Pan-Seared Catfish with Cajun Spice and Collard Greens
Tender catfish fillets seasoned with Cajun spices and pan-seared to perfection, served alongside sautéed collard greens with garlic and smoked paprika. This Southern US-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs catfish fillets, olive oil, Cajun seasoning 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.
Ingredients
- 4 pieces (6 oz each) catfish fillets
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 lb, stems removed and leaves chopped collard greens
- 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 4 lemon wedges
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat dry 4 catfish fillets and evenly rub 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning all over each fillet.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, then add the catfish fillets skin-side down; cook for 4 minutes until golden and crisp, then flip and cook for 3 more minutes until cooked through and flaky.
- Step 3: While the fish cooks, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a separate pan over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 4: Add 1 lb chopped collard greens, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to the garlic; stir and cook for 5-7 minutes until the greens are tender but still vibrant.
- Step 5: Serve the catfish fillets atop the sautéed collard greens with 4 lemon wedges on the side for squeezing.






