Add a Pinch | Recipe Index | Main Dishes

Tilapia with Browned Butter and Lemon Sauce Recipe

Robyn Stone

Updated Oct 03, 2025

Tilapia with Browned Butter and Lemon Sauce Recipe - 1

I made this for lunch yesterday and I think I heard angels singing. Tender, flaky pan-seared Tilapia with Browned Butter and Lemon Sauce topped with a few sprigs of rosemary by far beats my normal throw-together lunch – or supper many nights. In about 12 minutes, from start-to-finish, I had one of the most delicious lunches I have had in a very long time.

Bright and flavorful from the lemon and rosemary and rich from the browned butter, this tilapia is a dish that you can’t help but love.

But 12 minutes or less? Seriously – who wouldn’t simply adore that?

Knowing that this would be a quick-cook meal, I tossed a few spears of asparagus into the skillet with my tilapia as it seared. They finished at the same time, although the asparagus still had a bit of a bite to it – just the way I like it. I spooned the same sauce on top of the asparagus.

It is heavenly. Heavenly.

Tilapia with Browned Butter and Lemon Sauce Recipe - 2

Here’s my recipe for pan-seared Tilapia with Browned Butter and Lemon Sauce. If you like a mild fish, then this is for you.

Ingredients

▢ olive oil
▢ 4 Tilapia filets , thawed
▢ 4 tablespoons butter
▢ 2 lemons , sliced thinly
▢ 3 sprigs fresh rosemary

Instructions

Drizzle olive oil into a skillet over medium-high heat. Add tilapia filets, butter, and lemon slices. Turn fish filets carefully after 4-5 minutes of cooking. Place lemon slices on top of tilapia filets and sprinkle with rosemary sprigs. Cook an additional 4-5 minutes. Remove fish from skillet and spoon browned butter and lemon sauce on top.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Join today & start saving your favorite recipes

Create an account to easily save your favorite recipes.

Enjoy! Robyn xo