• Home
  • Recipes
    • Search All Recipes
    • Recipe Round-Ups
  • Lifestyle
    • Outside the Kitchen
    • Kitchen Tips & Gifts
  • Weekly Meal Plans
  • More
    • About
    • Work With Me!
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Framed Cooks

My life. One recipe at a time.

Want every new recipe delivered right to your email inbox?

Sign Me Up!
Recipes » Pan Seared Red Snapper With Lemon Butter Sauce

Pan Seared Red Snapper With Lemon Butter Sauce

By Kate Morgan Jackson

Jump to Recipe

This quick and easy recipe for pan seared red snapper with lemon butter sauce uses just a few ingredients to let the seafood flavors shine through!

Pan Seared Red Snapper with Lemon Butter Sauce

This fancy but super quick and easy seafood supper comes to you courtesy of the Southern husband’s dinner Choice Of The Week.

As I’ve mentioned before, most nights I am working on a tower of recipes I am writing and testing and photographing, so once a week when I am planning the menu, he gets one pick out of the 6 nights I cook.

Sometimes he wants a throwback, which is something I’ve made before.  Last week he asked for Chicken Diane, for example.

But if he’s looking for something new, it’s ALWAYS seafood, and nine times out of ten he opts for something I have never made before.

And this time, he not only went for something I had never made before, but something that was probably the most expensive item in the seafood counter.  Red snapper filets.  They deserved to be behind that glass counter for all kinds of reasons.

So not only did I not want to mess this up because I never want to mess up supper, but there was also thousands of dollars on the line.  Okay, there was $12 on the line, but still.

THE PRESSURE.

So I went for the classic, simple combo of butter, capers and one of the Southern husband’s all time favorite flavors, lemon.  Exhibit A:

Krispy Kreme Fruit Pies

We recently got back from some house building stuff in North Carolina, and he found these Krispy Kreme fruit pies in the Publix.  He promptly ate the blueberry one, and he is hoarding these last two.

And last night he informed me that he was saving the lemon one for last because it was going to be the best.

So now that I had my fool proof ingredient plan, I was ready to cook us up some red snapper!

Here’s How You Make Pan Seared Red Snapper With Lemon Butter Sauce!

Start by finding your favorite large skillet, and sauté up some breadcrumbs in olive oil until they are golden.  Scoop them out and set them aside.

Pour in a little more olive oil and sauté a handful of capers until they are slightly crispy.  Whisk in some lemon juice and butter until everything is melted together, and then pour that lemony, butter sauce into a heat proof measuring cup.

Now for the snapper!  Add a teeny bit more olive oil, turn the heat up to high, and then put the filets skin side down in the skillet.  Let them sear for about 5 minutes, and then carefully flip them over with your fish spatula and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

(Side note: if you don’t have a fish spatula, I’m here to tell you that if you get one, you will wonder how you ever lived without one.  I love mine for everything from fish to pancakes to cookies.)

Slide those lovely seared snapper filets onto warmed plates, drizzle with your sauce, sprinkle on the bread crumbs and some lemon zest and fresh parsley, and voila!

 Pan Seared Red Snapper with Lemon Butter Sauce

You have made a gourmet dinner in about 15 minutes.

And before you think the Southern husband is a fancy gourmet type, I should tell you that his throwback for next week is highly likely to be Frito Chili Pie.

He keeps me on my toes!

Want to round out your meal? This recipe pairs well with...

Blue Cheese and Fig Jam Crostini
easy carrot parmesan risottoCarrot Parmesan Risotto
chocolate espresso cookiesChocolate Espresso Cookies
Print
Easy Pan Seared Red Snapper with Lemon Butter Sauce

Pan Seared Red Snapper With Lemon Butter Sauce


  • Author: Kate Morgan Jackson
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

This quick and easy recipe for pan seared red snapper with lemon butter sauce uses just a few ingredients to let the seafood flavors shine through!


Ingredients

  • ½ cup panko bread crumbs
  • 5 tablespoons olive oil
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • 3 tablespoons capers
  • Zest and juice from two lemons
  • 4 tablespoons cold butter, cut into 16 chunks
  • 4 four to six ounce red snapper filets
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 tablespoons parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add the bread crumbs and a pinch of salt and stir until crumbs are golden.  Scoop out and set aside.
  2. Heat 2 more tablespoons of olive oil in the skillet over medium high heat until hot.  Add capers and stir until they are a little crispy.  Whisk in lemon juice and then butter, stirring until butter is melted. Pour sauce into a measuring cup and set aside.
  3. Add remaining oil to the skillet and turn heat up to high. Season the snapper filets with salt and pepper and place in skillet skin side down. Sear for 5 minutes on the skin side, then carefully flip over and cook for 2-3 minutes on the other side.
  4. Place cooked snapper filets on warmed plates, drizzle with sauce and sprinkle with the bread crumbs, lemon zest and chopped parsley and serve at once.
4281.5 g908.2 mg31.4 g10.2 g0 g12.3 g1.2 g25.6 g72.5 mg

Did you try this recipe?

Tag @FramedCooks on Facebook and tell us how it came out!

139 shares
  • Facebook36
  • Twitter
  • Yummly
Kate Morgan Jackson

Hi there!  I’m Kate, and I’m a recipe writer, food photographer and devoted bacon lover.  I started Framed Cooks in 2009, and my mission is to create and share family-friendly recipes that make cooking both easy and fun…yes, I said FUN!  My kitchen is my happy place, and I want yours to be that place too.  And if you make this recipe, I would love you to tag @FramedCooks on Instagram so I can see the deliciousness!as seen in logos

Know someone who would love this recipe?
Click here to email them the link!

Published on February 9, 2020

Good for: Dinner Party, Lent, Mother's Day, Southern Husband's Favorites, Valentine's Day

Last Post:
One Pan Chicken Parmesan
Next Post:
Chicken Tot Pie

I'D LOVE IT IF YOU WOULD RATE THIS RECIPE
(AND COMMENTS ARE WONDERFUL TOO!) Cancel reply

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

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

Comments

Want a photo beside your name? Go to Gravatar.com, sign up for a free account, and upload a photo. It's super easy!

  1. Leezee says

    February 10, 2020 at 8:15 am

    Did I miss a part? When do you apply the breadcrumbs?

    Reply
    • Kate Morgan Jackson says

      February 10, 2020 at 8:17 am

      Leezee! Thank you for spotting that – they get sprinkled on at the end with the sauce. All fixed now – happy cooking! :)

      Reply

Hi, I’m Kate! I’m a recipe writer, food photographer and devoted bacon lover. I’m so glad you’re here!

If you want to know more….

Want to round out your meal? This recipe pairs well with...

Blue Cheese and Fig Jam Crostini
easy carrot parmesan risottoCarrot Parmesan Risotto
chocolate espresso cookiesChocolate Espresso Cookies

STILL HUNGRY? CHECK OUT MY LATEST RECIPE VIDEOS!

These recipes are trending up! Come see what the excitement is about!

  • Pastina with Egg and Cheese, Otherwise Known As Comfort Food
  • Fresh Mint Tea
  • Julia Child's Filet Of Sole
  • Grandpa's Coca-Cola Ribs
  • Caprese Salad Skewers

These recipes are trending up! Come see what the excitement is about!

  • Pastina with Egg and Cheese, Otherwise Known As Comfort Food
  • Fresh Mint Tea
  • Julia Child's Filet Of Sole
  • Grandpa's Coca-Cola Ribs
  • Caprese Salad Skewers

Want every new recipe delivered right to your email inbox?

  • Home
  • Starters
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Dessert
  • Contact
Terms of Use • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 Framed Cooks
All photographs © FramedCooks and may not be used for any purpose without written permission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.