Leesa's Red Snapper Fillets with Lemon Caper Sauce

baked snapper topped with capers on white plate with fork

Leesa's Red Snapper Fillets with Lemon Caper Sauce

Pan Fried Snapper is a delicious and healthy meal that's ready in 10 minutes! Learn how to quickly cook red snapper with lemon butter caper sauce. If you're nervous about cooking fish, this recipe for red snapper fillets is a great place to start.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 1

Cook Time 9

Total Time 10

Servings servings

Calories 429kcal

Author Anne Clark

Ingredients

2 red snapper fillets, skin on
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

For a lower carb meal, serve with cooked cauliflower rice (after the fish has cooked, spoon pan sauce over the cauliflower rice), roasted cauliflower, broccoli, and carrot mixture (use the handy steam in bag version - fresh or frozen), or your favorite side.

Storing Fresh Fish

Fresh fish is best cooked the day it is purchased. However, it will keep for two days 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 leftovers, store covered in the refrigerator and eat the very next day!

Nutrition