Not everyone may agree with this… but I don’t think modern pioneers should crave deep fried fish! No… instead we long to enjoy a delicious platter of fresh caught fish that we have prepared and cooked ourselves. That’s exactly why I am sharing this grain-free breaded walleye recipe with you! Tender, flavorful, moist, and deliciously baked (not fried!) with a bread coating, there’s not much to not like about this fish. If you’re not sure if you’re a modern pioneer who likes fish, I encourage you to think again, this recipe may just change your mind!

a tray of grain-free breaded walleye fillets with oven roasted sweet potato fries

Pioneer Recipe

Fish is truly a pioneer recipe! And when it is breaded in simple flours and pan-fried or oven-baked in a healthy fat, that makes it even more of a pioneer recipe! Pioneers and woodsmen would fish for food from the streams and cook whatever they caught over the open fire. While you don’t have to cook this walleye over the open fire (although you very well could) you can still enjoy this pioneer recipe as a modern pioneer.

When I was scrolling though a website that had compiled a bunch of old-time pioneer and chuckwagon recipes, I came across a recipe for Dutch oven trout. The recipe had you roll the fish in a flour mixture and fry the fish in a Dutch oven. I was actually surprised, and thrilled, to see that the concept of breading your fish was actually used by the early pioneers too!

I love making this pioneer recipe since it makes me truly feel like a modern pioneer! Fishing for the walleye, prepping the fish, and enjoying a healthy, simple meal of home-cooked walleye is my kind of pioneering! Did I mention healthy? Yes, this breaded walleye meal is also allergy-friendly and perfect for modern pioneers with dietary restrictions! It is…..

grain-free
gluten-free
nut free
egg free option
dairy-free
corn free

For another one of my favorite fish recipes, make sure you give these grain-free breaded perch fillets a try!

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a breaded walleye fillet served alongside salted sweet potato fries

Benefits of Eating Walleye

Fish can be considered a power food for sure! There are so many health benefits that it provides and, when they are fished sustainably and caught from the proper environment, they make a great addition to your homestead diet!

Sustainably caught, wild fish will be the healthiest for you, and fishing for your own fish is even better since you can choose your source and prep the fish yourself!

Walleye are a species of fish in the perch family. They are sometimes referred to as yellow pike or pickerel. The meat of the walleye is white, tender, and very mild tasting. The benefits of eating walleye are similar to most fish. Here are a few highlights of eating fish!

High in Protein– Walleye is low in fat and very high in protein! A three ounce serving contains about 20 grams of protein!
B Vitamins– It is also a good source of B-vitamins, especially thiamin and B-12.
Minerals– Walleye is not only a good source of vitamins, but it also contains beneficial minerals like iron, manganese, and copper.
Omega 3’s– Like most fish, walleye contain omega-3 fatty acids, which help maintain heart and brain health.
Vitamin D– Fish is one of the only natural sources of vitamin D that the body can absorb!
Low Inflammation– It is naturally anti-inflammatory and can help prevent auto-immune disorders.
Brain Health– Fish is a brain food and will help you concentrate and stay focused more easily!

Not into fish? Then check out these grilled venison steak kabobs for a different wild game recipe!

a pan-fried fish sandwich made using a gluten-free roll and homemade coleslaw

Tips for Serving Breaded Walleye

Walleye in and of itself is delicious, nutritious, and filling. However, there are some healthy sides you can serve with your breaded walleye to make a well rounded, healthy homestead meal. Usually I like to serve my breaded fish with other pioneerish foods, like potatoes, vegetables, and a homemade bread product. However, there are many other simple and healthy options!

For a high protein option, serve your breaded walleye on a bed of seasoned quinoa and include some steamed or oven-roasted vegetables (from the homestead garden!).

For a nutrient-dense fish dinner, make up a pan of stir veggies like carrots, onions, peas, peppers, green beans, mushrooms, and whatever else you like in your stir fry! You could also whip up a batch of grain-free herbed cheese rolls to accompany the meal.

Going for a more classic fish and chips meal? Then try making up some baked veggie slices (beets, parsnips, and zucchini are good options!) or slice up some sweet potato fries to go with the breaded fish.

If you want to make a fried fish sandwich, then check out these grain-free bread rolls that would make a great sandwich, and don’t forget to include a side of homemade coleslaw or homemade salsa!

There are so many meal ideas that you can pair with this grain-free breaded walleye! My family loves variety and I love prepping a variety of different meals, from classic to simple and easy to gourmet or fancy!

pan-fried walleye fillets served with homemade sweet potato fries and bar-b-que sauce

Cooking Walleye Recipe Tips

Oven-baking walleye is pretty simple. You basically make up the flour mixture, coat the fish fillet chunks in the flour, and bake ’em up! However, if you have never battered and baked fish before, let me give you a few pointers:

Oil Options– Start by choosing your oil of choice. I like to use avocado oil spray since it bakes well at high temperatures. However, ghee or coconut oil spray can also be used.
Egg Free– For an egg free option, you can skip coating the fillets in scrambled egg. Instead, rinse the fillets under cold water or dip them in a dairy-free milk prior to rolling them in the flour.
Three Dips– You will be coating each walleye fillet in three dips to give the baked walleye a ‘fried’ appearance. The first dip is tapioca flour, the second dip is whisked eggs, and the third dip is a seasoned cassava flour blend.
Crispy Option– If you want your breaded walleye fillets to have more of that crispy, ‘fried’ texture, broil the fillets for the last 2-3 minutes of baking time. Be careful not to burn the fillets though, broiling cooks them fast!
Doneness– Usually the fillets are done when the fillets are golden brown, flake apart, or reach an internal temperature of 145°F. Thicker fillets will bake for longer.

a grain-free fish and chips dinner featuring walleye and sweet potato fries

These grain-free breaded walleye are delicious and packed with protein! Serve them with baked sweet potato fried or some pan-fried veggies, and paleo-approved condiments of your choice for a nutritious, well rounded, simple pioneer meal!

Grain-free Breaded Walleye (oven-baked)

Recipe by The Pioneer Chicks

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 20

Total Time 40

Servings 4 people

Author Alexa Lehr

Ingredients

1/4 cup Bob's Red Mill tapioca flour
1 cup Otto's Naturals cassava flour
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. paprika
salt & pepper to taste
2 pasture-raised, organic eggs whisked
1 lb. wild caught walleye fillets, skin off & de-boned (3-4" long)
avocado oil baking spray (or ghee or coconut oil)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 395°F. Line a 9×13" glass baking pan with parchment paper.
Prepate the three dips: Place the tapioca flour in the first bowl. Whisk the eggs together in a second bowl. In a third bowl, whisk together the cassava flour, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and salt & pepper to taste.
Pat the walleye fillets dry using paper towel. One at a time, coat each fillet in the three dip bowl. First roll the fillet in the tapioca flour. Then coat the fillet in the egg mixture. Lastly, roll the moistened fillet in the cassava flour mixture. Place the breaded fillet in the baking pan and repeat with the remaining fillets.
Once all the fillets have been breaded, lightly spray the breaded fillets with the avocado oil. Each fillet should be coated with the spray but not soaked.
Bake for 18-20 minutes. Thicker fillets will bake for longer than thin fillets. My fillets were about 2-3" thick. The fillets are done when they are golden brown, flake apart, and reach an internal temperature of 145°F.
Serve the breaded walleye with the side of your choice. Enjoy!

Where to Find the Ingredients

These grain-free breaded walleye fillets are coated in the perfect grain-free flour blend, oven-baked (not fried!) using a healthy oil, and served with nutrient dense sides such as protein packed quinoa or oven-roasted sweet potato fries! They are the perfect pioneer recipe that is also allergy-friendly, super nutritious, and simple to make. This walleye dinner is a favorite meal in my family, and I think it will be popular on your homestead too!

Need more pioneer recipe ideas or looking for a way to simplify your diet? Then join our modern pioneer community! We would love to share our weekly recipes with you and have you join us on our modern pioneer journey to sustainability and self-sufficiency!