Name: Beer Batter Fish Made Great
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 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

Prep Time:

15 mins

Cook Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

30 mins

Servings:

8

Jump to Nutrition Facts

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

Ingredients

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

Heat oil in a deep fryer to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C). Rinse cod fillets, pat dry, and season with salt and pepper.
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.
Dip cod fillets into the batter to coat. Carefully lower fillets, one at a time, into the hot oil. Fry several fillets at a time, turning once, until cooked through and golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels. Repeat to cook remaining fillets. Serve warm.

Allrecipes Magazine

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.

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
Vitamin C 4mg	18%
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.