Pan-Seared Catfish with Cajun Butter and Lemon

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-18 · Updated 2026-05-18

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 pan-seared catfish fillets coated in a smoky Cajun butter sauce brightened by fresh lemon juice. This Southern-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs catfish fillets, Cajun seasoning, unsalted butter for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 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: 10 min Serves 4 Southern cuisine 320 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 fillets (6 oz each) catfish fillets
2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
4 tbsp unsalted butter
3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
to taste salt
to taste black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 4 catfish fillets (6 oz each) and season both sides evenly with 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, then add catfish fillets skin side down. Sear for 4 minutes without moving until edges crisp and golden, then flip and cook 3 more minutes until opaque and flaky.
Step 3: In a small saucepan, melt 4 tbsp unsalted butter over low heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté gently for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
Step 4: Remove butter from heat and stir in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley.
Step 5: Spoon the Cajun lemon butter over the cooked catfish fillets and serve immediately with your favorite sides.