Beer Batter Fish Made Great

4.3
(809)

This beer-battered fish is a great recipe and very easy to do. We often fish all day with friends, and then cook the fish afterwards out on deck. Yummy and great!

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A tray of beer battered fish served with tartar sauce and lemon wedges
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Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Servings:
8

Satisfy your fried food cravings with this irresistible beer-battered fish recipe. 

How to Make Beer-Battered Fish

You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let's go over the basics:

Beer Batter for Fish

To make the beer batter for fish, you’ll need the following ingredients: salt and pepper, flour, garlic powder, paprika, an egg, and (of course!) a can or bottle of beer. 

Best Fish for Frying

The best fish for frying is white, neutral-flavored, and lean. This recipe calls for cod, which is mild and has a sturdy texture that stands up well to the hot oil. 

Best Beer for Beer Batter

You can use any beer you have on hand. The yeast in the beer acts like yeast in bread, making the batter thin and puffy. 

Just make sure your beer is extra cold — when the cold batter hits the hot oil, the reaction ensures the coating is nice and crispy when it comes out of the fryer. 

How to Fry Beer-Battered Fish

If you’ve never fried fish at home, this is the best recipe for crispy, light, airy, beer-battered fish,” according to culinary producer Nicole McLaughlin (a.k.a NicoleMcMom). Here are a few of her favorite tips and tricks:

  • Avoiding substituting the beer with something like club soda, as beer adds a ton of flavor. 
  • Nicole loves using cod because it’s meaty, but it’s also super light and flaky. It holds the batter really well, she says. 
  • This is not a recipe Nicole recommends making in advance — as soon as you dip the fish in the batter, send it straight to the oil. However, you can prepare the ingredients ahead of time. 
  • Nicole suggests serving the beer-battered fish with this Quick Tartar Sauce recipe.

How Long to Fry Fish

In a deep fryer with oil heated to 365 degrees, the beer-battered cod filets should be perfectly cooked after about 2 minutes on each side. 

beer-battered fish with tartar sauce, French fries, coleslaw, and a lemon wedge on a white plate

Allrecipes Video

What to Serve With Beer-Battered Fish

Complete your meal with one of our 15 Best Side Dishes for Fried Fish. Here are a few of the crowd-pleasing ideas you’ll find: 

How to Store Beer-Battered Fish

Store the beer-battered fish in an airtight container lined with paper towels in the refrigerator for up to four days. 

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

“I dipped the fish in flour before I dipped it into the batter,” says Theresa. “It turned out awesome! My husband said it was better than the fish and chips he had at Red Lobster!”

“Brilliant fish that stayed crispy for a long time after frying,” according to Hankus. “Tasty batter and easy to make.”

“This was an excellent recipe,” raves Holly Marie. “I made sure the cod was patted very dry prior to applying the batter. I used Guinness as my beer of choice and it turned out excellent!”

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 8 servings

  • 2 quarts vegetable oil for frying

  • 8 (4 ounce) fillets cod

  • salt and pepper to taste

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour

  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder

  • 2 tablespoons paprika

  • 2 teaspoons salt

  • 2 teaspoons ground black pepper

  • 1 egg, beaten

  • 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer, or as needed

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    Ingredients to make beer battered fish

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Heat oil in a deep fryer to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C). Rinse cod fillets, pat dry, and season with salt and pepper.

    A cutting board with eight cod fillets, seasoned with salt and pepper

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Mix flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in a large bowl; add egg and stir well to combine. Gradually mix in enough beer to make a thin batter.

    A whisk mixing beer into a bowl of seasoned batter

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Dip cod fillets into the batter to coat. Carefully lower fillets, one at a time, into the hot oil.

    A hand adding a beer battered piece of cod into a pot of hot oil

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Fry several fillets at a time, turning once, until cooked through and golden brown, about 2 minutes per side.

    A golden brown fried fish fillet being removed from a pot of oil

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Drain on paper towels. Repeat to cook remaining fillets. Serve warm.

    A tray of beer battered fish served with tartar sauce and lemon wedges

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Editor's Note

We have determined the nutritional value of oil for frying based on a retention value of 10% after cooking. The exact amount may vary depending on cook time and temperature, ingredient density, and the specific type of oil used.

1,050 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

448 Calories
30g Fat
23g Carbs
19g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 448
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 30g 39%
Saturated Fat 5g 23%
Cholesterol 68mg 23%
Sodium 675mg 29%
Total Carbohydrate 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 19g 38%
Vitamin C 4mg 4%
Calcium 41mg 3%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 449mg 10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.