Pan-Seared Catfish with Cajun Butter and Herb Rice

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-02 · Updated 2026-08-02

Delicate catfish fillets pan-seared to golden perfection, topped with a rich Cajun-spiced butter and served alongside fluffy herb-infused rice. This Southern US-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs catfish fillets, olive oil, salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 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
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2, minced garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley
• 1 cup long grain white rice
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup long grain white rice under cold water until water runs clear. In a medium saucepan, combine the rice with 2 cups chicken broth, bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 18 minutes until rice is tender and liquid absorbed. Fluff with a fork and stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley.
2. Step 2: Meanwhile, pat dry 4 catfish fillets and season both sides with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp paprika, and 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper.
3. Step 3: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add catfish fillets and cook for 4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove fish and keep warm.
4. Step 4: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add 4 tbsp unsalted butter and 2 minced garlic cloves. Cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes until butter melts and garlic is fragrant.
5. Step 5: Stir in 1 tbsp lemon juice and 1 tbsp chopped parsley into the butter sauce. Pour the Cajun butter over the catfish fillets.
6. Step 6: Serve the catfish alongside the parsley herb rice, spooning extra butter sauce on top.