Pan-Fried Walleye

This is the quickest, easiest, and most delicious pan-fried walleye recipe. It requires only 5 simple ingredients, and you'll need to devote just 15 minutes of your time to cook it. This pan-fried walleye turns out incredibly flaky and with a perfectly crisp coating (even though it's made without bread crumbs). And to boost its flavor, you definitely must try to serve this fish drizzled with some sriracha sauce.

What I love about this fish recipe is that you don't need any breadcrumbs for the coating. All you need for it is some all-purpose flour (or if you want a healthier option, then you can use gluten-free flour, almond flour, or coconut flour) and a whipped egg.

If you're looking for a healthier alternative for cooking this fish, you must try this Air Fryer walleye recipe. It's lower in calories and is as easy and quick to make as this one.

Table of Contents

• What Is Walleye?
• Needed Ingredients
• Cooking Tips
• How to Serve Fried Walleye
• Storing Instructions
• Recipe

What Is Walleye?

Walleye (also known as yellow pickerel) is a freshwater fish that can be found in the lakes of the United States and Canada. It is a member of the perch family and is said to be one of the best-tasting alternatives to trout or cod. This fish can grow up to 30 inches in length and weigh over 20 pounds. 

Also, walleye has many nutritional benefits:

• It is loaded with omega fatty acids
• It is a great source of Vitamin A, D E, and B-12
• It is high in protein

Needed Ingredients

For this pan-seared walleye fillet recipe, you should prepare only a few simple ingredients. The simplicity in this recipe is actually the key to the incredibly delicious outcome. Here's what you'll need:

• Walleye fillets - you can use either fresh or frozen fish, both of them will be okay for this recipe. Just remember to thaw the fish before frying it if it's frozen.
• Eggs - you'll need to lightly beat the eggs in a dish.
• Flour - I used all-purpose flour, but you can use any other kind of flour or flour mixture (coconut flour, quinoa flour, cassava flour, almond flour, etc.).
• Oil for frying - make sure to choose an oil kind that has a high smoke point and a neutral flavor. The best option is usually vegetable oil, but for a bit healthier option, you can use either olive oil or avocado oil.
• Salt, pepper, and seasoning - you'll have to add a bit of salt and pepper to the beaten eggs and sprinkle the walleye fillets with some salt, pepper, and garlic salt with parsley seasoning. If you don't have the seasoning mix, you can add garlic powder and fresh lemon juice instead.

Cooking Tips

It's insanely easy to make this pan-fried fish. But if you've never done it before, I understand why you might be worried. To make sure that your pan seared walleye fish turns out as it should, here are some helpful cooking tips:

• Prepare everything beforehand. Beat the egg in a small bowl and prepare the flour in another bowl.
• Wash and pat dry the fish fillets. It's incredibly important to pat dry the walleye fillets with a paper towel before frying them.
• Marinade the fish. If you have some extra time, use it to marinade the walleye fillets. Simply season the fish with the spices and leave it in the fridge for at least 2-3 hours.
• Preheat the oil before placing the coated fish fillets. For best results, it's important to preheat the pan with the oil for a few minutes on medium heat before adding the coated walleye.
• Place the fried walleye on a paper towel to remove the excess oil from the fillets.

How to Serve Fried Walleye

My favorite way to serve these pan-fried walleye fillets is to drizzle them with some sriracha sauce and sprinkle them with chopped fresh dill. Here are some ideas that can go well with this pan fried walleye:

• Garlic brussels sprouts
• Tartar sauce
• French fries or rutabaga fries
• Coleslaw
• Mashed potatoes

If you have any leftovers from the pan-fried walleye, you can use them to make a nice, fulfilling fish sandwich. Take an artisan bun, add the fish, lettuce, tomato slices, and chopped onion, and top everything off with your favorite sauce.

Storing Instructions

You can store the cooked walleye fillets in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. But make sure to either cover the fish with some plastic food wrap or place it in an airtight food container. Then simply reheat it in the microwave or serve straight from the fridge.

This walleye recipe is also freezer-friendly. So if there are any leftovers, you can place them in a ziplock bag and keep them in your freezer for up to 2-3 months. Then whenever you want to serve it, throw the fish fillets into an air fryer and cook it for a few minutes to get that lovely golden crust back.

Recipe