Grilled Cajun-Spiced Catfish with Garlic Butter Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-23 · Updated 2026-06-23

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.

This grilled catfish features a bold Cajun spice rub, charred to perfection, and served with a rich garlic butter sauce that enhances the smoky flavor. This Southern American-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 22 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 320 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: 10 min Cook: 12 min Serves 4 Southern American cuisine 320 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 fillets (6 oz each) catfish fillets
2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
2 tbsp olive oil
4 tbsp unsalted butter
4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, about 400°F. Pat dry 4 catfish fillets (6 oz each) and rub them evenly with 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning and 1 tsp salt. Drizzle with 2 tbsp olive oil to help the spices adhere.
Step 2: Place the catfish fillets on the grill and cook for 4-5 minutes per side until the fish flakes easily with a fork and has a nice char on the edges.
Step 3: While the fish grills, melt 4 tbsp unsalted butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
Step 4: Stir in 2 tbsp lemon juice and 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley into the garlic butter, then remove from heat.
Step 5: Serve the grilled catfish hot, drizzled with the warm garlic butter sauce and freshly ground 1/2 tsp black pepper.