Pan Seared Tilapia
- By Amy Dong
- Updated Jun. 19, 2025
This Pan Seared Tilapia is my favorite quick fish dinner. It’s fast, flavorful, and finished with a buttery lemon sauce that tastes like it came from a restaurant.
In This Article
This post may contain affiliate links, at no additional cost to you.
Video: Watch Us Make This Recipe
Amy’s Notes
I make this Pan Seared Tilapia anytime I need a fast, flavorful dinner that’s also healthy. My family readily devours this dish, as it’s:
- Fast and Foolproof: It cooks in just 4 minutes, and the method is simple enough that I never have to second guess it.
- Perfect Golden Crust: The sear gives the tilapia a crisp, golden crust that tastes restaurant-level. It’s every bit as satisfying as our Air Fryer Tilapia but with a golden pan-fried finish.
- Zesty Lemon Butter Sauce: The lemon butter sauce takes just a minute to stir together, but it gives each bite a bright, savory richness my eaters love.
- Easy to Pair with Anything: I serve it with simple sides like roasted potatoes or a Greek Salad, or tuck it into tortillas for a lighter version of our Baja Fish Tacos.
Key Recipe Ingredients
- Tilapia Fillets – Mild, flaky, and quick-cooking, tilapia is perfect for pan searing. It crisps up beautifully while staying tender inside.
- Old Bay Seasoning – This classic blend adds bold, savory flavor with just a hint of spice, enhancing the mild taste of the fish.
- Paprika – Adds warm, earthy flavor and helps give the fillets a golden, lightly browned finish in the pan.
- Olive Oil – Used to sear the fish at high heat, olive oil helps create a crisp exterior without overcooking the inside.
- Lemon Butter Sauce – A simple mix of butter, lemon juice, and seasonings adds richness and brightness that ties the whole dish together.
Substitutions And Variations
Here are some of our favorite substitutions and variations:
- Seasoning Swap: Old Bay gives this dish a classic flavor, but you can substitute with Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, or a homemade mix of paprika, garlic powder, and salt.
- Citrus Choices: Lemon juice is classic, but lime juice adds a slightly sharper flavor. You can also garnish with lemon zest for added brightness.
- Garlic Options: Garlic powder keeps things simple, but you can sauté fresh minced garlic in the butter for a bolder flavor or even roasted garlic.
Easy Instructions
- Combine all lemon butter sauce ingredients in a saucepan.
- Combine the dry seasonings in a bowl.
- Thoroughly dry the tilapia fillets, using clean paper towels.
- Sprinkle seasoning evenly on both sides of tilapia.
- Sear the fish in very hot oil.
- Drizzle on the sauce, garnish, and serve.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
How To Prep Ahead
Take a look at our best prep-ahead strategies for this recipe:
- Prep the Sauce Ahead: You can make the lemon butter sauce up to 2 days in advance. Store it covered in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave just before serving.
- Season the Fish Early: Pat the tilapia dry and apply the seasoning mix up to 1 day ahead. Store the seasoned fillets in an airtight container in the fridge. This helps the flavors absorb and makes cooking even quicker.
What To Serve with Pan Seared Tilapia
Veggies
- We love serving Pan Seared Tilapia with a side of Air Fryer Broccoli for a quick, crispy bite that balances the buttery lemon sauce.
- My family also enjoys it with Kale Brussel Sprouts Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing or Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey Sriracha for a flavorful veggie pairing with a touch of sweet heat.
Potatoes
- For something hearty, we like pairing this tilapia with Extra Crispy Smashed Potatoes. The crispy edges and soft center make a great match for the lemony fish.
- It also goes great with Garlic Butter Herb Potatoes when you want something cozy and full of flavor.
Rice
- This fish is delicious served over a bed of Wild Rice Pilaf. The nutty flavor and fluffy texture make the dish feel complete.
- We also love it with Instant Pot Jasmine Rice or Cilantro Lime Rice for a lighter, classic pairing.
Did you make this?
Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!
Pan Seared Tilapia
This Pan Seared Tilapia is my favorite quick fish dinner. It’s fast, flavorful, and finished with a buttery lemon sauce that tastes way fancier than it is.
Ingredients
For Lemon Butter Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 tablespoons lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
For Tilapia:
- 1 ½ teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 4 tilapia fillets, 4oz each
- 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Optional Garnishes
- freshly chopped parsley, chives, or lemon slices
Instructions
- Make Lemon Butter Sauce: In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add lemon juice, garlic powder, and onion powder and mix to combine. Set aside and keep warm.
- In a small bowl, make the seasoning by combining Old Bay, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
- Thoroughly dry tilapia fillets with paper towels. Press seasoning evenly onto both sides of fillets.
- In a large pan or skillet, heat 2 TB oil until very hot/smoking. Add 2 tilapia fillets to the pan and cook for 2 minutes, without moving the fish. Carefully flip over and cook another 2 minutes. Repeat with remaining fish.
- Pour warm lemon butter sauce over fish and garnish as desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Thoroughly pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels before seasoning. This helps the fish sear properly and prevents it from steaming in the pan.
- In a pinch, you can microwave butter to melt instead of using saucepan.
- Make sure your skillet is very hot before adding the fish. A hot pan gives you that golden, crispy crust without overcooking the inside.
- If your pan is large enough, you can cook all 4 fish fillets at the same time, but do not crowd the fish. We recommend cooking them in batches for even browning.
- This recipe is part of our Healthy Fish and Seafood Recipes Collection.
- Serve the tilapia immediately after cooking and topping with warm lemon butter sauce. It goes great with some Instant Pot Jasmine Rice or Cilantro Lime Rice.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 368kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 157mg | Potassium: 533mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 292IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen tilapia fillets?
Yes, just make sure they are fully thawed and towel-dried before seasoning and cooking. Excess moisture can prevent a proper sear.
How do I know when the tilapia is done?
Tilapia is done when it flakes easily with a fork and the flesh is opaque all the way through. It should only take about 2 minutes per side in a hot pan.
How long does the pan seared tilapia recipe keep?
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave, though the texture will be best when served fresh.
More to Cook And Eat
- 15-Minute Steamed Fish – This easy recipe for This Chinese Style Steamed Fish is spectacularly delicious and healthy. It comes together in just 15 minutes and you don’t even need a steamer.
- Pan Seared Halibut – Light, flaky, and buttery, this pan seared Halibut recipe is both delicious and healthy. In less than 20 minutes, you can have the best seafood recipe that’s sure to impress!
- Easy Grilled Salmon – We love our salmon, and this Easy Grilled Salmon is my favorite way to get dinner on the table fast. It’s flavorful, flaky, and comes out perfect every single time.
- Easy Perfect Mahi Mahi Recipe – I’ve been perfecting this mahi mahi recipe for years, as we are a family of fish and seafood lovers. When fish is cooked correctly, it’s tender, flaky, and deliciously flavorful.