Lemon Garlic Butter Tilapia
Tender tilapia fillets pan-seared until golden and basted in a lemon, garlic and parsley butter sauce. A light, high-protein fish dinner ready in just 15 minutes.
By Tasty Nest Recipes Editorial TeamPublished
15 min total 4 filletsEasy
Photo: basheertome · CC BY 2.0. Illustrative photo; your results may look different.
About this recipe
Tilapia is a mild, affordable white fish that cooks in minutes, which makes it ideal for busy weeknights. A light dusting of paprika and a quick sear give it colour, and a simple butter sauce with garlic and lemon adds plenty of flavour.
Serve with rice, roasted vegetables or a green salad for a light, healthy dinner on the table in a quarter of an hour.
Equipment you'll need
- Large nonstick skillet
- Thin fish spatula
- Instant-read thermometer
Tips for success
- Dry fish sears; wet fish steams. Pat it thoroughly with paper towels.
- Thin fillets cook very quickly; check them after 4 minutes in total.
- Lower the heat when adding the garlic so it does not burn.
Substitutions and variations
- Use cod, haddock, sole or flounder (adjust timing for thickness).
- Use olive oil instead of butter for a dairy-free sauce.
- Add a tablespoon of capers to the sauce.
Storage and reheating
To store: Refrigerate for up to 2 days. Freezing cooked tilapia is not recommended, as it turns mushy.
To reheat: Reheat gently in a covered skillet over low heat or a 275°F (135°C) oven until just warmed through.
Recipe
Lemon Garlic Butter Tilapia
Tender tilapia fillets pan-seared until golden and basted in a lemon, garlic and parsley butter sauce. A light, high-protein fish dinner ready in just 15 minutes.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Yield
- 4 fillets
- Level
- Easy
Ingredients
Tick off ingredients as you gather them.
Instructions
Step 1: Season
Pat the fillets very dry and season both sides with salt, paprika and pepper.
Step 2: Sear
Heat the oil in the skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the fillets for 2 to 3 minutes until golden underneath, then carefully turn them.
Step 3: Make the sauce
Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter and garlic. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, spooning the butter over the fish, until the fish flakes easily and reaches 145°F (63°C).
Step 4: Finish
Add the lemon zest, juice and parsley, swirl the pan and spoon the sauce over the fish. Serve with lemon wedges.
Cuisine: American · Course: Dinner
Estimated nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 250
- Protein
- 34 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Carbs
- 2 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
- Sugars
- 0 g
Approximate values estimated from typical nutrition data for the listed ingredients, excluding optional toppings and serving suggestions. Actual values vary with brands, portion sizes and substitutions. Not verified by a dietitian or laboratory analysis.
tastynestrecipes.com/recipes/lemon-garlic-tilapia
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