Grilled Cajun-Spiced Catfish with Southern Style Corn Salad

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

A hearty regional Southern dish featuring tender grilled catfish seasoned with bold Cajun spices paired with a refreshing corn and tomato salad. This Southern American-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs catfish fillets, olive oil, paprika 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.

Ingredients

• 4 fillets (6 oz each) catfish fillets
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 cups (from about 3 ears) fresh corn kernels
• 1 cup, quartered cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 cup, finely diced red onion
• 2 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp honey

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat grill to medium-high heat (about 400°F). In a small bowl, combine 2 tsp paprika, 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Rub 4 catfish fillets evenly with 3 tbsp olive oil, then coat each fillet thoroughly with the Cajun spice blend.
2. Step 2: Place the seasoned catfish fillets on the hot grill. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side until the fish flakes easily with a fork and has visible grill marks.
3. Step 3: While the fish grills, prepare the corn salad: In a medium bowl, mix 2 cups fresh corn kernels, 1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes, 1/4 cup finely diced red onion, and 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley.
4. Step 4: In a separate small bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp mayonnaise, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, and 1 tsp honey until smooth and slightly thickened.
5. Step 5: Pour the dressing over the corn mixture and toss gently until everything is evenly coated. Serve the grilled catfish immediately topped with a generous scoop of the southern style corn salad.