Pan-Fried Walleye

You are going to love this easy and delicious recipe for pan-fried walleye. It’s breaded in a unique and traditional mid-west fashion (saltine crackers). And only takes a few minutes or pan frying until it becomes golden brown and extra crispy. It’s perfect for a Friday fish fry, or when you just want something quick to make for dinner.

Ask anyone from the midwest what their favorite fish is, and a common response will be walleye.  In fact, in states like Minnesota and Wisconsin, walleye is the undisputed king of fish. And for good reasons.  Its flavor is mild yet sweet, while its flesh is white, firm, and flakey.  Qualities which make walleye one of the few fishes that taste great just about any way you prepare it.

However, most midwesterners would agree that the best way to cook up some fresh walleye is to bread it and fry it up in a pan.  But we’re not talking about just any type of breading here folks.  No, no, no. In the midwest, they use a super-secret ingredient.

Saltine crackers!

Yes, you read that right, saltine crackers.  I know it might sound hokey at first but trust me, saltine crackers are a great substitute for bread crumbs.  Not only is it mild in flavor, but it creates one of the flakiest crusts you could ever eat. Perfect for a walleye filet.

Tips, Tricks, & Suggestions

• Type of cracker: While I always use saltine crackers for this recipe, you can easily sub them out with other cracker brands such as Ritz, Club, or Town House.  The taste and texture should be roughly the same.
• How to crumble the crackers: There are many ways to crumble up the crackers for this dish.  But the easiest method I have found is to just put them in a plastic bag.  Then use something solid like a rolling pin, glass cup, meat tenderizer, or even your fists to crush them up.  Just make sure to crush them gently (the crackers aren’t that hard you know) or else you might split the bag and have pieces of crackers flying everywhere.  And nobody wants that lol.
• Other fish: Despite this being a great way to prepare walleye you can easily use it with just about any type of white fish.  This includes cod, halibut, tilapia, or even trout.
• Serving Suggestions: A common side dish for pan-fried walleye is wild rice.  However, my personal favorite side dishes to pair this with are Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Parsley Potatoes, or Roasted Potatoes (with Sweet Potatoes).  Along with a fresh salad like our Autumn Pear Salad, Farro & Arugula, or Snap Pea Salad depending on the time of the year.

Other Great Fish Recipes to Try Out

• Blackened Catfish
• Greek Salmon (Baked)
• Honey Soy Salmon
• Pan-Fried Trout
• Trout Almondine

Pan-Fried Walleye Recipe

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 6 to 8 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

1 Lb of walleye fillets, cut into 6-inch sized pieces

2 Eggs

1 Cup of flour

1 Teaspoon of each (garlic powder, paprika, salt, & pepper)

2 Cups of saltine crackers, crushed

Neutral flavored oil, for frying

Garnish:

Parsley

Lemon wedge

Instructions

1. Bread the walleye: Get out three bowls.  In one place the flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.  Mix these ingredients together. In the second bowl add the two eggs and whisk them up.  In the last bowl add the crushed saltine crackers. Then bread each piece of walleye by placing them first in the flour mixture, then the in eggs, and finally in the saltine crackers.  Set each piece aside until step 3.

2. Pour enough oil into a pan until there is about ¼ inch covering the entire bottom.  Place the pan over medium-high heat.

3. Fry the walleye:  Once the oil is hot, carefully place the pieces of the walleye in the pan.  Let them fry on one side for 3 to 4 minutes. Then use a pair of tongs to flip them over and let them fry on the other side for an additional 3 to 4 minutes.  Then take each piece out and onto some paper towels to let the excess oil drip off.

4. Serve the pan-fried walleye with some parsley, and a fresh squeeze of lemon.  Enjoy!

Print Recipe

Pan Fried Walleye Recipe

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time6 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 Lb of walleye fillets cut into 6-inch sized pieces
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Cup of flour
• 1 Teaspoon of each garlic powder, paprika, salt, & pepper
• 2 Cups of saltine crackers crushed
• Neutral flavored oil for frying

Garnish:

• Parsley
• Lemon wedge

Instructions

• Bread the walleye: Get out three bowls. In one place the flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix these ingredients together. In the second bowl add the two eggs and whisk them up. In the last bowl add the crushed saltine crackers. Then bread each piece of walleye by placing them first in the flour mixture, then the in eggs, and finally in the saltine crackers. Set each piece aside until step 3.
• Pour enough oil into a pan until there is about ¼ inch covering the entire bottom. Place the pan over medium-high heat.
• Fry the walleye: Once the oil is hot, carefully place the pieces of the walleye in the pan. Let them fry on one side for 3 to 4 minutes. Then use a pair of tongs to flip them over and let them fry on the other side for an additional 3 to 4 minutes. Then take each piece out and onto some paper towels to let the excess oil drip off.
• Serve the pan-fried walleye with some parsley, and a fresh squeeze of lemon. Enjoy!

Inspiration from other blogs

From Beyond the Chicken Coop

From Taste of Home