• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Midwest Foodie
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
  • Income Reports
  • Pinterest E-Book
  • Reviews
  • Media Kit
  • Vegan Recipe E-Book
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
  • Income Reports
  • Pinterest E-Book
  • Reviews
  • Media Kit
  • Vegan Recipe E-Book
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Family Style Dinners

    Pan Fried Lemon Butter Fish

    Published: May 16, 2019 » Modified: Feb 17, 2023 » By: Kylie » This post may contain affiliate links. » 55 Comments

    11.3K shares
    • Share!
    Jump to Recipe

    This 15 minute lemon butter fish is elegant enough for date night but perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner too! With just 8 ingredients, many of which you might already have you in your kitchen, this is a simple, delicious meal that your family is going to love!

    Close up shot of lemon butter cod served with spaghetti and garnished with fresh parsley
    Table of Contents show
    Instructions
    Fish to Use
    You'll Love This
    Tips
    Family Favorites
    Pan Fried Lemon Butter Fish

    Instructions

    You’ll start with (what else?!) BUTTER. Melt it over medium high heat while you season the fish with my signature seasoning mixture (garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper).

    Two fish filets on a cutting board seasoned with paprika salt and pepper

    Then toss that fish into the butter to give it a quick sear – about 2-3 minutes on the first side. Give the fish a flip and add MORE butter, lemon zest and fresh parsley to the butter mixture. Cook the other side of the fish for another couple minutes or until it’s tender and flaky.

    Close up shot of two fillets of fish in a lemon butter sauce in a pan

    Gently remove the fish from the pan and set aside. Add pasta to the pan and toss spaghetti in the lemon, butter, parsley mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

    Close up shot of spaghetti being tossed in a lemon butter sauce with parsley

    Add fish back into the pan on top of the pasta. Finish the fish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Then garnish with lemon wedges and fresh chopped parsley and serve it right there in the pan!

    Overhead shot of lemon butter fish with spaghetti in a silver pot garnished with fresh chopped parsley

    Fish to Use

    • cod
    • haddock
    • stripped bass
    • mahi mahi
    • grouper

    You'll Love This

    • Did you see the ingredient list? It’s SUPER short. Which means you won’t have to spend hours hunting down ingredients at the grocery store. Most of these things are pantry staples so you might even have everything in your kitchen already!
    • It’s SO freaking tasty! This is one of my absolute favorite dishes because the flavors are fresh and light but also rich and a little indulgent. Lemon, butter, and fish are literally a three-way marriage made in heaven.
    • It’s a kid-friendly dinner. My toddler’s not super into fish, but she ate up bowl after bowl of the lemon butter spaghetti. If your kids are averse to little green flecks of delicious parsley, leave them out and just add them to your dish after.
    • Also, if you think there’s no way your kids will eat this, I’d urge you to give it a try. You might find yourself very surprised by the things that they are willing to try! Especially if you get them involved in the process of making the meal!
    Close up shot of lemon butter fish with spaghetti in a silver pot garnished with fresh chopped parsley

    Tips

    • Don’t overcook the fish. This seems obvious but when you’re pan-frying the fish it’s going to cook very quickly! You’re looking for a nice dark golden brown sear on the outside of the fish and a tender, flaky inside. This will be achieved with just a few minutes of cooking on the first side and only a couple minutes of searing on the second side. This is not a dish you want to walk away from while it’s cooking on the stove because it’s so easy to overcook!
    • Whatever you do - use fresh lemon for this recipe. Nothing is going to replace the fresh lemon juice and zest in this recipe. It is the key ingredient and you are going to love every light and lemony bite!
    • Feel free to use another kind of pasta in this dish. I love the long strands of sgetti in this recipe but penne, bucatini, bow ties, or even rotini would be great in this lemon butter fish dish too. The sauce is going to get into every nook and cranny of your pasta and deliver that lemon butter flavor into every single bite.
    Overhead shot of lemon butter fish with spaghetti in a silver pot garnished with fresh chopped parsley

    Family Favorites

    • Copycat Taco Bell Chalupa Supreme
    • The Best Taco Meat Recipe
    • The Easiest Green Enchiladas Recipe
    • The Easiest Instant Pot Potato Soup

    Questions?
    Leave a comment below!
    Liked the recipe?
    Leave a comment below!
    Made this dish?
    Leave a comment and star rating below!

    Print

    Pan Fried Lemon Butter Fish

    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    ★★★★★

    4.9 from 27 reviews

    This 15 minute lemon butter fish is elegant enough for date night but perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner too!

    • Author: Kylie
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Total Time: 15 minutes
    • Yield: 2 servings 1x
    • Category: Main Dish
    • Method: Stove Top
    • Cuisine: American

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 8 oz. cod or other white fish
    • 6 tablespoons butter, divided
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ¼ teaspoon paprika
    • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley + more for garnish
    • zest and juice of 1 lemon + wedges for garnish
    • 4-8 oz. spaghetti, cooked according to package directions 
    • Kosher salt
    • fresh cracked pepper

    Instructions

    1. Heat large saute pan over medium high heat. Melt 3 tablespoons butter. 
    2. Season fish with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and a large pinch of salt and pepper. 
    3. Saute fish for 2-3 minutes in the butter. 
    4. Flip fish over to cook the other side and add remaining butter, chopped parsley and lemon zest. 
    5. Cook fish on the second side for another 2-3 minutes. 
    6. Gently remove fish from the pan and set aside. 
    7. Add in spaghetti noodles and toss to coat evenly. 
    8. Then add fish back into the pan and squeeze the fresh lemon juice over the fish. 
    9. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and lemon wedges and enjoy!

    Notes

    Don't overcook the fish. This seems obvious but when you’re pan frying the fish it’s going to cook very quickly! You’re looking for a nice dark golden brown sear on the outside of the fish and a tender, flaky inside. This will be achieved with just a few minutes of cooking on the first side and only a couple minutes of searing on the second side. This is not a dish you want to walk away from while it’s cooking on the stove because it’s so easy to overcook!

    Whatever you do - use fresh lemon for this recipe. Nothing is going to replace the fresh lemon juice and zest in this recipe. It is the key ingredient and you are going to love every light and lemony bite!

    Feel free to use another kind of pasta in this dish. I love the long strands of sgetti in this recipe but penne, bucatini, bow ties or even rotini would be great in this lemon butter fish dish too. The sauce is going to get into every nook and cranny of your pasta and deliver that lemon butter flavor into every single bite.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size:
    • Calories: 611
    • Sugar: 1.8 g
    • Sodium: 140.4 mg
    • Fat: 35.8 g
    • Saturated Fat: 21.7 g
    • Trans Fat: 0 g
    • Carbohydrates: 45.2 g
    • Fiber: 2.6 g
    • Protein: 28.5 g
    • Cholesterol: 143.7 mg

    Keywords: lemon butter cod, lemon butter pasta, healthy cod recipes

    « Potato Pizza
    Pork Dumplings [Video!] »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Novi

      August 06, 2022 at 9:09 am

      Just first time made this recipe and turned out super tasty. Super fresh and but tangy. I added some spinach as a twist. Will sure make it more again and again. Thank you so much to share this recipe.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kylie

        August 07, 2022 at 6:30 pm

        I'm so glad that you enjoyed this recipe, Novi! It's one of my favorites 🙂 Thanks for leaving a review!

        Reply
      • Anna

        November 09, 2022 at 4:19 pm

        Just made this with fresh rockfish! Very good! Thank you for sharing! The lemon was great. We'll make it again but we'll reduce the fat to 4 tablespoons, 2 butter and 2 EVOO. Also added some crushed red pepper. Thanks again!

        ★★★★★

        Reply
    2. Dania

      May 25, 2022 at 6:34 am

      Always looking for quick and healthy recipes! I saw the photo while searching for white fish fillet recipes and it was just like the photo! Quick and delicious, so lemony and buttery! I only added grated parmesan to the pasta! Thank you Kylie for this wonderful recipe 🤗

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kylie

        May 25, 2022 at 11:05 am

        I am so glad that you enjoyed this recipe, Dania!! Parmesan would be such a delicious addition. Thanks for leaving a review 🙂

        Reply
      • Morgan

        August 27, 2022 at 3:23 pm

        Ido this recipe quite often ànd wanted to maybe change up a few things since I recently began trying to eat full meals and not lose my house since I'm 5mo. pregnant, and not only did I proceed to do your recipe, but it tasted almost better for whatever reason.
        It maybe sound silly, but when you only have what you have, you often have to get creative with the random items from a grocery list from the bottom of your purse lol.
        When your recipe was on the first page of my Google search for white fish on a budget with flavor that is simple, it was quite validating to see that someone else was enjoying making the same thing.
        I know its just fish, but for whatever reason I felt like I got to take myself on a date at home and thoroughly enjoyed my meal 🙂

        ( yep im not pregnant at all haha)

        Reply
    3. Nicole Briand

      April 15, 2022 at 2:15 pm

      wow! Totally surprised at how simple this is to make and how tasty it is. I'll definitely be making it again 😋

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Catherine B Gendron

      March 12, 2022 at 4:15 pm

      Hi, I cooked this recipe today. I ask myself should I remove the fish skin in which step ? Before to add pasta ? While I'm eating ?
      However, it was very easy, good, and different from what I'm used. I did'nt had lemon, I taked lime instead.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    5. Mary

      March 12, 2022 at 3:41 pm

      Perfect for a quick dinner for one as well, with ingredients on hand. I just tasted the butter/lemon on the spaghetti, delicious! Add any veggie and/or salad, and it’s very satisfying. Thank you, Kylie!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Haley

      March 12, 2021 at 7:01 pm

      This recipe was so simple and so delicious! It was light but also flavorful! We added capers to the noodles upon serving, which made it even better. My picky boyfriend even loved it, so I definitely recommend this!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    7. Dan

      February 04, 2021 at 1:17 pm

      I didn't mind the dish, but my wife really disliked it. "Too much lemon!" was her critique. If I try this again, and I think I well might, I'll cut the lemon by half.

      ★★★

      Reply
      • Kylie

        February 04, 2021 at 2:03 pm

        I'm glad you're thinking of trying it again but adjusting to your taste. Thanks, Dan!

        Reply
    8. Gracey P.

      October 27, 2020 at 11:08 am

      I found this recipe on Pinterest and it's quickly become a favorite. I've made it several times and it's been easy and delicious every time! Highly recommend.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kylie Lato

        October 27, 2020 at 11:18 am

        I love to hear that, Gracey! This is one of our family's favorites also! So simple, but so tasty 🙂 Thank you for leaving a review - I really appreciate it!

        Reply
    9. Michael Figueroa

      September 06, 2020 at 3:48 am

      I wish I was able to post a picture because mine came out amazing! I used some flavor god lemon and garlic seasoning along with paprika. My butter sauce was a lot darker then the recipe shown. The spaghetti tasted amazing along the cod which I didn’t think it would work together.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kylie Lato

        September 06, 2020 at 10:02 am

        I am so glad that you enjoyed this recipe, Michael! All stoves and pans cook a little different so that's totally normally to end up with a slightly darker sauce - it just means you brought out even more of the nutty browned butter flavor 🙂 I wish you could share the pic too - I'm a real sucker for a delicious food photo! I hear ya on the spaghetti, but it totally works! Thank you for leaving a review - I really appreciate it!

        Reply
    10. Gil

      August 20, 2020 at 10:57 pm

      Needed a quick recipe for hungry stomachs without having to run out to shop.
      Has everything and dug out Mahi Mahi out of the freezer.
      Sauteed briefly shopped garlic w/added white wine and added capers to point [5].

      A+ winner!

      Thank you for the inspiration.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kylie Lato

        August 21, 2020 at 9:53 am

        I am so glad that you enjoyed this recipe, Gil! Mahi Mahi would be great in this dish. Thanks for leaving a review - I really appreciate it!

        Reply
        • Cathi R

          May 27, 2021 at 8:47 pm

          I love this kind of recipe, stuff I usually have on hand. Even Mr Picky liked it. I added some broccoli to the pasta in the last few mins and it went well with it. This one is a keeper!

          ★★★★★

        • Pat M.

          July 21, 2021 at 2:53 pm

          Before I make this...and I will, does the spaghetti taste like fish?

        • Kylie

          July 21, 2021 at 4:14 pm

          It mostly just tastes like the garlic, butter, and herbs. But it is a fish dish, so it will probably also taste like the fish, yes.

    11. Guyana Butterfish

      July 28, 2020 at 12:06 pm

      Aw kylie! you're amazing. These pictures are looking so yummy mouth-watering dishes, and this Butterfish recipe is probably my most favorite pan recipe. Thank you soo much! please keep sharing your experience. By the way, you can easily Buy Fresh Guyana Butterfish at a reasonable price. visit our website for further details. 

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    12. Elizabeth

      June 25, 2020 at 12:03 am

      so easy and delish. I added some veggies

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kylie Lato

        June 25, 2020 at 11:02 am

        Great idea! I love to bulk up any dish with some extra veggies! Thanks so much for leaving a review 🙂

        Reply
    13. Lisa

      May 08, 2020 at 9:53 pm

      I made your recipe using some wild caught cod tonight. Very delicious, very easy, very fast. Thank you for sharing!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kylie Lato

        May 10, 2020 at 2:00 pm

        YUM - wild caught cod!! Sounds delish. I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Lisa. Thanks for leaving a review!! 🙂

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a star rating and review or ask a question! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Primary Sidebar

    HELLO FROM THE MIDWEST - I'm Kylie and as a mom and blogger, I understand how hard it can be to get a wholesome dinner on the table at the end of a long day. Here at Midwest Foodie, I focus on sharing simple recipes that make it easy to feed your family real food.

    More about me →

    Easy Soups

    • 30-Minute Sausage Tortellini Soup
      ★★★★★
      Cook Time30 minutes
    • Easy One-Pot Chicken Tortellini Soup
      ★★★★★
      Cook Time35 minutes
    • One Pot Chicken Dumpling Soup (with refrigerated biscuit dough!)
      ★★★★★
      Cook Time40 minutes
    • Easy Vegetarian One Pot Lasagna Soup
      ★★★★★
      Cook Time30 minutes
    • One-Pot Macaroni Cheeseburger Soup - NO VELVEETA!
      ★★★★★
      Cook Time30 minutes
    • Creamy Vegan Instant Pot Lentil Soup
      ★★★★★
      Cook Time30 minutes

    30 Minute Meals

    • Better Than Old el Paso Taco Seasoning Recipe
      ★★★★★
      Cook Time5 minutes
    • 20 Minute Mini Baked Chicken Tacos
      ★★★★★
      Cook Time20 minutes
    • Easy 20-Minute Lemon Chicken Pasta
      ★★★★★
      Cook Time20 minutes
    • Easy 15-Minute Naan Pizza
      ★★★★★
      Cook Time15 minutes
    • Peanut Chicken Lettuce Wraps
      ★★★★★
      Cook Time1 hour 15 minutes
    • Oven Baked Juicy Panko Chicken
      ★★★★★
      Cook Time25 minutes

    Let's Connect!

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Footer

    Resources

    Pinterest E-Book
    Income Reports
    Shop

    Let's Connect

    Instagram
    Pinterest
    Facebook

    Reach Out

    Subscribe
    Contact
    About

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    ↑ back to top