Pan-Fried Crispy Fish Fillets with Lemon Butter Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Delicate fish fillets pan-fried until crispy and golden, served with a bright lemon butter sauce that enhances the natural flavors. This Mediterranean-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs white fish fillets (cod or tilapia), salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 10 min Serves 4 Mediterranean cuisine 280 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat dry 4 white fish fillets (5 oz each) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Lightly dredge each fillet in 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, shaking off excess.
  2. Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the fish fillets and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy, flipping carefully.
  3. Step 3: Remove fish to a warm plate and cover loosely with foil. Reduce heat to medium and add 2 tbsp unsalted butter and 2 minced garlic cloves to the pan, sautéing for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Step 4: Stir in 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 1 tsp lemon zest, scraping up any browned bits. Cook for 1 more minute until the sauce thickens slightly.
  5. Step 5: Pour lemon butter sauce over the fish, garnish with 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, and serve immediately with your choice of sides.

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