Pan-Seared Catfish with Cajun Butter Sauce

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.

Tender pan-seared catfish fillets served with a rich Cajun-spiced butter sauce, capturing Southern Mississippi flavors. This Southern US-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs catfish fillets, cajun seasoning, salt 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: 15 min Serves 4 Southern US cuisine 320 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat dry 4 catfish fillets (6 oz each) and season both sides with 2 tsp Cajun seasoning, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes. Add catfish fillets skin-side down and cook for 4-5 minutes until golden and crispy; carefully flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes until cooked through and opaque.
  3. Step 3: Remove catfish to a warm plate. In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium, add 4 tbsp unsalted butter and 3 minced garlic cloves. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  4. Step 4: Stir in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, letting the sauce bubble and thicken slightly for 1 minute.
  5. Step 5: Spoon the Cajun butter sauce over the catfish fillets and serve immediately with your choice of sides.

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