Thread: Baked Crappie (Not the best way to eat crappie)

May have been better if I knew what I was doing. I've only cooked fish in deep fryer. I did try to smoke some one time that too didn't turn out very well. Any suggestions as how to cook fish other than frying it?

Shake and Bake for fish isn't too bad, kind of like fried.

The only way I like Crappie other than fried, is to grill it on the barbeque.

I put the fillets in a zip lock bag and then dump Italian salad dressing on the and let them marinate for about an hour.

I preheat the grill to 400*F and I have a little fish grilling tray, porcelin coated with a zillion 1/4" diameted holes in it so the fish doesn't fall through the grating. I spray that real good with the Pam for Grilling and let it preheat as well. then when everything is to temperature I throw the marinated fillets on. Close the lid and wait about 2 minutes, open flip the fillets and brush on more Italian salad dressing and close the lid for another 2 minutes.... and they're done!

It's a nice change from fried.. but I prefer my Crappie fried most of the time.

alot of the coatings like andys have a recipe for bake fish which comes out pretty good. i have baked crappie before and they came out good with just a lil butter and old bay on top or some lemon pepper, they key is to not overcook it. pan frying is also another option, you just put enough oil in to coat bottom of pan and cook a few minutes on each side(season how you wish). you can also try blackened crappie if you like em spicy. just use little oil in pan and get it smoking then toss a fillet in thats coated with blackened seasoning or cajun seasoning in it.

If you have one of the George Foreman grills, spray the fillets with butter spray, sprinkle with Lawry's Seasoned Salt and cook till they flake----good, quick, and fairly healthy.

First off there is nothing better than fried! But when you get old ,fat, high blood pressure, and too much blood sugar sometimes you have to do something different. Like diet and excersize, UGH, that means stay away from fried foods. So I have learned some alterative cooking = baked. Pretty tasty too, so hear goes I prepare the fillets and drain, grind up some crackers low fat of course, 1 1/2 cups cracker crumbs add 3 tablespoons each corn meal and grated Parmesan, salt and peper, and I like some cajun throwed in to. Whip up a couple eggs, dip the fillets in the eggs and then the cracker crumbs and place on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with Pam. In a sauce pan heat up some olive oil plus heart healthy butter substitute and drizzle a small amount over the fillets. It takes very little oil and butter just a few drops here and there on each fillet. Place in a preheated oven set a 425* for about 12 to 15 minutes do not over cook. These should brown up nicely and if they don't I flip the oven to broil for the last few minutes. After you do this a couple times it go a lot faster than you would think and a lot less mess in the kitchen. When they are done remove from the oven and set for a few minutes before removing from the pan, and while the first pan is cooking I prepare a second pan so that I can pop in a new one as soon as I remove the first. Try it it'll grow on you, not as good as fried but not bad.

Your right nothing better than fried, but my wife fixes some in the oven sometimes and they are pretty good for a change.
Lightly butter or spray a glass baking dish. Place fillets in dish, salt and pepper to taste.
Brush Catalina dressing on them and bake 7-8 min. Flip fillets over and brush again put back in for 7-8 min more. Like I said not as good as fried but worth a try..

Originally Posted by buffalo13

Your right nothing better than fried, but my wife fixes some in the oven sometimes and they are pretty good for a change.
Lightly butter or spray a glass baking dish. Place fillets in dish, salt and pepper to taste.
Brush Catalina dressing on them and bake 7-8 min. Flip fillets over and brush again put back in for 7-8 min more. Like I said not as good as fried but worth a try..

Whats the temp on the oven. I like Catalina dressing. That sounds good!

Originally Posted by rockmike

If you have one of the George Foreman grills, spray the fillets with butter spray, sprinkle with Lawry's Seasoned Salt and cook till they flake----good, quick, and fairly healthy.

I never thought of using my Foreman grill. I like the good, quick and fairly healthy part too. My New Year's resolution is to eat better, but I still want to enjoy what I eat. About how long til they flake in a Foreman grill?