How to make beer batter for fish, shrimp, chicken tenders, Beer Batter Fries or vegetables with 4 ingredients. This dip makes all fried foods extra crispy, fluffy & delicious.
Wet batter with beer is amazing for all the things. Not only have we deep fried meat but zucchini and mushrooms are delicious coated and cooked to a golden brown this way too!
How to Make Beer Batter for Fish and Chips
We aren’t just going to focus on seafood here, you can use this to bread anything! I will say though that How to Beer Batter Halibut, cod or salmon is the most common request. It is such a fun and easy way to make fish and chips right at home that is cheaper and you’ll know exactly what’s in it. 😉
Can You Make Beer Batter without Beer?
You don’t have to use this drink, but it is great. The most important aspect about this, other than the flavor some love, is the carbonation so you could certainly make soda water fish batter if you preferred. Even soda pop works if you want a bit of sweetness to it! Alternatively, use our 3 ingredient tempura batter with water.
Table of Contents
As with all of our dishes, the seasonings are totally up to you but we do have a few great suggestions below. You will want to flavor it with at least salt and pepper or it won’t have a ton of pop. I like a bit of garlic powder too. It depends on what I am dipping in it what I choose at the time really. The basic 4 ingredients are.
Beer Batter Ingredients
- All purpose flour is the base to this
- Baking powder allows it to puff up a bit and not be as dense
- Egg will make it rich
- Beer of your choice or use any sort of liquid
What is the best beer to cook with?
That is subjective depending on whom you’re talking to. Keep in mind that the darker the color the stronger the flavor will be. I use a light lager like Coors Light or Corona myself for this or our pressure cooker beer can chicken. I get a bit of taste but not overwhelming. I get the advantage of it becoming fluffy and light with the bubbles but doesn’t overtake the taste of my dish.
Why do you add beer to batter?
Because the carbonation will lighten it up so it isn’t as heavy. You can experiment if you’d like but the results with just water instead won’t be as pleasurable for sure. It is like the difference between tempura and fast food fried tenders breaded. Ya’ know???
How to Make Batter for Shrimp
We shared here How to Beer Batter Shrimp because it is such an easy family friendly meal. Even my teenage girls will make it for us when I have just had a lot to do that day. I always have a bag of frozen shrimp in the freezer. I take that out to thaw the night before in the fridge. When ready we dry the outsides, dip in flour, in the batter and fry to crispy!
Tempura batter for fish is another great option to make a fun finger food for dinner time with some zucchini tempura with it! If you don’t have anything bubbly at home, you can make this with water. Using egg whites makes it even lighter than this one. Like a cake vs. angel food cake consistency, flooofy we call it. 😉
Batter for Chicken Tenders
Ok and you have kids like I do too right? You should use this to make Beer Battered Chicken Tenders after school for them too. If they are used to right out of the bag all these years you will likely never get them back to that person after trying these babies.
Want smaller pieces for little hands? You can use this to make nuggets too. The only difference is that the cook time will be less but made the same way. I will say this is a bit messy to make. If you are trying to minimize that you could dunk in and turn over with a fork.
Can you use beer batter in an air fryer?
We did find a way to do this but you would need to follow our Beer Batter Fish in Air Fryer recipe for that. The secret to that is after dipped you need to coat in flour so it isn’t as drippy wet and sticks.
Other recipes you will love if you have some extra in your fridge would be our 3 Ingredient Beer Bread that can be baked in the oven or pressure cooker! And if you want a healthier option but with the same flavors, make Beer Can Chicken in Oven so that liquid can steam the meat to tender perfection.
Think of cake batter made right out of the box, it should be a bit like that. If made too thick you can thin out by whisking a bit more beer in. If too thin, add a bit more flour until it is the right consistency for you.
Not really, it should be used as soon as possible for best results. As it sits it will continue to thicken, and get thicker, and thicker so…….there’s that. It’s so easy to whisk the flour, baking powder, egg and beer together that it doesn’t even make sense to prep it ahead anyway.
How to Make Beer Batter
Equipment
- 1 Bowl
- 1 whisk
Ingredients
Beer Batter
- 1/2 c all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 egg
- 1/3 c beer
Beer Batter Seasonings
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/3 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/3 tsp coriander
- 1/3 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Whisk together flour, seasonings and baking powder. Add egg and beer whisking together until you get a smooth thick batter.
Notes
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Tips: Heat oil to 155-160 F. so it is already hot and ready before making this since it is quick to make and best if used immediately. It will stick best if you dry meat or veggies on paper towels. Dip both sides lightly in flour and then dip into beer batter so it sticks well. Coat and allow excess to drip off before adding into hot oil to fry. If it needs to be thinned out a bit, add a bit more beer.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
