Pan-Fried Catfish with Southern Style Fried Green Tomatoes

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

Golden pan-fried catfish fillets paired with tangy fried green tomatoes for a classic Southern dinner. This Southern-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 35 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 450 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 pieces, about 6 oz each catfish fillets
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 3 medium, sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds green tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups for frying vegetable oil
• 2 large, beaten eggs
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (for dredging tomatoes)

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a shallow dish, combine 1 cup cornmeal, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Pour 1 cup buttermilk into a separate bowl.
2. Step 2: Dip each of the 4 catfish fillets into the buttermilk, then dredge thoroughly in the cornmeal mixture, pressing to coat well. Set aside.
3. Step 3: Heat 1 cup vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering at 350°F. Fry the catfish fillets for 4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
4. Step 4: Meanwhile, prepare the fried green tomatoes: dip each of the 3 sliced green tomatoes first into 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, then into 2 beaten eggs, then back into the flour for a double coating.
5. Step 5: Add remaining 1/2 cup vegetable oil to a separate skillet and heat over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Fry the tomatoes for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
6. Step 6: Serve the pan-fried catfish alongside the fried green tomatoes for a flavorful Southern-inspired meal.