10-Minute Red Snapper with Lemon Butter Caper Sauce

baked snapper topped with capers on white plate with fork

10-Minute Red Snapper with Lemon Butter Caper Sauce

Pan Seared Snapper is a quick and delicious meal that's ready in 10 minutes! The lemon butter caper sauce is what makes this dish so lip-smacking good!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 1

Cook Time 9

Total Time 10

Servings servings

Calories 388kcal

Author Anne Clark

Equipment

pan or skillet
measuring spoon (1 tbsp)

Ingredients

2 red snapper fillets, skin on 4-6 oz each
light sprinkling of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder
4 tablespoons butter (divided)
1 lemon
2 tablespoons capers (drained)
light sprinkling of parsley flakes

Instructions

Pat fish fillets with paper towel. Lightly sprinkle each side with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Exact measurements are not given as you only want to lightly sprinkle these seasonings on each side of the fish.
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the fillets, SKIN SIDE UP, and slow simmer for 3-4 minutes. Flip fish over and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Use medium heat, not high heat. You don't want the fish to be sizzling too hot or the butter will burn.
Remove the fish from the pan and set aside. Add the remaining butter, juice of one lemon, capers, and parsley flakes. Slow simmer for about 30 seconds, then return the fish to the pan. Spoon the sauce over fish and heat just until hot - about 30 seconds. Transfer fish to a plate and serve with your favorite side dish.

Notes

There is no need to remove the skin before cooking the snapper. The skin is edible and actually crisps up nicely. However, if you want to remove the skin, it's easier to do after the fish is cooked.

What to Serve with Snapper

Serve with cooked rice or cauliflower rice (after the fish has cooked, spoon pan sauce over the rice), roasted cauliflower, broccoli, and carrot mixture (use the handy steam in bag version - fresh or frozen). Mashed potatoes and a simple green salad are also great sides to serve with snapper.

Storing Fresh Snapper

If you're lucky enough to have fresh snapper available, it's best cooked the day it is purchased. However, it will keep fresh until the next day in the refrigerator as long as it's stored in an air-tight container or wrapped tightly with plastic wrap. If it is wrapped in paper, then wrap with plastic over the paper.

Storing Leftover Fish

If you have leftover cooked snapper, store it covered in the refrigerator and eat the very next day!

Nutrition