Skip to main content

Simple Summertime Sunfish Recipe

Here's a simple and delicious recipe for a late-summer fish fry.

Simple Summertime Sunfish Recipe

Preparation of your panfish fillets can be as uncomplicated as the pursuit itself. (Photo by Jim Gronaw)

Print Recipe

Although many small meadow streams and creeks have good populations of delicious sunfish species, it pays to harvest wisely by keeping just enough for a meal from time to time. Indeed, a half-dozen hand-sized redbreasts can offer scrumptious fillets from cold-water environs. Here is my favorite recipe for pan-fried sunfish.

This recipe is simple, quick and can be tweaked to your preferred tastes with additional flavorings and spices.


Simple Summertime Panfish Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 8–12 sunfish fillets
  • 1/2 cup of whole milk
  • Peanut or vegetable oil
  • 1/3 cup of pancake mix
  • 2 tablespoons of Old Bay seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to preferred taste


Directions:

  1. Place fillets in a bowl of milk for several minutes.
  2. Heat a 10-inch frying pan with oil to 375 degrees.
  3. Combine the pancake mix, Old Bay seasoning and salt and pepper in another bowl, then coat the milk-soaked fillets in the dry mix and place gently in the heated oil. Be careful not to have too much oil in the pan—just enough to cover half the thickness of a fillet.
  4. When the edges of the fillets curl up and turn light brown (usually around 3 minutes), turn gently and allow to cook approximately 2 more minutes. Exact cooking times may vary depending on your stove or grill.
  5. Set the golden-brown fillets on paper towels to drain and follow up with any additional sprinkling of spices.

Add some coleslaw, potato chips and a cold iced tea or beer, and it just doesn’t get much better than that!

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Fishing

Bass Crash Course: How to Properly Tune a Baitcasting Rig

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Fishing

Baitcaster Basics: The Overhead Cast

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Gear

Winchester Big Bore: Backcountry Bear Protection

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Guns

Ruger American Now Chambered in 7mm PRC

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Guns

Classic Marlin: 336 and 1894 Lever-Action Hunting Rifles

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Learn

NWTF's Passion for Wild Turkey Conservation Still Burns After 50 Years

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Gear

First Look: Leupold's BX-4 Range HD Rangefinding Binos

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Gear

Browning's Max Point, Silver Series Rifle Ammunition

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Gear

New Hunting Ammo from Remington: 360 Buckhammer

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Guns

New from Browning: X-Bolt Pro LR McMillan

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Gear

New Hunting Blades from Buck Knives

The new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady is available in three loads (160 gr. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. ELD Match,...
Gear

Hornady's Hot New 7mm PRC Cartridge: SHOT 2023

Game & Fish Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the Game & Fish App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now