Pan-Fried Fish with Herb and Garlic Butter

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-21 · Updated 2026-06-21

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 and finished with a fragrant garlic and herb butter, showcasing flavors rooted in regional coastal cuisine. This American-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs salt, black pepper, all-purpose flour 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 American cuisine 280 cal/serving

Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

4 fillets (6 oz each) white fish fillets (such as cod or tilapia)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup for dredging all-purpose flour
4 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp olive oil
3 minced garlic cloves
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
for serving lemon wedges

Nonstick skillets worth buying → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 4 fish fillets (6 oz each) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
Step 2: Lightly dredge each fillet in 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, shaking off excess.
Step 3: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering.
Step 4: Add fish fillets and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and the flesh flakes easily with a fork; transfer to a warm plate.
Step 5: Reduce heat to low, add 4 tbsp unsalted butter and 3 minced garlic cloves to the skillet, stirring for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and butter is melted.
Step 6: Stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley and spoon the garlic herb butter over the fish fillets.
Step 7: Serve immediately with lemon wedges for squeezing over the top.