Worth cooking

This Lemon Butter Tilapia is one to add to your dinner rotation. You’ll love this recipe because it is:

Ready in under 30 minutes.
It’s insanely good and so flavorful! Tilapia has a mild flavor, so it absorbs the seasoning well.
It is versatile and can be paired with so many side dishes.
It’s a mild tasting fish anyone can fall in love with.
It’s affordable.
It’s a good source of protein.

Ingredients For Lemon Butter Tilapia

You need the following simple ingredients for Lemon Butter Tilapia:

Tilapia Fillets: Fresh or frozen tilapia filets would work. If the fillets are frozen, be sure to thaw them before use. A quick and easy way to thaw tilapia filets is to completely immerse them in cool water for about 30 minutes. Then remove them from the water and pat dry.
Garlic Powder: For flavor and a nice crust on the fish.
Smoked Paprika: Regular paprika would work too. Paprika lends a pop of color, some smokiness, and a nice crust to the fish.
Olive Oil: For pan searing.
Butter: For flavor and for creating a buttery sauce.
Fresh lemon juice: we recommend freshly squeezed lemon juice. Before serving, you could place lemon slices on top of the fish and garnish with fresh lemon zest.
Fresh Garlic: Minced fresh garlic adds tons of flavor.
Salt and Black Pepper: Seasoning staples to bring out all the lovely flavors.
Fresh parsley: For garnishing.

For the full list of ingredients with measurements, check out the recipe card below.

The cooking process for this easy dinner is quite straight-forward. Here’s how to make it:

First, pat dry the fish filets with paper towels. Then, season tilapia fillets with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.

Pour olive oil into a skillet and heat it up. Then, pan-sear the fish for 3-4 minutes on each side.

Next, melt butter in another skillet. Add grated or minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add salt and pepper and stir. Take the skillet off the heat and stir in lemon juice.

Pour the lemon butter sauce over the fish, garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve.

Pat the fish dry with paper towels before pan-searing to ensure a nice crust.
Taste the lemon butter sauce and adjust as needed. Is it too lemony? Melt a little more butter and stir it in. Does it need more salt? Add a pinch.
Use a cast-iron skillet to sear the fish for a nice crust and even heat distribution. But any other skillet would work as well.

Also, see our recipe for Lemon Pepper Tilapia and for a baked tilapia recipe, check out our Garlic Butter Tilapia.

Different Fish: We used tilapia here, but any other fish fillet would work here as well. Try making this recipe with salmon, cod, whiting fish, or any other fish you have on hand. First, cook the fish to your desired doneness, then make the sauce and drizzle it over the fish. Note that if your fish fillets are thicker, they might require more time to cook on each side.
Red Pepper Flakes: Add some red pepper flakes to the lemon butter sauce for a hint of spice and those beautiful specks of red.

Pat tilapia fillets dry with paper towels.
In a small bowl mix together the half teaspoon of salt, quarter teaspoon of ground black pepper, garlic powder and paprika.
Rub the seasonings evenly on both sides of the fish.
Heat the olive oil in a 12 inch cast iron skillet or other skillet on medium heat. If you don't have a 12 inch skillet, use a smaller skillet and only add 1 tablespoon of the oil to cook 2 fillets at once.
Transfer the fish to a serving platter.
Add the butter to a light colored skillet (we used a stainless steel skillet) placed on medium heat. Let the butter melt then cook until it reaches a light brown color.
Turn the heat down to low. Add the grated garlic and stir for about 30 seconds.
Remove the skillet from heat then add the lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon of salt and ground black pepper. Stir to combine.
Pour the lemon butter sauce over the cooked fish fillets, garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve warm.