Pan Fried Tilapia (with Lemon Butter Sauce)
A simple, elegant meal featuring perfectly seared tilapia fillets drizzled with a rich lemon butter sauce, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the Tilapia
- 4 fillets tilapia (6 oz each, 1.5 lb total)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder for seasoning tilapia
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
For the Lemon Butter Sauce
- 1/2 cup salted butter
- 2 tbsp lemon juice from 1 lemon
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder for sauce
Instructions
Preparation
- Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels.
- Season both sides of the fillets with garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper.
Cooking the Tilapia
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes.
- Place the seasoned fillets in the skillet in a single layer and cook for 3-4 minutes on the first side.
- Flip the fillets gently and cook the other side for 2-4 minutes until fully cooked.
- Transfer the fillets to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
Preparing the Sauce
- Reduce heat to medium-low and add the salted butter to the skillet. Let it melt while stirring occasionally.
- Stir in lemon juice and garlic powder, cooking for 1-2 minutes until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened.
Serving
- Drizzle some lemon butter sauce on each plate, serve the cooked tilapia over the sauce, and drizzle more on top.
Notes
For added freshness, consider pairing with a strawberry-spinach salad. Rest the fish for a few minutes before serving to retain moisture. You can also experiment with herbs like parsley or dill for variation.