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Lemon Garlic Butter Tilapia

Close-up of a perfectly cooked Lemon Garlic Butter Tilapia fillet swimming in bright yellow butter sauce with chopped parsley and garlic.
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A simple recipe for pan-seared tilapia coated in a bright, savory lemon garlic butter sauce. This dish cooks quickly for a fast weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 (6 ounce) tilapia fillets
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  3. Place the tilapia fillets in the hot skillet and sear for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the fish from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the butter to the same skillet.
  5. Once the butter melts, add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Do not let the garlic brown.
  6. Pour in the lemon juice and let the sauce simmer for 1 minute, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  7. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the fresh parsley.
  8. Spoon the lemon garlic butter sauce evenly over the cooked tilapia fillets. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • For moist fish, avoid overcooking. Tilapia is done when it flakes easily with a fork.
  • You can bake the fish instead: place seasoned fillets on a baking sheet, bake at 400°F (200°C) for 12-15 minutes, then pour the prepared sauce over top.
  • Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor in the sauce.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://spoonswirl.com/lemon-garlic-butter-tilapia-recipe/