Pan-Seared Catfish with Garlic Herb 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 pan-seared catfish with a fragrant garlic herb butter sauce that enhances the natural sweetness of the fish. This Southern-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs catfish fillets, olive oil, unsalted butter for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 290 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 cuisine 290 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 fillets (6 oz each) catfish fillets
2 tbsp olive oil
4 tbsp unsalted butter
3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
2 tbsp, finely chopped fresh parsley
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp paprika

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 4 catfish fillets (6 oz each) and season evenly with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/2 tsp paprika on both sides.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking, about 2 minutes.
Step 3: Place the catfish fillets in the skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes without moving until the edges turn golden and crisp.
Step 4: Flip the fillets carefully and cook for another 3-4 minutes until the fish flakes easily with a fork.
Step 5: In a separate small saucepan, melt 4 tbsp unsalted butter over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
Step 6: Stir in 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley and 1 tbsp lemon juice, then remove from heat.
Step 7: Spoon the garlic herb butter over the cooked catfish fillets and serve immediately with your choice of sides.