cod or halibut would be equally delicious. « This was an easy and tasty meal, » says chickletL2. « Great for those frozen tilapia filets. I’ll definitely be making it again. »

Side dish recommendation: Creole Okra

• How to Deep Fry Fish

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Simple New England Fried Fish

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Here’s a classic New England-style fried fish. « This simple recipe works best with cod (scrod) and flounder, » says Meghan Briggs. « The result is a fresh, buttery-tasting fillet. Goes so well with french fries or oven fries (chips). »

Side dish recommendation: Boston Baked Beans