Pan-Seared Catfish with Cajun Spice and Lemon Butter

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.

A Southern-inspired catfish fillet seasoned with a bold Cajun spice blend, pan-seared to a golden crust, and finished with a bright lemon butter sauce. This Southern-inspired seafood recipe (gluten free), ready in about 22 minutes, pairs catfish fillets, Cajun seasoning, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. 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: 12 min Serves 4 Southern cuisine 280 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 pieces (6 oz each) catfish fillets
2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
2 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 cloves minced garlic
1 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 evenly with 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning, plus salt and black pepper to taste.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering; add the fillets and sear for 4 minutes on each side until golden and cooked through.
Step 3: Remove fillets from skillet and set aside. Lower heat to medium, add 3 tbsp unsalted butter and 2 cloves minced garlic, sautéing for 1 minute until fragrant.
Step 4: Stir in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley; spoon the lemon butter sauce over the fillets before serving.