Learn how to cook Buttery Fish with Crispy Skin in under 15 minutes. This easy pan-searing method results in restaurant-quality succulent fish with browned, perfectly crisp skin. Use your favorite fish fillet and serve with sides or on top of salads and bowls.
Pan-searing fish is our favorite method to make fish fillets because the meat comes out tender and buttery, and the skin turns golden and crispy. This particular recipe is applicable to most common fish fillets and shrimp! It takes just a few minutes, minimal cleanup, and a frying pan.
We make this recipe for a quick and delicious weeknight meal. It pairs deliciously with easy sides, like Sautéed Broccolini and Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan. It can also be served on top of a fresh salad or a quinoa, grain, or rice bowl. The sky is the limit!
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Here's Why this Recipe Works
- Taste - The buttery fish have a light yet rich flavor.
- Texture - The fish has a flaky, tender texture. When cooked per the instructions, the fish will be moist and succulent with a crispy outside.
- Effort - This buttery fish recipe is easy! All you have to do is pat the fish dry, season it, then cook it on the stove.
- Time - This is one of the quickest weeknight meals you can make. It takes about 5 minutes to prep the fish then less than 10 minutes to cook.
Best Fish for this Recipe
While this recipe will work for any saltwater or freshwater fish, we found that it works best for white fish such as:
- Black cod (aka Alaska Cod or Sablefish) - Black cod's high fat content gives it a unique silky texture and naturally buttery flavor. This is why it is considered the fillet mignon of Alaskan whitefish. It also has the highest omega-3 content of any white fish.
- Cod - Cod is a white fish like black cod, but it is leaner and firmer. It is also a much cheaper.
- Halibut - Halibut is a lightly sweet and mild tasting white fish. Because the flavor is so gentle, it pairs well with sauces and seasonings like pesto sauce or lemon juice. It's also thicker and even firmer than cod.
- Tilapia - Tilapia is a white fish with an even milder taste than halibut. Like halibut, Tilapia is a low calorie source of lean protein, but is not quite as nutrient rich.
- Butter Fish - Butter fish are buttery! They are delicately flavored and often sold whole due to their small size. However, they aren't very bony and their meat is easy to pick off.
Ingredients
- Fish fillets - Black cod, cod, or halibut work best for this recipe because pan searing the fish will make the skin crispy, but the inside buttery.
- Sea salt or kosher salt - Salt accentuates the flavors of the fish.
- Freshly Ground Black pepper - Black pepper adds spice.
- Neutral Cooking oil - We recommend a neutral cooking oil like avocado oil, grapeseed oil, vegetable oil, or sunflower oil for this recipe. All of these oils have a high smoke point so they won't burn or smoke while cooking the fish. You also want the oil to be somewhat flavorless so you can season the fish and easily control the taste.
- Parsley - Parsley adds a fresh herb flavor to the fish.
- Lemon wedges - Lemon juice brightens the dish.
- Butter - Butter adds fat and flavor to the dish.
See recipe card for quantities.
Variations
- Garlic - Add minced garlic for the quintessential pungent aroma.
- Spicy - Use a little cayenne pepper or paprika to add spice.
- Old Bay Seasoning - Use Old Bay Seasoning if you want to add a smoky flavor with hints of paprika and cayenne pepper.
- Ginger - Ginger adds a tart and slight peppery flavor.
- Onion Powder - Add onion powder to add a light oniony taste.
- Fried Fish - Deep fry the fish if you want it to have it a thick golden crust.
Instructions
- Prepare fish - Gently pat both sides of the fresh fish fillets dry with a paper towel. Then, season each side with sea salt or kosher salt and black pepper. Use your fingers to gently pat the seasoning into the fish.
- Cook fish fillets - Heat oil in a large skillet or braiser over medium-high heat. Once the pan gets hot, place the fish skin side down. Gently press down on the fish with a spatula or your knuckles for 10-20 seconds to prevent curling. Cook untouched for about 3-4 minutes.
- Turn over fish - Once the side of the fish shows it is cooked about about two thirds of the way, use a fish spatula to carefully turn the fish over. Lower the heat to medium and cook the other side for an additional 3-4 minutes. The fish will be caramelized around the edges. Add about a tablespoon of butter to the pan and baste the fillets as the butter melts.
- Serve and garnish - Serve the fish fillets immediately and garnish with chopped parsley and lemon slices.
Pro tip: Be sure the oil is really hot before you add the fish. The oil should sizzle when you add the fish.
What to Serve with Buttery Fish
This fish recipe is a simple, quick weeknight dinner. Serve it with these delicious side dishes:
Recipe FAQs
Yes, but baking the fish will not make the skin crispy like searing it on the stove. Also, since white fish is low in fat, the the fish may dry out in the oven.
We love black cod for its signature smooth texture and extra buttery flavor. However, we enjoy all other white fish too.
No, white fish are generally low in Mercury and safe to eat regularly.
Most white fish are available at common chain grocery stores. If they don't have it, you can also go to a local fish monger or seafood market. If you are based in the San Francisco Bay Area, we highly recommend Four Star Seafood, a chef-curated grocery service.
Storage
Store leftovers in an air-tight container or wrap in foil and refrigerate for up to 2 days. To reheat leftovers, heat the oven to 350˚F, remove the fillets from the refrigerator, and allow the fillets to reach room temperature (about 15 minutes). Once at room temperature, place the fillets on a baking sheet and heat for 7-10 minutes. These ingredients don't stand up well to freezing.
Top tips
- For tender fish, don't overcook the fish! Cook only until just cooked and use a fork to check the doneness. Overcooking the fish can result in very dry, tough fish.
- For easy cleanup, line the baking sheet or baking dish with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- Shrimp - You can also cook shrimp with the pan searing method used in this recipe. It's a great low maintenance way to cook shrimp.
Related Fish Recipes
Did You Like This Recipe?
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📖 Recipe
How to Cook Buttery Fish with Crispy Skin
Ingredients
- 2 fish fillets 6 oz each, black cod, halibut
- 1 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
- black pepper to taste
- 2-3 tablespoon neutral cooking oil avocado oil, grapeseed oil, vegetable oil, sunflower oil
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 2 lemon wedges
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Prepare fish - Gently pat both sides of the fish fillets dry with a paper towel. Then, season each side with sea salt or kosher salt and black pepper. Use your fingers to gently pat the seasoning into the fish.2 fish fillets, 1 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt, black pepper to taste
- Cook the fillets - Heat oil in a large skillet or braiser over medium-high heat. Once the pan gets hot, place the fish skin side down. Be sure the oil is hot before you add the fish. The oil should sizzle when you add the fish. Gently press down on the fish with a spatula or your knuckles for 10-20 seconds to prevent curling. Cook untouched for about 3-4 minutes.2-3 tablespoon neutral cooking oil, 1 tablespoon butter
- Turn over the fillets - Once the side of the fish shows it is cooked about about two thirds of the way, use a fish spatula to carefully turn the fish over. Lower the heat to medium and cook the other side for an additional 3-4 minutes. The fish will be caramelized around the edges. Add about a tablespoon of butter to the pan and baste the fillets as the butter melts.
- Serve and garnish - Serve the fish fillets immediately and garnish with chopped parsley and lemon wedges.1 tablespoon chopped parsley, 2 lemon wedges
Notes
Storage
Store leftovers in an air-tight container or wrap in foil and refrigerate for up to 2 days. To reheat leftovers, heat the oven to 350˚F, remove the fillets from the refrigerator, and allow the fillets to reach room temperature (about 15 minutes). Once at room temperature, place the fillets on a baking sheet and heat for 7-10 minutes. These ingredients don't stand up well to freezing.Top tips
- For tender fish, don't overcook the fish! Cook only until just cooked and use a fork to check the doneness. Overcooking the fish can result in very dry, tough fish.
- For easy cleanup, line the baking sheet or baking dish with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- Shrimp - You can also cook shrimp with the pan searing method used in this recipe. It's a great low maintenance way to cook shrimp.
Jack Babbitt
This tips are vary helfull to cook fish. Thanks for the tips.
Kathleen Higashiyama
So glad to hear, Jack! Thanks for trying the recipe.
Paula A Nakayama
I always wanted to know how to cook fish with a crispy skin. Thanks for the helpful tips.