Lemon Butter Tilapia
Home / Recipes / Fish & Seafood / Lemon Butter Tilapia
Lemon Butter Tilapia
Lemon butter tilapia is a weeknight dinner that cooks in one skillet in under 10 minutes. Mild tilapia fillets pan-sear, then finish in a bright lemon butter sauce with garlic. This recipe serves four and works with any thin white fish. Serve it over rice or with steamed vegetables for a light, fast meal.
Ingredients
- 4 tilapia fillets (6 ounces each)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Lemon slices, for serving
Directions
- Pat the fillets dry, season with salt and pepper, and dredge lightly in flour, shaking off the excess.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Cook the tilapia 3 minutes per side, until golden and flaky. Remove to a plate.
- Lower the heat to medium. Add the butter and garlic and cook 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Stir in the lemon juice and parsley, scraping up any browned bits.
- Return the fillets to the pan, spoon the sauce over them, and serve with lemon slices.
Tips and variations
- Dredge the fillets lightly in flour for a thin golden crust that helps the sauce cling.
- Tilapia is thin and cooks fast. Three minutes a side is usually plenty, so watch it closely.
- Add the lemon juice off the heat so the sauce stays bright instead of bitter.
- Swap in any thin white fish such as flounder, sole, or catfish using the same method.
Save it to your Recipe Box
Copy this one onto a 4x6 card. Title across the top, the ten ingredients down the left, the five steps down the right, and Serves 4, Prep 10, Cook 10 along the header. File it behind the Fish & Seafood divider. Built to outlast the screenshot.
Get the Recipe Box
Common questions
- How long does tilapia take to cook
- Thin tilapia fillets need about 3 minutes per side in a hot skillet. They are done when opaque and flaky.
- Do I have to flour the fish
- No, but a light flour dredge gives a golden crust and helps the lemon butter sauce cling to the fillets.
- What sides go with lemon butter tilapia
- Rice, roasted potatoes, or steamed vegetables like asparagus or green beans all pair well.
- Can I use frozen tilapia
- Yes. Thaw it fully and pat it very dry before cooking so it sears instead of steaming.
More fish & seafood recipes
Keep the ones that work
When a recipe earns a repeat, it deserves a card. The Albino Monkey Recipe Box keeps your handwritten favorites on real wooden dividers, Breakfast through Favorites.
See the Recipe Box