Pan-Fried Catfish with Spicy Cajun Cornbread

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-15 · Updated 2026-05-15

Golden pan-fried catfish fillets paired with a moist cornbread infused with Cajun spices, perfect for a Southern-inspired dinner. This American Southern-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 50 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 480 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
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp, divided salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder

The cast-iron skillet we’d sear this in → Best Cast Iron Skillets for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, whisk 1 cup cornmeal, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tsp Cajun seasoning, 1 tsp paprika, and 1/2 tsp garlic powder with 1 cup buttermilk and 1 large beaten egg until combined but not overmixed. Pour batter into a greased 8-inch square baking pan and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
2. Step 2: Meanwhile, rinse 4 catfish fillets and pat dry. Season both sides with 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/2 tsp onion powder. In a large skillet, heat 1/2 cup vegetable oil and 2 tbsp unsalted butter over medium-high heat until shimmering.
3. Step 3: Add catfish fillets to the skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes per side until the exterior is golden brown and the fish flakes easily with a fork. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
4. Step 4: Serve hot catfish fillets alongside slices of the spicy Cajun cornbread for a hearty Southern meal.