This Lemon Garlic Halibut Recipe pan-sears halibut with a lemon butter sauce and mixes it with garlic and shallots. The halibut is finished off with fresh parsley and served over creamy risotto. This recipe is so easy to make and can be ready in under a half hour.
Today’s Lemon Garlic Halibut Recipe is one of my favorite ways to make halibut.
My kids even go crazy for this recipe which makes me happy.
As someone who eats a lot of Mediterranean food, seafood is something I try to incorporate more and more into my families diet.
If you know anything about the Mediterranean diet you know that seafood is a big part of that way of eating. This recipe can be on the table in under 30 minutes but will feel like a restaurant style seafood meal.
I love pairing this halibut with a creamy butternut squash risotto in the fall months. It is the perfect pairing with the light, lemony fish. My kids even go crazy for this recipe which makes me happy.
You guys love seafood recipes and I know many of you make my Mediterranean Salmon, Air Fryer Cod, Black Sea Bass Recipe and this Pan Seared Garlic Butter Cod on rotation.
Recipe Ingredients You’ll Need
- Fish: This recipe uses halibut fillets. It is a nice light fish. You could sub in sea bass, cod or mahi mahi.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic adds flavor to the fish. I suggest not skipping this!
- Shallot: I added shallot to this halibut. You also could use a sweet onion, red onion or a yellow onion.
- Spices: The spices go great with the halibut nicely. The mixture mixes paprika, dried oregano and basil.
- Lemon: Fresh lemon juice adds a sweet, citrusy flavor with the halibut. It is a great way to balance the flavors.
Please see the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and instructions.
Ways to Modify this Halibut Recipe
- This recipe uses butter and I know some people try to avoid that. You can substitute the butter with additional olive oil or ghee in its place. The butter just helps give the sauce a rich flavor.
- There are some great additions you could add to this dish. Some that I enjoy are artichoke hearts, olives, roasted red peppers and sun-dried tomatoes
- Beans would be a nice addition as well. I like chickpeas or white beans.
- Serve this halibut over pasta, like an angel hair or linguine. You could also serve it over zoodles or even rice.
- Before placing the halibut in the oven you could sprinkle parmesan or mozzarella cheese over the halibut. Cheese makes everything better, right?
How do you Make Lemon Garlic Halibut
Step 1: Mix the Spices: In a small mixing bowl combine the paprika, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Set aside.
Step 2: Sauté Garlic and Shallots: Heat a large skillet over medium hight heat. Add the olive oil and garlic. Saute for 2 minutes. Add the shallots and continue to saute for 2 minutes.
Step 3: Add Lemon Juice and Butter: Add the butter and stir it until it melts. Add the lemon juice and stir well.
Step 4: Rub Fish with Spices: Pat the halibut dry with a paper towel to remove moisture and ensure the halibut gets a nice sear. Rub the halibut with the spice mixture.
Step 5: Sear Halibut: Place the halibut with the skin side up in the skillet. Sear the first side of the halibut for 4-5 minutes. Flip and let the other side of the halibut sear and spoon some of the butter lemon sauce over the halibut. Cook until the fish is cooked through. Serve the halibut warm with lemon slices, fresh parsley over top of creamy butternut squash risotto.
Recipe FAQ
I like to eat my fish fresh when I cook it but sometimes that isn’t an option or you have leftovers. When it comes to reheating fish you want to make sure you do it the right way so you don’t dry it out. Place the fillets on a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet, cover them with foil (to prevent the exteriors of the fish from drying out), and heat them in a 275-degree oven until they register 125 to 130 degrees, about 15 minutes for 1-inch-thick fillets (timing varies according to fillet size).
Yes you can. Halibut is a firm, mild white fish. You can substitute cod, grouper, mahi-mahi, or sea bass if needed.
There are a few options when making this halibut. You can bake, grill, or pan-sear halibut. Baking with lemon slices, garlic, olive oil, and herbs is a simple, no-fuss method that keeps the fish moist.
Lemon Garlic Halibut Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 – 6 ounce halibut fillets
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 shallot, diced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl combine the paprika, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium hight heat. Add the olive oil and garlic. Saute for 2 minutes. Add the shallots and continue to saute for 2 minutes.
- Add the butter and stir it until it melts. Add the lemon juice and stir well.
- Pat the halibut dry with a paper towel to remove moisture and ensure the halibut gets a nice sear. Rub the halibut with the spice mixture.
- Place the halibut with the skin side up in the skillet. Sear the first side of the halibut for 4-5 minutes.
- Flip and let the other side of the halibut sear and spoon some of the butter lemon sauce over the halibut. Cook until the fish is cooked through.
- Serve the halibut warm with lemon slices, fresh parsley over top of creamy butternut squash risotto.
