Pan-Seared Cajun-Spiced Catfish with Creamy Grits

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 developed and reviewed.

A classic Southern soul food dish pairing crispy pan-seared catfish seasoned with Cajun spices and smooth, cheesy stone-ground grits. This Southern Soul Food-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs catfish fillets, cajun seasoning, cornmeal 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: 10 min Cook: 30 min Serves 4 Southern Soul Food cuisine 520 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a shallow dish, combine 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning and 1/2 cup cornmeal. Pat dry 4 catfish fillets and dredge each evenly in the cornmeal mixture.
  2. Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the catfish fillets and sear for 4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through, then transfer to a warm plate.
  3. Step 3: Meanwhile, bring 4 cups water and 1 tsp salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Slowly whisk in 1 cup stone-ground grits and reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring frequently, for 20 minutes until thick and creamy.
  4. Step 4: Remove grits from heat and stir in 3 tbsp unsalted butter, 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, and 1/2 tsp black pepper until the cheese melts and grits are smooth.
  5. Step 5: Serve the pan-seared catfish over a bed of creamy cheese grits with optional hot sauce on the side.

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