Pan-Fried Catfish with Cajun Spice and Lemon Aioli

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

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.

Tender catfish fillets seasoned with Cajun spices, pan-fried to golden perfection, and served with a tangy lemon aioli for dipping. This Southern American-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 22 minutes, pairs catfish fillets, Cajun seasoning, all-purpose flour 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

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat dry 4 catfish fillets (about 6 oz each) with paper towels, then rub evenly with 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning.
  2. Step 2: Place 1/2 cup all-purpose flour in a shallow dish and dredge each seasoned fillet, shaking off excess flour.
  3. Step 3: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering (about 350°F).
  4. Step 4: Add the catfish fillets carefully and cook for 4-5 minutes per side, flipping once, until the crust is golden brown and fish flakes easily with a fork.
  5. Step 5: While fish cooks, whisk together 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper in a small bowl until smooth and tangy.
  6. Step 6: Serve the pan-fried catfish hot with lemon aioli on the side for dipping.

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