Nutmeg Free Cajun-Spiced Catfish

Total time22 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time12 min

4.6

(13)

Cajun-spiced catfish is one of those weeknight dinners that feels far more impressive than the effort it actually takes. A homemade spice blend of smoked paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, oregano, and thyme coats each fillet in bold, smoky heat before it hits a screaming-hot cast iron skillet. The result is a deeply golden crust on the outside and tender, flaky fish on the inside — the kind of contrast that makes people ask what restaurant you ordered from. Pre-mixed Cajun seasonings can be a minefield if you're avoiding certain spices, since blends vary wildly by brand and often include unexpected additions. Building your own blend from scratch here means you know exactly what's in every pinch. A squeeze of fresh lemon at the end cuts right through the richness and ties everything together beautifully. It's simple, satisfying, and completely built from pantry staples you likely already have on hand.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the Cajun spice blend

1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp dried oregano
½ tsp dried thyme
½ tsp ground black pepper
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
¾ tsp kosher salt

For the fish

4 catfish fillets (about 6 oz each), patted dry
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

For serving

1 lemon, cut into wedges
2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped (optional)

Instructions

1
In a small bowl, combine the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, black pepper, cayenne, and kosher salt. Stir until evenly mixed.
2
Pat the catfish fillets dry with paper towels, then sprinkle the spice blend evenly over both sides of each fillet, pressing gently so it adheres.

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