Pan-Seared Red Snapper with Cilantro-Lime Rice
Delicate red snapper fillets pan-seared until golden, served atop fragrant cilantro-lime rice for a bright, coastal-inspired meal. This Caribbean-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs red snapper fillets, salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 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.
Ingredients
- 4 fillets (6 oz each) red snapper fillets
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
- 3 cups water
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
- 1 minced garlic clove
The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Pans + 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.
Instructions
- Step 1: Rinse 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice under cold water until water runs clear. In a medium saucepan, combine rinsed rice and 3 cups water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and rice is tender.
- Step 2: While rice cooks, pat 4 red snapper fillets dry and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 3: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add fillets skin-side down and sear for 4-5 minutes until the skin is crisp and golden. Flip carefully and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until fish is opaque and flakes easily.
- Step 4: Remove rice from heat and fluff with a fork. Stir in 1 minced garlic clove, 2 tbsp fresh lime juice, and 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves. Mix gently.
- Step 5: Plate the cilantro-lime rice and top each serving with a pan-seared red snapper fillet. Serve immediately.







