Pan-Seared Lake Whitefish with Lemon-Dill Butter Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-22 · Updated 2026-05-22

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.

A delicate pan-seared lake whitefish fillet enhanced by a vibrant lemon-dill butter sauce, capturing the fresh flavors reminiscent of Great Lakes cuisine. This American-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 22 minutes, pairs lake whitefish fillets, 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: 12 min Serves 4 American cuisine 280 cal/serving

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Ingredients

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

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 4 lake whitefish fillets (6 oz each), then season both sides evenly with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes. Place fillets skin-side down and sear for 4-5 minutes without moving until edges are golden and crisp.
Step 3: Carefully flip the fillets and cook for another 2-3 minutes until opaque and flaky. Remove fish and keep warm.
Step 4: Reduce heat to medium and add 4 tbsp unsalted butter to the skillet. Once melted, stir in 2 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Step 5: Add 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill, and 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley to the butter sauce, stirring for 1 minute until combined and aromatic.
Step 6: Spoon lemon-dill butter sauce generously over each whitefish fillet and serve immediately with your choice of sides.