Cajun-Spiced Blackened Catfish with Lemon-Dill Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-11 · Updated 2026-04-11

Flaky catfish fillets coated in smoky Cajun spices, served with a bright, herby sauce. This Cajun-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 23 minutes, pairs catfish fillets, paprika, garlic powder for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 290 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.

Ingredients

• 4 (6 oz each) catfish fillets
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 lemon
• 2 tbsp fresh dill
• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

The cast-iron skillet we’d sear this in → Best Cast Iron Skillets for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat 4 catfish fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides with 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1 tbsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp cayenne, and 1 tsp dried thyme.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Place seasoned catfish in the skillet and cook undisturbed for 4 minutes until golden brown.
3. Step 3: Flip catfish and cook for 3-4 minutes more until opaque and flaky. Remove from heat and keep warm.
4. Step 4: Zest 1 lemon and squeeze 1 tbsp juice into a bowl. Finely chop 2 tbsp fresh dill, add to the bowl with 1/4 cup Greek yogurt and stir until combined.
5. Step 5: Drizzle lemon-dill sauce over the catfish fillets immediately before serving.