Pan-Fried Catfish with Cajun Spiced Cornbread

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-14 · Updated 2026-06-14

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 developed and reviewed.

Golden pan-fried catfish fillets paired with moist, spicy cornbread inspired by Southern culinary staples. This American-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs catfish fillets, cornmeal, all-purpose flour for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 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: 20 min Cook: 35 min Serves 4 American cuisine 520 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 (6 oz each) catfish fillets
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 tbsp baking powder
2 tbsp sugar
4 tbsp unsalted butter

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Instructions

Step 1: In a shallow dish, combine 1 cup cornmeal, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Pour 1 cup buttermilk over 4 catfish fillets and dredge them in the seasoned cornmeal mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
Step 2: Heat 1/2 cup vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the catfish fillets for 4-5 minutes per side until the crust is golden and fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove and keep warm.
Step 3: Preheat oven to 375°F. In a mixing bowl, whisk 2 large eggs with 1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal, 1 tbsp baking powder, 2 tbsp sugar, and 1 tsp salt. Melt 4 tbsp unsalted butter and stir into the batter.
Step 4: Pour batter into a greased 9-inch cast iron skillet or baking dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Step 5: Serve the pan-fried catfish alongside generous wedges of spicy cornbread for a satisfying Southern-inspired meal.