### Garlic Butter Tilapia Recipe

This Garlic Butter Tilapia is a quick and delicious seafood dish featuring tender tilapia fillets seared to perfection and drizzled with a rich garlic butter sauce. Enhanced with fresh lemon juice and parsley, it’s a delightful meal that pairs well with a variety of sides.

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### Full Ingredients
– 4 tilapia fillets (about 6 ounces each)
– 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
– 4 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
– 1 teaspoon lemon zest
– 1 teaspoon dried parsley (or 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped)
– Salt and pepper, to taste
– 1 tablespoon olive oil
– 1 lemon, sliced (for garnish)
– Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

### Full Instructions
1. **Thaw the Fish**: If your tilapia fillets are frozen, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight or place them in a sealed plastic bag and submerge in cold water for about 30 minutes.
2. **Pat Dry**: Once thawed, gently pat the fillets dry with paper towels.
3. **Season the Fillets**: Sprinkle both sides of the tilapia fillets with salt and pepper.
4. **Melt the Butter**: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat until golden.
5. **Add Garlic**: Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
6. **Incorporate Lemon**: Stir in the lemon juice and zest, mixing well and simmering for another minute.
7. **Add Parsley**: Stir in the dried parsley (or fresh) and remove from heat.
8. **Heat the Pan**: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
9. **Cook the Fillets**: Place the tilapia fillets in the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes on one side.
10. **Flip the Fish**: Gently flip the fillets and pour half of the garlic butter sauce over them. Cook for another 3-4 minutes until opaque and flaky.
11. **Check for Doneness**: Ensure the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C) or check that the fish is opaque and flakes easily.
12. **Plate the Tilapia**: Transfer the cooked fillets to a serving platter.
13. **Drizzle with Sauce**: Drizzle the remaining garlic butter sauce over the tilapia.
14. **Garnish**: Garnish with lemon slices and chopped fresh parsley.
15. **Choose Your Sides**: Serve with steamed vegetables, a light salad, or over rice/quinoa.
16. **Enjoy**: Dig in and savor the flavors!

### Notes
– For a spicier kick, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to the garlic butter sauce.
– This dish can be easily doubled for larger gatherings.

### Prep Time
10 minutes

### Cook Time
15 minutes

### Total Time
25 minutes

### Yield
4 servings

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This recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a special occasion. Enjoy the delightful flavors of garlic and lemon with the tender tilapia!