Pan-Seared Walleye with Lemon Caper Butter Sauce
Fresh Midwestern walleye pan-seared to golden perfection and topped with a bright lemon and caper butter sauce for a delicate, flavorful fish dish. This American-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs walleye fillets, kosher 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 (6 oz each) walleye fillets
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2, minced garlic cloves
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp capers
- 2 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley
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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: Season 4 (6 oz each) walleye fillets evenly with 1 tsp kosher salt and 1 tsp black pepper on both sides, then lightly dredge in 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, shaking off excess.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil and 2 tbsp unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until butter foams. Add the fillets skin side down and cook for 3-4 minutes until the edges are crispy and golden.
- Step 3: Carefully flip the fillets and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until cooked through and opaque. Transfer fillets to a warm plate and tent with foil.
- Step 4: Reduce heat to medium, add 2 tbsp unsalted butter, 2 minced garlic cloves, and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in 3 tbsp lemon juice and 2 tbsp capers, cooking until the sauce thickens slightly, about 1 minute.
- Step 5: Pour the lemon caper butter sauce over the fillets and garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley before serving.








