This gluten-free fried fish is impossibly light, crispy, and golden, thanks to a delicate batter made with just one flour: white rice flour! This recipe is so easy to make, with your fried fish ready in just 20 minutes. The seasoned coating fries up shatteringly crisp while keeping the fish inside tender and flaky. Serve with fries for classic fish and chips, or tuck it into warm tortillas for gluten-free fish tacos.

This post is sponsored by Andronico's Community Markets, a long-term partner of Snixy Kitchen, but the opinions are all my own.

If there’s one take-out spot my kids will never turn down, it’s "the fried fish place." Do they sell more than fried fish? Yes. Do my kids care? Absolutely not. To them, it’s all about the crispy, golden battered fish—and honestly, I can’t blame them. But since I’m gluten-free, I had to recreate that light, crunchy, impossibly crispy batter at home.

Using Rice Flour to Create the Perfect Gluten-Free Batter

Years ago, we sat at a sushi counter and the chef told us that in Japan, he always used white rice flour for tempura because it fried up even more crisp than wheat flour.

Ever since then, I've been using white rice flour (yes, just one flour!) to make the very best light and airy gluten-free fried foods that I missed, like bar-style fried cauliflower and crunchy tempura asparagus.

This golden and crisp gluten-free fried fish is so easy to make. Just whisk up the batter, dip in the fish, and drop in a couple of inches of oil to fry up in minutes. Serve it simply as gluten-free fish & chips (with air-fried frozen fries and tartar sauce!), or nestled into tangy spiced gluten-free fish tacos!

Everything you loved about fried fish, but gluten-free

Crispy, Light Batter – Made with white rice flour (just like tempura!), this batter fries up perfectly golden and shatteringly crisp without feeling heavy or greasy.
Flaky Tender Fish: The crisp outside gives way to tender, flaky white fish.

Gluten-Free Fish and Chips with Tartar Sauce

Recipe Testing Notes

Firm white fish fillet: You want a mild firm white fish that has plenty of moisture that won't dry out or fall apart when cooked. For this recipe I strongly recommend cod (my favorite is wild Alaskan cod). You can also use mahi mahi, rockfish, snapper, or tilapia. Fresh fish is best as it doesn't release as much moisture as pre-frozen, making it easier for the batter to stick to the fish.
White rice flour: White rice flour fries up shatteringly crisp with a neutral taste, making it a perfect gluten-free substitute to wheat flour in making fried fish.
Seasoning - salt, paprika, garlic powder: Since the fish here is so mild, give the batter a little extra flair with some seasoning - paprika, garlic powder, and salt.
Baking soda: produces tiny bubbles that create a lighter, crisper, and more airy texture, while also promoting browning without overcooking the fish.
Cold seltzer water: To ensure your batter is cold so it starts setting as soon as it hits the oil, use cold seltzer water. You can also substitute cold gluten-free beer or gluten-free hop water for a little of that hoppy flavor in beer-battered fried fish!
Vegetable oil, for frying: You only need 2-3 inches in a pot, so no need to overdo it! Use canola, vegetable, safflower, or sunflower - whatever neutral high-heat oil you prefer!

Andronico's: Sustainable Seafood

You might have noticed the Responsible Choice logo on the cod wrapper above. Andronico's has made a commitment to selling only high-quality sustainable seafood from environmentally and socially responsible sources - to better protect the oceans and those working in the seafood industry.

So if you're in the Bay Area, you can be confident that all the seafood found at your local Andronico's – from fresh to frozen to shelf-stable – is sustainably sourced.

While you're there, you can grab everything else you need for this recipe, including the gluten-free white rice flour!

How to Make Battered Gluten-Free Fried Fish

If you're overwhelmed by frying at home, you're about to learn just how easy it is! Start by preheating 1-2 inches of oil in a medium to large pot on the stove until 350°F (use a candy thermometer if you have one to help you keep an even temperature).

Dredging Fish in White Rice Flour for Frying

First, cut the fish into pieces and pat it dry with a paper towel. Then dredge the fish in flour before dipping it into the batter. This makes sure you get a thick even layer of batter that will actually stick to the slick fish.

Whisk up all the dry ingredients for the batter. Then whisk the egg yolks into the cold seltzer until well mixed and foamy.

Pour the liquid into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined, but it can still be a bit clumpy! Don't overmix or it won't be as light and airy. It should be thick enough to create a thin layer of batter on the fish without sliding right off, but thin enough that batter actually sticks to the fish, so adjust with a tiny bit more seltzer or white rice flour as needed.

Dunking Fish in Gluten-Free Batter for Frying

Dunk the fish into the batter, ensuring it's entirely coated in batter all over.

Working with 2-3 pieces of fish at a time, gently put the fish in the hot oil, frying on both sides for 2-3 minutes, until evenly golden brown.

Hint: Transfer to a wire rack lined with paper towels to stay crisp while it lightly cools - this way it doesn't get soggy on the bottom as it sits in a puddle of oil!

Close-up of Crispy Battered Gluten-Free Fried Fish

How to Reheat Gluten-Free Fried Fish?

Most people will say: You don't. Usually when we plan seafood for dinner, we do so on a day when we don't need/want leftovers. That being said, you can (and I have!) absolutely reheat leftover gluten-free fried fish.

Air Fryer: The air fryer is the perfect tool for reheating crispy battered fried fish. Just pop it in at 400° for 4-6 minutes, until crisp and warmed throughout.

Oven: You can also reheat it on a wire rack in the oven - fish stick style. Place a wire baking rack on top of a baking sheet and spread your fish out on the rack. Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes, flipping the fish once halfway through. This will keep your fried fish crispy, just the way you intended.

Whatever you do, don't try to microwave fried fish. Microwaving fried food is the quickest way to ruin that crisp breading.

Homemade Gluten-Free Fried Fish with French Fries in a Basket

Recipe

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a review and rating to let me and others know how you liked it!

Sarah Menanix -

March 26, 2025 at 12:39 pm

You know, I've never tried to air fry a battered fish before. my instinct tells me that because it's a wet batter, it might just stick to the air fryer. That being said when I did some online searching, I've found other battered fish recipes that use an air fryer. They recommend that once the fish has been battered, spray one side with cooking oil and place it sprayed side down, then spray all over the other side with cooking oil. Cook in a preheated air fryer at 390°F for about 10-13 minutes. I can't guarantee it'll work, but if you try it, please let me know!