Lemon Butter Tilapia
Published May 03, 2024
Updated Mar 05, 2025
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This Lemon Butter Tilapia recipe takes tilapia to the next level. First, the fish is pan-seared to golden perfection, then drenched in a garlicky lemony buttery insanely good lemon butter sauce.
The perfect meal to enjoy with a wide array of side dishes for busy weeknights, date nights, and more!
One of my most popular recipes here on the blog is my Pan-Seared Tilapia. And for good reason. The fish is ridiculously tasty and so easy to make. No weird ingredients. Also, it can be paired with so many side dishes.
I have decided to take my already great Pan Seared Tilapia to the next level with this Lemon Butter Tilapia. Listen, this is next-level good.
The fish is not only perfectly pan-seared but also drenched in a buttery, garlicky lemony sauce that is to die for!
In fact, this melted butter sauce is one you’ll want to put on anything, from potatoes to seafood to steak to chicken. Serve this fish with garlic butter green beans for a satisfying dinner.
If you love easy dinner recipes also check out my Marry Me Chicken, Pan Seared Boneless Pork Chops, and my Pan Seared Lamb Chops.
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients For Lemon Butter Tilapia
- How To Make Lemon Butter Tilapia
- Tips For The Best Lemon Butter Fish
- Substitutions and Variations
- What To Serve With Lemon Butter Tilapia
- My Favorite Tools For Making This Recipe
- More Tilapia Recipes
- More Easy Dinner Recipes To Try
- Lemon Butter Tilapia Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
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 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 lemons: I 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.
How To Make Lemon Butter Tilapia
- First, pat dry fish 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.
Tips For The Best Lemon Butter Fish
- 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 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 my recipe for Lemon Pepper Tilapia and for a baked tilapia recipe, check out my Garlic Butter Tilapia.
Substitutions and Variations
- Different Fish: I 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 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.
What To Serve With Lemon Butter Tilapia
- Sauteed Vegetables
- Roasted Potatoes
- Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
- Easy Coconut Rice
- Sauteed Peppers
- Mango Avocado Salsa
- Garlic Herb Rice
- Bacon With Green Beans
- Any Steamed Vegetables You Like
My Favorite Tools For Making This Recipe
- 12 Inch Cast Iron Skillet: I love this skillet because it is large enough for me to cook three large fish fillets at once.
- Fish Spatula: A great tool for easily flipping fish. A kitchen essential!
More Tilapia Recipes
More Easy Dinner Recipes To Try
If you make this recipe please leave a star rating below. Your rating helps others find the recipe plus I love hearing from you! Thank you!
Lemon Butter Tilapia
Ingredients
- 1 pound tilapia fillets (3-4 fillets)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika regular paprika is fine too
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Lemon Butter Sauce
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 2 garlic cloves, grated
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed from about half a lemon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- 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.Add the seasoned fish fillets to the skillet. Let them cook on one side for 3-4 minutes until golden brown then flip them to the other side and let them cook for another 3-4 minutes.
- Transfer the fish to a serving platter.
Make the Lemon Butter Sauce
- Add the butter to a light colored skillet (I 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.
Serve
- Pour the lemon butter sauce over the cooked fish fillets, garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve warm.
Video
The best tilapia recipe out there
That’s so sweet. Thank you so much, Jessika!
You have a way with words that can cause one to salivate before tasting the food. I’m sure gonna try this out. Thanks for the recipe
Thank you, Patty!
So sweet
Thank you so much!