Pan-Seared Grouper with Cajun Butter Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-05 · Updated 2026-08-05

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 drafted and published.

A festive seafood dish featuring tender grouper fillets pan-seared and topped with a rich, spicy Cajun butter sauce. This seafood recipe, ready in about 22 minutes, pairs grouper fillets, salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 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: 12 min Serves 4 320 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 fillets (6 oz each) grouper fillets
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
4 tbsp unsalted butter
3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley
2 tbsp olive oil

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 4 grouper fillets (6 oz each) and season both sides evenly with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp paprika, and 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, then add the fillets skin-side down and sear for 4 minutes until the edges are crispy and golden.
Step 3: Flip the fillets and cook for another 3-4 minutes until opaque and flaky; transfer to a warm plate.
Step 4: Reduce heat to medium, add 4 tbsp unsalted butter and 3 minced garlic cloves to the skillet, stirring for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and the butter is melted.
Step 5: Stir in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 2 tbsp chopped parsley, cooking for 30 seconds until the sauce thickens slightly.
Step 6: Spoon the Cajun butter sauce over the grouper fillets and serve immediately.