Pan-Seared Sea Bass with Lemon and Thyme Butter

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

Light and flaky pan-seared sea bass finished with a fragrant lemon and thyme butter sauce, highlighting classic British coastal flavors. This British-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs sea bass 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.

Ingredients

• 4 fillets (6 oz each) sea bass fillets
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 fresh thyme sprigs
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp lemon zest

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat dry 4 sea bass fillets and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
2. Step 2: Place the fillets skin-side down in the skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes until the skin is crisp and golden. Flip the fillets carefully and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the fish is opaque and flakes easily.
3. Step 3: Reduce heat to low and add 4 tbsp unsalted butter and 3 sprigs fresh thyme to the pan. Spoon the melted butter over the fish for 1 minute to baste and infuse flavor.
4. Step 4: Remove the pan from heat and stir in 2 tbsp lemon juice and 1 tsp lemon zest. Spoon the lemon-thyme butter sauce over the fillets before serving.