Pan-Seared Fish with Citrus and Herb Butter

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.

Fresh regional fish fillets pan-seared to golden perfection and topped with a vibrant citrus and herb butter sauce. This Mediterranean-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs salt, black pepper, olive oil 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
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

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

  1. Step 1: Pat dry 4 fish fillets (about 6 oz each) and season both sides evenly with 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add fish fillets skin side down (if skin-on) and cook for 4 minutes without moving until edges are opaque and bottom is golden.
  3. Step 3: Carefully flip fillets and cook for an additional 3 minutes until fish is cooked through and flakes easily.
  4. Step 4: Reduce heat to low and add 3 tbsp unsalted butter and 2 minced garlic cloves to the pan. Stir butter and garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Step 5: Remove skillet from heat and stir in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp orange zest, and 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley. Spoon the citrus herb butter over the fish before serving.

Related recipes