Wood-Fired Blackened Catfish with Asian Chili-Lime Sauce
A bold seafood dish combining New Orleans blackening spices and an Asian-inspired chili-lime sauce, grilled over high heat for smoky flavor. This seafood recipe (gluten free, low carb), ready in about 25 minutes, pairs catfish fillets, paprika, garlic powder 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 low-carb week and pairs well with cauliflower rice or roasted green vegetables. 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.
Ingredients
- 4 pieces, about 6 oz each catfish fillets
- 2 tbsp paprika
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp red chili flakes
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
The cast-iron skillet we’d sear this in → Best Cast Iron Skillets for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to make the blackening spice blend.
- Step 2: Pat dry 4 catfish fillets (6 oz each) with paper towels. Rub both sides of each fillet with 2 tbsp vegetable oil, then evenly coat with the spice blend.
- Step 3: Preheat a wood-fired grill or regular grill to medium-high heat (about 450°F). Grill catfish fillets for 4-5 minutes per side until the fish is opaque and flakes easily.
- Step 4: While the fish grills, whisk together 3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp lime juice, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tsp sesame oil, and 1/2 tsp red chili flakes in a small bowl until combined.
- Step 5: Remove catfish from the grill and drizzle with the chili-lime sauce. Garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro before serving.









