Pan-Seared Catfish with Cajun Spiced Butter

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-23 · Updated 2026-06-23

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.

A tender catfish fillet pan-seared to golden perfection and finished with a rich Cajun butter sauce bursting with aromatic spices. This Southern US-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 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: 15 min Serves 4 Southern US 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
1 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 nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes.
Step 3: Place the catfish fillets in the skillet and cook for 4 minutes without moving until edges turn golden and crisp.
Step 4: Carefully flip the fillets and cook for another 3-4 minutes until opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
Step 5: Remove fish from skillet and set aside on a warm plate.
Step 6: Reduce heat to medium and add 4 tbsp unsalted butter and 3 minced garlic cloves to the skillet, stirring continuously for 1-2 minutes until garlic is fragrant and butter is melted.
Step 7: Stir in 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, cooking for another 30 seconds until sauce slightly thickens.
Step 8: Spoon the Cajun spiced butter sauce generously over the catfish fillets and serve immediately.