Lakefront Fish Fry with Beer-Battered Cod and Tartar Sauce
Inspired by Milwaukee’s iconic fish fry tradition, this recipe features crispy beer-battered cod fillets served with a homemade tartar sauce. This American-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, layers cod fillets, all-purpose flour, cornstarch into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 4 pieces, about 6 oz each cod fillets
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup, cold lager beer
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- for frying, about 4 cups vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp dill pickle relish
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp, chopped capers
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide
Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →
Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup cornstarch, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Slowly whisk in 1 cup cold lager beer until a thick batter forms.
- Step 2: Heat 4 cups vegetable oil in a deep skillet or fryer to 365°F.
- Step 3: Pat dry 4 cod fillets and dredge lightly in flour. Dip each fillet into the beer batter, letting excess drip off, then carefully lower into hot oil.
- Step 4: Fry the fillets for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and drain on paper towels.
- Step 5: For tartar sauce, mix 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp dill pickle relish, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp chopped capers, 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, and 1/4 tsp garlic powder in a small bowl.
- Step 6: Serve the hot beer-battered cod with tartar sauce and lemon wedges for a classic Milwaukee fish fry experience.









