Pan-Seared Catfish with Garlic Lemon Butter 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.

Tender pan-seared catfish fillets served with a bright garlic lemon butter sauce that enhances the natural sweetness of the fish. This Southern American-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 22 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 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: 12 min Serves 4 Southern American cuisine 320 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat dry 4 catfish fillets (6 oz each) and season both sides 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 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the fillets and cook for 4 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through, edges crispy.
  3. Step 3: Remove fillets from skillet and keep warm. Reduce heat to medium, add 4 tbsp unsalted butter and 3 minced garlic cloves to the skillet. Sauté the garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Step 4: Stir in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, letting the sauce thicken slightly for 30 seconds.
  5. Step 5: Spoon the lemon garlic butter sauce over the catfish fillets and serve immediately.

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