Baked Cajun-Spiced Catfish with Southern Cornbread

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-03 · Updated 2026-06-03

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A flavorful regional Southern dish featuring tender catfish fillets rubbed with Cajun spices and baked to perfection, paired with moist, golden cornbread. This Southern-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs catfish fillets, Cajun seasoning, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. 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.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 40 min Serves 4 Southern cuisine 420 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 fillets (6 oz each) catfish fillets
2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 cup yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
2 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup whole milk
1 large egg
4 tbsp (melted) unsalted butter

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning with 2 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp lemon juice, stirring into a paste. Rub this mixture evenly onto 4 catfish fillets, coating all sides.
Step 2: Place the seasoned catfish fillets on a baking sheet lined with parchment and bake for 15-18 minutes until the fish flakes easily with a fork and is opaque.
Step 3: Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together 1 cup yellow cornmeal, 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, 2 tbsp granulated sugar, and 1 tsp salt until evenly mixed.
Step 4: In a separate bowl, beat 1 large egg with 1 cup whole milk and 4 tbsp melted unsalted butter. Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir just until combined.
Step 5: Grease an 8-inch square baking pan and pour in the cornbread batter. Bake in the 400°F oven for 20-22 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Step 6: Serve the baked Cajun-spiced catfish alongside warm cornbread for a hearty Southern regional meal.