Pan-Seared Tilapia with Garlic and Cumin Butter Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-04 · Updated 2026-07-04

Light and flaky tilapia fillets pan-seared to golden perfection, finished with a fragrant garlic-cumin butter sauce. This Mexican-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs tilapia fillets, salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 230 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 (5 oz each) tilapia fillets
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat 4 tilapia fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides with 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the tilapia fillets and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden and opaque throughout.
3. Step 3: Remove the fish from the pan and set aside, tented with foil to keep warm.
4. Step 4: Reduce heat to medium, add 3 tbsp unsalted butter to the skillet. Once melted, stir in 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 tsp ground cumin. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
5. Step 5: Add 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, stirring to combine and cook for 30 seconds.
6. Step 6: Spoon the garlic-cumin butter sauce over the tilapia fillets and serve immediately.