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Pan-Seared Lemon Garlic Butter Tilapia

Two pan-seared Lemon Garlic Butter Tilapia fillets swimming in bright yellow butter sauce and topped with fresh parsley.
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A quick recipe for pan-searing tilapia fillets coated in a bright, savory lemon garlic butter sauce.

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 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides lightly with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  3. Place the tilapia fillets in the hot skillet, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Cook 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. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Do not let the garlic burn.
  5. Pour in the lemon juice and add the lemon zest. Stir constantly for 1 minute, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  6. Return the cooked tilapia fillets to the skillet. Spoon the lemon garlic butter sauce over the fish.
  7. Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving immediately.

Notes

  • To keep the fish moist, cook until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • For a complete meal, roast asparagus at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 minutes while you prepare the fish.
  • Serve the fish over white rice or with pasta to soak up the extra sauce.

Nutrition

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