This study aimed to investigate different feed type and feeding frequency on growth and muscle quality of juvenile channel catfish (). A 2×2 design with three replicates was performed in this trial, which included feed type (extruded feed, EF; pellet feed, PF) and feeding frequency (twice daily, F2; three times daily, F3). In an 8-week trial, regular feeding twice (7:30 and 16:30) or three times (7:30, 12:00, 16:30) daily occurred, and the amount of feed was adjusted to keep all cages consistent. The results showed that the final weight and weight gain rate of channel catfish were influenced by the feeding frequency, the results from the F2 group were significantly higher than that of the F3 group (<0.05); meanwhile, feed type did not affect the growth of channel catfish (>0.05). The crude fat content, cohesiveness, and resilience of the pelleted feed group were significantly lower than that of the extruded feed group (<0.05), whereas the hardness was significantly higher than the extruded feed group (<0.05). The hardness, adhesiveness, and chewiness of the F3 group were significantly higher than that of the F2 group (<0.05). The relative expression of myogenic factor 5 (Myf5) and myostatin (MSTN) genes in the pelleted feed group was significantly lower than that in the extruded feed group ( gene in muscle of the F3 group was significantly higher than that of the F2 group, but the relative expression of the myogenin (MyoG) gene showed the opposite trend. The present study indicated that the growth of channel catfish fed extruded feed was similar to those fed pelleted feed with the same formula. Fish fed pellet feed had higher hardness, whereas fish fed extruded feed had higher muscle fat content. The optimum feeding frequency of channel catfish was twice daily in this study.