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When dinner needs to happen fast, look no further than fish — and this pan fried tilapia recipe is one of the easiest! In just 20 minutes, you can whip up pan seared tilapia with lemon butter sauce… perfectly flaky, flavorful, and tender. No breading needed!
I’m all about quick pan cooking with fish (my pan seared halibut and pan seared salmon are prime examples)… and if you’re wondering how to make tilapia pan fried, it’s just as easy! You only need a few ingredients to make this white fish taste truly special.
Why You’ll Love This Pan Fried Tilapia Recipe
- Garlicky, buttery mild fish flavor
- Flaky, tender texture
- Uses basic spices and fridge staples
- Ready in only 20 minutes
- Tastes like it came out of a restaurant!

Pan Seared Tilapia Ingredients
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for searing tilapia, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
How To Season Tilapia:
- Garlic Powder
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
- Olive Oil – I use extra virgin here, but any olive oil will work.
This is all you really need, but if you want a more complex seasoning, try adding some paprika or lemon pepper seasoning.
For The Lemon Butter Sauce:
- Salted Butter – I use a grass-fed variety, but any salted version will work in this dish. If you use unsalted butter, you’ll need to add salt to taste. You can also use ghee if you like.
- Lemon Juice – Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor, but a bottled variety is fine, too.
- Garlic Powder

How To Cook Tilapia In A Pan
This section shows how to pan fry tilapia with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Season. Pat fillets dry with paper towels and season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
TIP: Make sure fillets are completely dry. This will ensure that they brown well.

- Fry. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add fillets in a single layer. Sear until edges are opaque, then flip and cook until done. (You can reduce heat to medium if it starts to brown too much.) Remove and cover with foil to keep warm.
TIP: Work in batches if needed. Tilapia should fit in a single layer on the pan.

- Make sauce. In the same pan, melt butter. Stir in lemon juice and garlic powder, and continue heating until sauce becomes dark yellow. Remove immediately.

- Plate. Drizzle sauce on each serving plate, add the pan fried tilapia fillet over it, then top with a tablespoon or two of sauce. I like to garnish with a lemon slice and a sprinkle of chopped parsley.

How Long To Pan Fry Tilapia?
Sear tilapia for 3-4 minutes on the first side, then 2-4 minutes on the second side. There are several doneness indicators to know how long to pan sear tilapia. Check these clues:
- Fish flakes easily at its thickest point with a fork
- Fillet is completely opaque and no longer translucent
- A meat thermometer measures internal temperature of 140-145 degrees
Can You Pan Fry Frozen Tilapia?
You can prepare a frozen tilapia fillet pan fried, but it will take a few extra minutes on each side. Check internal temperature for doneness, since frozen fish does not cook as evenly as thawed fillets. If you have a few extra minutes to thaw your frozen fillets overnight in the fridge or under cold water, it’s much better that way!

Storage Instructions
- Store: Store pan fried tilapia with sauce in airtight containers in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Reheat: Bake leftovers at 350 degrees F until heated through.
- Freeze: Place pan seared tilapia fillets on a platter or baking sheet and freeze until solid. Once solid, transfer to a freezer-safe container and store up to 3 months.

What To Serve With Pan Seared Tilapia
Pan seared tilapia with lemon butter sauce pairs perfectly with these quick sides:
More Easy Fish Recipes
- Pan Seared Halibut
- Pan Seared Salmon
- Lemon Baked Cod
- Parmesan Crusted Tilapia
- Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia
Tools To Make Pan Fried Tilapia Recipes
- Nonstick Skillet – This one is perfect for pan seared tilapia without flour because of its even cooking. Tilapia tends to stick pretty easily, so I don’t recommend skillets that are not nonstick.
- Fish Spatula – Makes fish much easier to flip — no tearing!
- Instant Read Thermometer – The secret to the best pan fried tilapia that’s perfectly cooked.
Pan Seared Tilapia With Lemon Butter Sauce
Pan Fried Tilapia Recipe (With Lemon Butter Sauce)
Pan seared tilapia with lemon butter sauce is flaky and tender, in 20 minutes! Make this pan fried tilapia recipe with just 6 ingredients.
Recipe Video
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Ingredients
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Tilapia
Lemon butter sauce:
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Pat the fish fillets completely dry with paper towels, which will ensure even browning. Season the fish on both sides with garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. Set aside.
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Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes.
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Add the tilapia fillets in a single layer, working in batches if it doesn’t fit. Sear, without moving, for 3-4 minutes, until the edges of the fish are opaque. Flip and cook for 2-4 minutes, until cooked through.
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Remove the fish from the pan and cover tightly with foil to keep warm.
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Reduce heat to medium-low. In the same pan, make the lemon butter sauce for fish like this.
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Drizzle a little lemon butter sauce over each serving plate. Place the pan seared tilapia fillets over the sauce, then drizzle more sauce on top.
Last Step: Leave A Rating!
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 tilapia fillet with 2 tbsp sauce
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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18 Comments
josef faber
0A simple straight forward recipe with very helpful cooking and storing tips.
I had it with Japanese style vegetable fried rice. Most excellent. Thnx
Karina
0So delicious! Tried it a couple of nights ago and making it again right now!
Kathy
0Really delicious! I actually poured the lemon juice right over the fish and added 1/4 cup of butter (1/2 the amount listed). I zested some of the lemon. YUM! I also added some fresh thyme at the end.
Vic
0This was very simple yet very tasty. There was enough lemon-butter sauce to drizzle over our rise and asparagus as well. Definitely a keeper! Would rate as a 4.5/5
Beth
0Just tried this tonight with rice pilaf and asparagus (drizzled that lemon sauce on all of it). The family LOVED it!! 10/10 – our new favorite fish recipe.
Marcia
0Delicious! Just made this. I usually cook mine in the oven since I’m cooking for 6 and it’s just easier. But this is wonderful, 9 fillets, 3 batches, still quick and easy and most importantly so flavorful! Thank you!
Judy
0It was very good. I used one pan and kept my green bean almondine in the oven while I made the fish.
BUT. My fish stuck to the pan. The crispy part stuck to the pan, and the fish fell apart. I put the fish on top of the oil to cook it. But it sure didn’t sizzle like yours did.
What happened? (sorry that i rated it by mistake)
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Judy, This could have been caused by a few reasons, did you use enough oil and did you get the pan hot enough before cooking the fish?
Mandy
0I used Bass Fish, delicious!
Swathi
0pan fried tilapia looks delicious.
Amy L Huntley
0We are fish fans at our house! I love the crispy outside of this fish.
Kristyn
0This just melts in your mouth!! It’s perfectly tender & tastes wonderful!!
Natalie
0I don’t care for all fish, but tilapia is one of my favorites!! Your sauce makes it even better!!
Beth Reilly
0The best way to make tilapia! We loved it!
jess
0This tilapia is so amazing, and I love the tip on making sure that the fish is completely dry before cooking, made all the difference!
Raquel
0My family loved this recipe! Will make again.
Kara
0So yummy! That lemon butter sauce is the bomb! I think I also want to try it on salmon.
Camille
0I really wanna try this! Thank you for sharing this!