Crappie is one of the most popular fish to catch in the USA and it’s easy to see why. Found in abundance in most freshwater locations, crappies aren’t just great fun to catch, they are a delicious fish to eat, with a near-endless selection of mouth-watering recipes available.
Most people cooking crappie like to fry the fish, with the species being one of the best-known panfish around. The name panfish says it all – you fry the fish inside of a pan! The crispy coating combines wonderfully with the soft, succulent, and flaky meat, which is why so many love to cook their crappie in the frying pan.
How to Cook Crappie in the Oven
Of course, there is more than one way to skin a cat, with many people enjoying the taste of oven-cooked crappie. It’s quick, easy, and a lot healthier way to enjoy your catch, so if you’re looking for a different way to cook crappie, then try this oven-baked method:
Prepping the Fish
You can use crappie fillets or the whole fish, so prepare them as you normally would for pan-frying, whether filleting or pan dressing. Make sure to give the fish a good rinse with cold water and then pat them dry.
Add salt and pepper to the fish.
Seasoning and Coating the Fish
While not necessary, you can coat with melted butter and lemon juice for a rich and zesty flavor. Plain butter or some oil works fine but the lemon does enhance the natural taste of the fish, so if you want something light but tasty be sure to do this before you bake them!
You can also just add your favorite herb and spice mixture with a bit of oil.
If you want a crispy coating for the baked crappie, then combine with your favorite bread crumb mixture. Italian breadcrumbs work very well but you can use anything including plain, panko, crushed crackers, or anything you can think of!
Add some seasoning into the breadcrumbs too if you want to try some different flavors – Old Bay is a classic seafood seasoning but feel free to use anything or keep it plain.
Cooking Fillets in the Oven
Cooking times vary depending on the cut of fish, so let’s look at how to bake with fillets first, which takes less time to cook than a whole fish.
Preheat the oven to 400F
Place the fillets on the baking sheet.
Cook for 8-10 minutes if cooking plain fillets
Cook for 10-15 minutes of cooking with a coating, turning once midway through. Thicker coatings may require longer cooking to get a crispy texture.
Cooking the Whole Crappie in the Oven
If you’re one of the many anglers that love their panfish cooked whole then you can bake the entire crappie in the oven, it just needs to spend a little longer cooking compared to fillets.
Preheat the oven to 375F.
Place the whole crappie on a baking sheet and brush with melted butter.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, adding more butter every five or so minutes for a crispy finish.
If using a coating, simply bake for around 20 minutes until crispy.
You may want to cover the tail with foil to prevent it from overcooking
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