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Pan-seared white fish fillets with a golden garlic-paprika crust and lemon butter sauce garnished with parsley on a platter.

Garlic Butter Pan-Seared White Fish Fillets

A fast, flavorful 15-minute Mediterranean meal featuring thick white fish fillets pan-seared to golden perfection and basted in a rich garlic, lemon, and olive oil butter sauce.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Servings: 2
Calories: 285
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Fish:
  • - 4 thick white fish fillets approx. 6 oz each; Cod, Halibut, or Tilapia
  • - 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • - 1 tsp garlic powder
  • - 1 tsp onion powder
  • - ½ tsp sea salt or to taste
  • - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • - 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
For the Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce:
  • - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • - 3 cloves garlic finely minced
  • - Juice and zest of 1 large fresh lemon
  • - 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley finely chopped
  • - Fresh lemon slices for serving garnish

Method
 

Prep & Dry:
  1. Pat the white fish fillets thoroughly dry on all sides using paper towels.
Season:
  1. In a small bowl, combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Evenly coat both sides of the fillets with the spice mixture.
Sear:
  1. Heat Extra Virgin Olive Oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Carefully lay the fish fillets in the pan. Sear for 3 to 4 minutes without moving them, until a deep golden crust forms.
Flip & Melt:
  1. Gently flip the fillets using a thin spatula. Turn heat down to low-medium. Add the butter and minced garlic directly to the pan, letting them sizzle for 1 minute until fragrant.
Sauce & Baste:
  1. Stir in fresh lemon juice and zest. Use a spoon to repeatedly baste the warm garlic butter sauce over the tops of the fillets for 2 minutes until cooked through.
Serve:
  1. Remove from heat. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and fresh lemon wedges before serving warm.

Notes

- To make this dairy-free, replace the unsalted butter with additional Extra Virgin Olive Oil or a plant-based Mediterranean butter alternative.
- Ensure the pan is properly heated before adding the fish to prevent sticking and achieve a golden crust.