Pan-Seared Local Catfish with Cajun 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.

Golden seared catfish fillets topped with a spicy Cajun butter sauce that celebrates Southern flavors with a farm-to-table twist. This American Southern-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs catfish fillets, kosher 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: 10 min Serves 4 American Southern 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 evenly with 1 tsp kosher salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning. Set aside for 5 minutes to absorb flavors.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Carefully add the catfish fillets and cook for 4 minutes on the first side until golden brown and crispy at the edges.
  3. Step 3: Flip the fillets and cook for an additional 3 minutes, until the fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove the fillets from the pan and keep warm on a plate.
  4. Step 4: Reduce heat to medium and add 4 tbsp unsalted butter to the skillet. Once melted, add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  5. Step 5: Stir in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, then spoon the Cajun butter sauce over the catfish fillets before serving.

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