Print

Crispy Lemon Garlic Tilapia Delight

crispy lemon garlic tilapia - featured image

A quick and easy pan-fried tilapia recipe featuring crispy golden edges, garlic-infused butter, fresh lemon zest, and herbs for a bright, flavorful finish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 skinless, boneless tilapia fillets (about 6 oz / 170 g each)
  • Β½ cup all-purpose flour (60 g)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (about 42 g), softened
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (30 ml)
  • 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • Zest of 1 large lemon
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (30 ml)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (optional)
  • A pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides evenly with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. (About 5 minutes)
  2. Lightly dredge each fillet in the all-purpose flour, shaking off any excess. (3 minutes)
  3. In a small bowl, combine softened butter, minced garlic, lemon zest, fresh parsley, thyme leaves, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Mix well. (5 minutes)
  4. Heat a large non-stick or cast iron skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. Warm until shimmering but not smoking (2-3 minutes).
  5. Gently place the fillets in the pan and cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes until golden crust forms. Flip carefully and cook another 3 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. (6-8 minutes total)
  6. During the last minute of cooking, spoon the garlic herb butter over the fillets to melt and infuse flavor. (1 minute)
  7. Remove skillet from heat and drizzle fresh lemon juice over the fillets.
  8. Serve immediately, garnished with extra fresh parsley or lemon wedges if desired.

Notes

Pat fish dry thoroughly to ensure crispiness. Use medium heat to avoid burning butter. Do not overcrowd the pan. For gluten-free, substitute flour with almond or gluten-free flour. For dairy-free, use coconut oil instead of butter. Baking option: bake at 400Β°F (200Β°C) for 12-15 minutes, adding garlic herb butter near the end.

Nutrition

Keywords: tilapia, lemon garlic fish, crispy fish, quick seafood recipe, pan-fried tilapia, fresh herbs, easy dinner