Pan-Fried Catfish with Southern Red-Eye Gravy

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-11 · Updated 2026-05-11

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 pan-fried to golden perfection, served with a classic Southern red-eye gravy made from black coffee and pan drippings. This Southern-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 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 350 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: 15 min Serves 4 Southern cuisine 350 cal/serving

Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

4 pieces (6 oz each) catfish fillets
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tbsp butter
1/2 cup black coffee
1/4 cup water
2 tbsp ham drippings (or bacon fat)

Nonstick skillets worth buying → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

Step 1: In a shallow bowl, combine 1 cup cornmeal, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/2 tsp paprika. Dredge each of the 4 catfish fillets thoroughly in the mixture, shaking off excess.
Step 2: Heat 1/2 cup vegetable oil and 2 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering (about 350°F). Add the catfish fillets and pan-fry for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through, then remove and keep warm.
Step 3: Reduce heat to medium and add 2 tbsp ham drippings or bacon fat to the skillet with the pan drippings. Slowly whisk in 1/2 cup black coffee and 1/4 cup water, scraping the browned bits from the pan. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until the gravy thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon.
Step 4: Spoon the red-eye gravy over the catfish fillets and serve immediately with your favorite Southern sides.