Pan-Seared Snapper with Citrus Herb Sauce
Delicate snapper fillets pan-seared to golden perfection, topped with a bright and fresh citrus herb sauce that complements the fish’s natural sweetness. This seafood recipe, ready in about 22 minutes, pairs snapper fillets, olive oil, salt 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) snapper fillets
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp orange juice
- 2 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tbsp, chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tbsp butter
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat dry 4 snapper fillets and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the snapper fillets skin-side down and sear for 4 minutes until the edges are crispy and golden.
- Step 3: Carefully flip the fillets and cook for an additional 3 minutes until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork, then transfer to a warm plate.
- Step 4: Reduce heat to medium and add 3 minced garlic cloves to the skillet, sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Step 5: Stir in 2 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp orange juice, 1 tbsp butter, 2 tbsp chopped parsley, and 1 tbsp chopped cilantro. Cook for 2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Step 6: Spoon the citrus herb sauce over the snapper fillets and serve immediately.








