I bet you have always wanted to make Long John Silvers fish, and now you can with this copycat recipe. You will enjoy this Long John Silver’s fish batter recipe as it has crispy fish and a nice golden brown color.
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Crispy Fried Fish
Do you love this crispy batter-dipped fish? Crispy on the outside, with the fish cooked perfectly on the inside, it is hard to resist this fish.
Growing up, this was a favorite restaurant of mine. I remember when the Long John Silver’s first opened in Pueblo, Colorado. My family got in the car, and we soon munched on this fish.
This batter is very close to the Fish and Chips served overseas. This recipe is unique because the fish is crispy, but it isn’t done with a beer batter. Club soda is the key ingredient that makes this crispy fish batter special.
The batter has baking soda and baking powder in it, and when combined with the club soda, it gives the batter a unique lift you will love.
What Makes This Recipe The Best Copycat Long John’s Fish Batter Recipe?
Fish sticks are a staple fast food favorite on both sides of the Atlantic. While England may have a stronger tradition of fish and chip shops, a few popular chains exist in the US, including Long John Silver’s.
For over 50 years, the brand’s restaurants have been churning out deliciously crispy fried fish. While you won’t find Long John Silver’s everywhere, once you taste the crispy batter of their fried fish, you’ll want to enjoy it often. With this tried and true copycat recipe, you can make it anytime!
Why This Is One Copycat Long John Silvers Fish Batter Recipe You Must Try?
This version doesn’t attempt to recreate the classic heavier flavor of Britain’s fried fish. Instead, the battered fish recipe below goes with a more pronounced mixture of seasonings and club soda that recreates the taste of the Long John Silvers fish batter recipe.
Ingredients For Long John Silvers Fish Recipe
To make the batter, you’ll need:
- All-purpose flour
- Corn starch
- Sugar
- Salt
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Onion salt
- Paprika
- Ground black pepper
- Club soda
You can use seltzer or soda water if you don’t want to use club soda. Carbonation is the key to this recipe for Long John Silver’s fish batter because it keeps it light.
For the fish, you’ll need:
- Any firm white fish
- Lemon wedges, optional
The chain uses both cod and pollack based on availability. But any firm and relatively mild-tasting white fish will do. See the section below on choosing the best fish and more information.
For frying, I use vegetable oil or canola oil. I think peanut oil would also work well, but it is more expensive.
How To Make the Long John Silvers Fish Recipe
- Cut the fish into serving pieces no heavier than 3 ounces.
- Heat the oil in a heavy-bottom pot, Dutch oven, or deep-fryer to 350°F. It is critical that the oil is at the right temperature, so use a thermometer.
- Place paper towels on a baking tray and put a wire rack on top.
- Stir or whisk together all the batter’s dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Immediately before you are ready to fry your fish fillets, add the club soda slowly while continuing to stir.
- Coat the fish in the batter. Let the excess batter drip off the fish.
- Carefully drop the battered fish into the oil. Cook in batches to prevent lowering the oil’s temperature.
- Fry the fish for two to three minutes until golden brown. Turn the fish halfway through the cooking time, if necessary.
- Remove the fish using a spider or fryer basket and place the pieces on the wire rack to drain.
- Let the oil come up to temperature and repeat as necessary.
- Serve immediately.
Different Types of Fish You Can Use
When you make this recipe at home, you can use any fish that you like. Long John Silver’s uses Wild-caught Alaskan Cod. I have made my recipe with cod I purchased at Costco.
I think this would work well with catfish, tilapia, barramundi, haddock, hake, halibut, snapper, or any other white fish you may have. One good alternative is Swai fish, an inexpensive firm white fish that is mild and tastes slightly sweet.
You may even want to check out my Long John Silvers Chicken recipe.
I use my T-fal FR8000 Oil Filtration Ultimate EZ Clean Easy to clean 3.5-Liter Fry Basket Stainless Steel Immersion Deep Fryer, 2.6-Pound, Silver. I like it because it regulates the heat very well, and it has a filter so you can reuse the oil.
Recipe Tips
I do have some tips on technique:
Make sure your fish pieces are no more than 3 ounces. When the fish is heavier, it will immediately sink in the oil, and the batter may wrap itself around the heating elements of your fryer. If you use a pot to heat your oil in, this may not be an issue.
I like to raise and lower the battered fish pieces a few times when I lower them into the oil. This way the batter can cook just a little, and the expansion of the batter is less troublesome. It isn’t challenging to do at all, but this batter does expand while cooking. It is one of the characteristics that make fish batter so unique.
Other Ways To Use the Batter
The recipe for Long John Silver’s fish batter is so delicious; why not make a double batch of the batter and use it to fry other ingredients?
Make the lightest onion rings. Coat mushrooms, chicken filets, string beans, zucchini, or sweet potatoes for deliciously crunchy snacks. Heck, you can even fry the batter all by itself!
Different Ways You Could Use the Fried Fish
This recipe is also great for preparing fish for tacos and sandwiches. Feel free to experiment with the seasoning to create other flavor profiles.
What To Serve With Long John Silver’s Fish
French fries, hush puppies, and onion rings are traditional, but there isn’t any reason why you shouldn’t get more creative. Try fried green tomatoes, fried pickles, coleslaw, or cornbread.
Malt vinegar, tartar sauce, and a squeeze of lemon are popular condiments with fried fish.
How To Store the Leftovers
Leftovers will stay fresh for two days in the fridge and up to three months in the freezer.
To store fried fish in the fridge:
- Let the fried fish cool.
- Wrap the fish in individual pieces in a paper towel and put them in an airtight container.
To store fried fish in the freezer:
- Let the fish come down to room temperature.
- Lay out the fish on a baking tray.
- Put the fish in the freezer until frozen, about two to three hours.
- Transfer the frozen fish to freezer bags.
The Best Way to Reheat Long John Silver’s Fish
To reheat thawed fried fish in the air fryer:
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.
- Cook for four to five minutes, or until hot.
To reheat thawed fried fish in the oven:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Place the thawed fish on a wire rack over a baking tray.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until hot.
I hope you enjoy one of my childhood favorites. You could use this batter to dip chicken tenders, shrimp, and onion rings.
Love fish? Try these great recipes!
- Air Fryer Salmon
- Baked White Fish
- Batter Fried Shrimp
- Beer Battered Fish and Chips
- Captain D’s Fish
- Maryland Crab Cakes
- Pan Fried Salmon
- Panda Express Shrimp
- Poached Fish
- Salmon Patties
Popular Fried Main Dish Recipes
Check out more of my easy seafood recipes and the best fast food recipes here on CopyKat!
Long John Silvers Fish Batter Copycat Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 cups vegetable oil for frying
- 2 cups flour
- 1/4 cup corn starch
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon onion salt
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 16 ounces club soda
- 2 pounds cod or other white fish sliced into 3 ounce pieces
Instructions
- Heat about 8 cups of vegetable oil to 350°F in a fryer or heavy pot.
- Make the batter by combining the flour, corn starch, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda, onion salt, paprika, and ground black pepper. Stir to combine.
- Add the club soda to the dry ingredients. Continue to stir as the batter foams.
- Coat the fish pieces with the batter, and drop them into the hot oil.
- Fry for 2 to 3 minutes until the batter is golden and the fish pieces begin to float to the top of the oil.
- Drain the fish on a wire rack.
Video
Notes
Can’t Miss Cooking Tips
- To keep the batter from sticking to the bottom of the basket, gently lower fish and hold it for a few seconds to allow it to form up a crust before dropping it into the basket.
- You can swap the club soda for beer for a great flavor.
- Have a little batter leftover? Slice up some onion rings, and make onion rings.
Josh
I didn’t see the steps for us air fryer folks. How long (min) and what temperature?
Stephanie
This batter will not work in an air fryer. The batter will slide off.
Milisa
Made this tonight with large mouth bass and shrimp. It was perfect and just what I had been craving. I’ve always loved Long John Slivers and this was just as delicious.
Mike
Tried it yesterday with fresh cod, substituting a very light beer for the club soda ( my wife’s preference ), and six minute cook time because they were very thick pieces..
It was FANTASTIC!!!
This will definitely be our go-to fish batter from now on!
Stephanie
So glad you liked it!
Charlene Dryman
Love it,but the fish stuck to my fry basket. How to keep it from doing that?
Stephanie
I would slowly put it into the basket so the batter gets a chance to form up a crust.
Cora Wolfe
I used my deep fryer without the basket put the fish in carefully and turn over when one side is done
Tanisha
How long can you keep unused batter in the refrigerator
Stephanie
I would toss what you do not use within 24 hours.
Toni | Boulder Locavore
I definitely need to give this a try!
Erin
This takes me back to my childhood!
Joanne
This is so perfectly crispy. So good!
Jennifer Farley
This is such a tasty recipe, thank you!
Cathy @ Noble Pig
So that’s how they make it! Can’t wait to try this at home.
Kristen
So light and perfectly crispy! This recipe works like a charm! Thank you!
Lori @ RecipeGirl
This recipe is such a childhood favorite for me- so fun!
Joanna Cismaru
Have to try this, my husband is a big fan of this fish.
lc
great recipe!!
Melissa Sperka
I HAVE to try this!
Jo
Not ljs recipe but still good. I have worked for ljs for 31 years and this is not the recipe.
Nancy's
So what is the recipe or can you tell us is she close or not? ???? Please.
Angelina
Yeah Jo, so give up the recipe, since ‘inquiring minds’ would like to know!
vern troyer
Why bother replying and then ad no other information?
Tina
This was AMAZING!
As a child whenever my grandma and I want to take out it was always Long John Silver’s.
Mine came out perfect definitely a keeper! I only wish it would let me post a picture : ). Definitely yummy I made hush puppies to go with my fish.
As close as one could possibly get to Long John Silver’s itself
Stephanie
You can post a picture to Instagram and tag me! @copykatrecipes 😉 I am glad you liked it!
Anthony
How can so many people miss the most stand out herb in LJS?!? Star Anise (or ground fennel)
It is unmistakable and prominent to this day at LJS! You’d have to have a scarred tongue to not detect it. lol And while we are picking bones…there is also masa harina in the mix as well (Ahem…previous owners of the chain were Indian)
Very disappointing to see so many so many people miss the anise/fennel.
Lowbot
How much Star Anise would you recommend in this recipe?
Lisa
Hmm interesting. 🙂
Gay Springfield
How much star anise or ground fennel would you use for this recipe?
Anthony's lack of Google
Anthony… You’re kind of a not right The originator of the recipe was a guy named Jim Patterson. From Kentucky and pretty white. Most likely the franchisee was Indian.
http://www.entrepreneurhof.com/james-patterson
Ken
What kind of oil is used for frying. I heard LJS uses sesame oil.
Stephanie
I used plain vegetable oil for recipe development.
Mike
Long time LJS and Captain D’s fan and this is really close. My only suggestion is if you want them crispy 2-3 minutes is not long enough. I used a nice deep fryer that holds it’s temperature for 4 minutes and that wasn’t long even enough. A couple pieces came out perfectly like LJS but most pieces were soft and greasy. I just wanted to try the recipe exactly. Next time I would tap the fish with a fork until it feels hard and makes that hard fry wrattle sound.
Tara
Do’t know if this went through, I made this recipe and used my soda stream machine to fizz the water. With Stephanie’s recipe, it was exactly like LJS recipe. Very good! No extra sugar needed. My husband was sad when LJS left our area. He said this was the best fish ever. I even used the recipe to make onion rings and they rocked!! Thanks Stephanie
Stephanie
I did see your comment. I have a soda stream too 😉 It is exactly what I used to make my batter as well.
I am glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Bridget
Can I use beer instead of club soda ?
Stephanie
You can, it will work.