Description
Cook flaky tilapia fillets in a rich, creamy garlic butter sauce all in one skillet for a fast, low-mess weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 tilapia fillets (about 6 oz each)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides lightly with salt and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sear the tilapia for 2-3 minutes per side until lightly golden. Remove the fish from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let the broth simmer for 1 minute.
- Stir in the heavy cream, Italian seasoning, and lemon juice. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
- Whisk in the Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened. Taste and add more salt or pepper if needed.
- Return the tilapia fillets to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce. Spoon some sauce over the fish.
- Cover the skillet and cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Do not overcook.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving immediately.
Notes
- To prevent the sauce from breaking, keep the heat at a gentle simmer once the cream is added; do not boil rapidly.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, let it simmer uncovered for an extra minute before adding the fish back in.
- Serve this dish over rice, pasta, or with steamed vegetables to soak up the extra sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 18 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet with sauce
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 14
- Unsaturated Fat: 11
- Trans Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 32
- Cholesterol: 110