Pan-Seared Catfish with Garlic Butter and Lemon Herb 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 drafted and published.

A tender pan-seared catfish fillet finished with a zesty garlic butter lemon herb sauce, perfect for a quick seafood dinner. This Southern American-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs catfish fillets, salt, black pepper 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 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 American cuisine 280 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat dry 4 catfish fillets and season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Lightly dredge each fillet in 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, shaking off excess.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil and 2 tbsp unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until butter melts and begins to foam.
  3. Step 3: Place the fillets in the skillet and cook for 4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through with a flaky texture.
  4. Step 4: Remove fillets from pan and keep warm. Lower heat to medium and add 1 tbsp unsalted butter, 3 minced garlic cloves; sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  5. Step 5: Stir in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 2 tbsp chopped parsley, and 1 tsp chopped thyme; cook for 30 seconds until sauce thickens slightly.
  6. Step 6: Pour the garlic butter lemon herb sauce over the catfish fillets and serve immediately.