Pan-Seared Catfish with Texas-Style Cajun Rub

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 developed and reviewed.

This pan-seared catfish features a bold Texas-style Cajun spice rub that creates a flavorful crust, perfectly complemented by a simple lemon butter sauce. This Southern US-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 20 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 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: 10 min Serves 4 Southern US cuisine 320 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat 4 catfish fillets dry with paper towels; season both sides evenly with 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
  2. Step 2: Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering; carefully add catfish fillets and cook for 4 minutes on the first side without moving, until a golden crust forms.
  3. Step 3: Flip the fillets and cook for an additional 3 minutes until the fish flakes easily with a fork.
  4. Step 4: Reduce heat to medium-low, add 3 tablespoons unsalted butter and 2 cloves minced garlic to the pan; spoon the melted butter and garlic over the fillets for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Step 5: Remove the pan from heat and drizzle 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice over the fillets; garnish with 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley before serving.

Related recipes