Grilled Catfish

Growing up my family loved making Fried Catfish. This mild and firmer fish cooks so easily whether you pan fry it in a cast iron skillet, bake or grill it. If you love seafood recipes such as Grilled Shrimp Recipes or Grilled Cod as much as my family, try this Grilled Catfish for an easy fish recipe.

Make sure to coat the catfish with your favorite spice blend or marinade to make it so flavorful. Serve this great recipe with tartar sauce and your favorite side dish for a delicious summer meal.

Why We Love Grilled Catfish

Grilled Catfish is seasoned with simple spices to create a quick and delicious meal idea. This fish cooks with the best seasoned texture and tender while being flaky on the inside.

Take your favorite fish to the next level by grilling it for a crowd pleasing meal idea.

Ingredients

• Catfish Fillets – Before adding the seasoning make sure to pat dry the catfish with a paper towel to ensure that it does not have a mushy texture.
• Olive Oil – Feel free to use any type of oil
• Old Bay Seasoning – We love the flavor of this seasoning. But you can use any spices that you prefer.
• Paprika – Feel free to substitute with smoked paprika
• Garlic Powder – You can also use minced garlic
• Lemon – This is optional to squeeze lemon wedges when serving

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.

Variations Ideas

You can easily change your tasty spice rub to what you prefer. This offers a delicious variations to your fish. We recommend adding in ½ teaspoon or more if you prefer.

• Brown Sugar
• Dried Thyme
• Cayenne Pepper
• Red Pepper Flakes
• Lemon Pepper Seasoning
• Onion Powder
• Creole Seasoning
• Basil
• Oregano

How to Make Grilled Catfish

Step 1 – Clean the grill grates thoroughly. Preheat the gas grill over medium high heat and rub the grates with the oil to keep the fish from sticking to the grill.  You can even cook on a charcoal grill.

Step 2 – Mix together the tsp old bay seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper together in a small bowl. 

Step 3 – Sprinkle and rub this seasoning mixture onto both sides of the catfish fillets evenly.

Step 4 – Place the seasoned catfish fillets directly on the grill grates. Cook for 4 minutes on each side until cooked through and slightly browned.  Watch them closely during this cook time so that the fish does not burn. 

Step 5 – Remove the fish from the grill. Squeeze the lemon juice on top. Serve immediately while warm with fresh parsley and enjoy! 

Recipe Tips

• Prepare Grill – A clean grill is very important when grilling fish. Make sure to clean the grill grates and thoroughly rub them with oil before grilling the catfish.
• Grilling Basket – We like to grill the catfish directly on the grill grate but you can also cook in a grill basket or on aluminum foil if you prefer.
• Bake in the Oven – If you prefer, you can baking this delicious fish in the preheated oven. Bake in a baking dish at 400 degrees f for about 20 minutes. We even like to add in chopped onions, carrots and potatoes for a complete meal idea. You will know that your fish flakes with a fork. Baking time will vary depending on the thickness of your catfish.

What to Serve with Grilled Catfish

Catfish is a great addition to your summertime BBQ. You can serve it with many grilled side dish recipes to make these meal even easier. These are some of our my family’s favorites.

• Grilled Broccolini
• Grilled Potatoes in Foil Packets
• Grilled Asparagus
• Grilled Bacon Wrapped Corn on the Cob Recipe
• Best Grilled Sides – For even more ideas!