Garlic Butter Tilapia 🧄🧈 Flaky, Fast, and Full of Rich Garlic-Lemon Butter Flavor

Garlic Butter Tilapia is your go-to easy seafood dinner — tender white fish seared or baked in a pan-sauce of melted butter, fresh garlic, bright lemon, and herbs.

It’s clean but rich, fast but satisfying, and pairs with almost anything on the plate.

Ingredients (Serves 2–3)

• 2–3 tilapia fillets (about 5–6 oz each)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil (or use part butter for extra richness)
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• Juice of ½ lemon
• Zest of ½ lemon (optional)
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or chives
• Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes

Instructions

Step 1: Season the Fish

Pat tilapia dry. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Let rest at room temp while you prep the sauce ingredients.

Step 2: Sear the Fillets

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add tilapia and sear for 2–3 minutes per side, until golden and flaky. Remove from pan and keep warm.

Step 3: Make the Garlic Butter

Lower heat to medium. Add butter and garlic to the same pan. Sauté for 30–60 seconds until fragrant. Stir in lemon juice, zest, and optional red pepper flakes. Scrape up any browned bits.

Step 4: Finish and Serve

Return tilapia to the pan and spoon sauce over the top, or plate the fish and drizzle sauce just before serving. Sprinkle with fresh herbs and serve immediately.

Flavor Variations

• Add capers and a splash of white wine for a piccata-style finish
• Swap lemon for lime and parsley for cilantro for a tropical vibe
• Add sliced cherry tomatoes and spinach for a full skillet dinner
• Use ghee or browned butter for a nuttier flavor profile

Serving Ideas

• Over garlic rice, quinoa, or cauliflower mash
• With roasted vegetables or steamed green beans
• In fish tacos with slaw and avocado crema
• Flaked into a salad with arugula, lemon vinaigrette, and crusty bread

Pro Tips

• Use a nonstick or well-oiled stainless skillet for delicate tilapia
• Don’t overcrowd the pan — sear in batches if needed
• Tilapia cooks fast — it’s done when it flakes easily with a fork
• Let the garlic toast but not burn — bitterness ruins the sauce

Final Thoughts

Garlic Butter Tilapia is a no-stress seafood dinner that feels polished and comforting in equal measure. With crisp edges, buttery garlic richness, and a squeeze of lemon brightness, it’s the kind of dish that delivers every time — even on your busiest night.

Sear fast. Spoon butter. Serve fresh. 🧄🧈🐟

🦐 Explore More Seafood Recipes

From cozy casseroles to zesty grilled fish and elegant seafood pastas, this collection covers every ocean-inspired craving — whether you’re planning a dinner party or a quick weeknight win.

🐟 Classic Seafood Dish Recipes – Think pan-seared salmon with lemon dill and timeless coastal favorites.
🦞 Delicious Seafood Boil Recipes – Spicy, saucy boils packed with crab, shrimp, and corn. The ultimate feast.
🍝 Seafood Pasta Recipes – Elegant and indulgent, like shrimp linguine in a white wine sauce.
🍤 Shrimp Recipes – Versatile, fast, and flavor-packed; smoky grills to sizzling stir-fries
🐟 Salmon Recipes – Baking & grilling to bowls, pastas, and more — healthy, flavorful, and easy to make/
🧀 Comforting Seafood Casseroles – Bubbly, cheesy bakes with crab, shrimp, or scallops.
🥣 Warm and Flavorful Seafood Soups – Rich chowders, bisques, and broth-based favorites.
🍽️ Easy Seafood Dinner Recipes – Quick and delicious mains like garlic butter tilapia.
🥗 Healthy Seafood Recipes – Light yet flavorful options like grilled mahi mahi with salsa.
🍚 Risotto Recipes with Seafood – Creamy rice dishes with seared scallops and fresh veg.
🌊 Seafood Stews – Hearty, rustic stews from the Mediterranean and beyond.