When you think of catfish, you most likely think of a traditional fish fry. While catfish is delicious fried, there are numerous other ways to prepare it that are not only healthier, but can also be incorporated into a variety of recipes.

Chef Jason Goodenough, owner of Carrollton Market in New Orleans, says “I can go a lot of directions with the techniques, flavor profiles, and cuisines, and can fit catfish into just about any fish dish.”

Some popular ways to cook catfish besides deep frying include baking, grilling and pan-frying. Let’s discuss each of these different methods:

Baked Catfish

Baked catfish is a great option for a quick and easy-to-prepare meal. For most baking recipes, simply prepare a baking sheet with olive oil, add your seasoning of choice to the catfish and bake the catfish fillets until they flake easily. This usually takes no more than 20 minutes. Check out one of our favorite quick and easy baked catfish recipes here.

Grilled Catfish

Grilling catfish is as simple as baking it, but it can be a bit intimidating because the fish may flake apart and fall into the grill. For tips to prevent losing catfish to the grill, read this article from the Spruce Eats. To grill your catfish, brush catfish fillets with the marinade or seasoning of your choice and place them on the grill about 4 to 6 inches from the heat. Grill each side for about 5 minutes or until the fish flakes. For an easy grilled catfish recipe from Heartland, click here.

Pan-Fried Catfish

Pan-frying catfish is similar to deep frying, but it’s a healthier option because it uses less oil. While some prefer to pan fry with butter, you can also use olive oil for a healthier fat. To pan fry catfish, simply heat the oil of your choice in a large skillet and cook the catfish fillets on each side for about 4 minutes, or until nicely browned. An easy pan-fried catfish recipe we love is this catfish almondine recipe. 

“Catfish cooks really quickly and it’s fairly forgiving. Sprinkle some creole seasoning on it, stick it in the oven and serve it with some steamed broccoli, and you’ve got yourself a delicious weeknight meal,” Chef Goodenough says.

U.S. farm-raised catfish doesn’t need much to become a great meal any night of the week at home or in a restaurant. With a clean and mellow flavor, it can be customized to fit any flavor palette. The next time you want a protein source that you can tailor to your family’s needs, pick up U.S. farm-raised catfish from your local grocery store.