Flounder with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

Crispy, golden flounder fillets topped with a rich lemon garlic butter sauce. This easy seafood recipe is elegant enough for dinner parties but simple enough for weeknight meals. Learn tips, substitutions, and step-by-step instructions to make the perfect flounder at home!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

There’s something timeless about the combination of delicate white fish and a buttery lemon sauce. This Flounder with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce is a dish that strikes the perfect balance between comfort food and restaurant-worthy elegance.

The flounder fillets are lightly breaded and pan-fried to golden perfection, creating a crisp coating that contrasts beautifully with the tender, flaky fish inside. Then, just before serving, the fillets are drizzled with a bright, savory lemon garlic butter sauce—bringing freshness, richness, and a little zing all at once.

Whether you’re cooking for your family on a weeknight, hosting a dinner party, or simply craving a flavorful seafood dish, this recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients Explained

Understanding your ingredients helps you appreciate the recipe even more. Let’s break it down:

Flounder Fillets (2 fillets)

Flounder is a delicate white fish with a mild, slightly sweet flavor. Its thin fillets cook quickly and pair beautifully with citrus-based sauces. If you can’t find flounder, you can substitute with sole, tilapia, or even haddock.

💡 Tip: Always pat fish fillets dry before breading and frying to achieve a crispy coating.

Breadcrumbs (½ cup)

Breadcrumbs add crunch and texture to the delicate flounder. You can use plain breadcrumbs or panko for extra crispiness. For a healthier alternative, whole-wheat breadcrumbs work too.

Garlic Powder (1 tablespoon)

This adds depth of flavor and infuses the breading with savory notes. While fresh garlic is used in the sauce, garlic powder ensures the flavor is evenly distributed in the coating.

Fresh Chopped Parsley (1 tablespoon in breading + 2 tablespoons in sauce)

Parsley brings freshness and color. It balances the richness of butter and adds a mild, herbaceous flavor.

Salt (1 teaspoon)

A necessary seasoning that enhances all the flavors in the dish. Always season seafood lightly, as its delicate flavor can be overpowered by too much salt.

Dried Oregano (1 teaspoon)

This Mediterranean herb pairs beautifully with seafood and garlic. Its earthy, slightly peppery notes give the breading an Italian-inspired touch.

Olive Oil (½ cup for frying + 2 tablespoons for sauce)

Extra virgin olive oil is key here—it gives the flounder a beautiful golden crust while adding flavor. In the sauce, it balances richness with a slightly fruity undertone.

Egg (1, beaten)

Acts as the “glue” that helps the breadcrumbs stick to the fish. Without it, your coating would slide right off during frying.

Lemon (½ for juice)

Fresh lemon juice cuts through the richness of the butter sauce, adding brightness and acidity. This is the element that brings the whole dish to life.

Garlic (2 cloves, minced)

Garlic sautéed in olive oil releases a sweet, nutty aroma and infuses the sauce with deep flavor. Combined with butter and lemon, it creates the classic lemon garlic butter flavor everyone loves.

Unsalted Butter (2 tablespoons)

Butter adds richness, silkiness, and depth to the sauce. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the seasoning.

Step-by-Step Directions

Step 1: Prepare the Flounder

• Remove the bones by cutting along both sides of the spine.

• Pat the fillets dry with paper towels. This ensures the breading sticks and the fish crisps properly when fried.

Step 2: Make the Breadcrumb Mixture

• In a shallow dish, combine:

• ½ cup breadcrumbs

• 1 tablespoon garlic powder

• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

Step 3: Bread the Fish

• Dip each flounder fillet in the beaten egg.

• Dredge in the breadcrumb mixture until fully coated.

• Set aside on a plate or wire rack.

💡 Pro Tip: Letting the breaded fish rest for a few minutes before frying helps the coating stick better.

Step 4: Pan-Fry the Flounder

• Heat ½ cup olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.

• Once hot, add the flounder fillets. Fry for 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 145°F.

• Remove the fillets and place on a wire cooling rack or paper towels. Sprinkle lightly with salt.

Step 5: Make the Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

• In a small pan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat.

• Sauté 2 cloves minced garlic until fragrant (about 30 seconds).

• Squeeze in the juice of ½ lemon. Let simmer for 30 seconds.

• Stir in 2 tablespoons unsalted butter until melted and combined.

• Add 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, stir, and remove from heat.

Step 6: Serve

• Plate the flounder fillets.

• Drizzle generously with lemon garlic butter sauce.

• Garnish with extra parsley and lemon slices if desired.

• Serve hot!

Cooking Tips & Tricks

• Use panko for extra crunch. Regular breadcrumbs work, but panko creates an even crispier texture.

• Don’t overcrowd the pan. Cook fillets in batches if necessary to keep them from steaming.

• Check temperature. Fish is done when it reaches 145°F and flakes easily with a fork.

• Keep it light. Pair with steamed veggies, roasted potatoes, or a fresh salad for a balanced meal.

• Wine pairing: A crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio complements the citrusy sauce.

Why You Will Enjoy This Dish

This recipe is the perfect example of “effortless elegance.” It uses simple, fresh ingredients but delivers on flavor in a big way.

• Quick: Ready in under 30 minutes.

• Delicious: Crispy, golden flounder with a bright, buttery sauce.

• Versatile: Works as a weeknight dinner or a dinner-party centerpiece.

• Kid-friendly: Mild, flaky fish paired with a garlic butter sauce most kids will love.

It’s the kind of recipe that makes you feel like you’re eating at a coastal restaurant—without leaving your kitchen.

Yield: 4

Author: CookSnapBake.com

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Flounder with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

Crispy, golden flounder fillets topped with a rich lemon garlic butter sauce. This easy seafood recipe is elegant enough for dinner parties but simple enough for weeknight meals. Learn tips, substitutions, and step-by-step instructions to make the perfect flounder at home!

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 15 MinTotal time: 25 Min

Ingredients

• 2 flounder fillets
• ½ cup breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ cup olive oil
• 1 egg, beaten
• Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce:
• ½ lemon
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Instructions

1. Pat flounder dry and remove bones.
2. Mix breadcrumbs, garlic powder, parsley, salt, and oregano.
3. Dip fish in beaten egg, then dredge in breadcrumb mixture.
4. Heat ½ cup olive oil in frying pan. Cook fish 3–4 minutes per side until golden and 145°F internal temp. Remove and drain.
5. In a small pan, sauté garlic in 2 tbsp olive oil. Add lemon juice, simmer, then stir in butter. Add parsley and remove from heat.
6. Drizzle sauce over flounder and serve hot.

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