This quick and easy lemon butter sauce for fish is a great way to add some extra flavor to any fish dinner! The secret to this sauce is all in the rich browned butter. With a little garlic, lemon juice, and parsley, it makes for a well-balanced lemon butter sauce for fish or anything else you'd like to add some flavor to!
Easy Lemon Butter Sauce
This simple lemon butter sauce is a quick way to dress up any fish dinner. It only takes 5 minutes to whip up on the stove but it makes a world of difference when added to any dish!
The rich brown butter is the key to making a delicious, restaurant-quality sauce at home. The next time fish is on the menu give this lemon butter sauce a try and you'll see what I mean!

🥘 Ingredients
You only need 4 ingredients for this simple sauce. You might already have them in your kitchen!
- Butter - 4 tablespoons.
- Fresh Parsley - 1 tablespoon, chopped.
- Garlic - 1 teaspoon minced.
- Lemon Juice - ½ tablespoon.
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts & instructions!*
🔪 How To Make Lemon Butter Sauce For Fish
The 'nutty' aroma of the browning butter is the easiest way to know when it's ready! All you need is measuring spoons, saucepan and whisk or spoon.
- Melt the butter. Put 4 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat and let it melt.
- Brown the butter. Whisk or stir as the butter cooks. Keep it over heat until it is golden-brown with a slightly 'nutty' aroma (about 3 minutes).
- Add remaining ingredients. Add 1 teaspoon of garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Remove from heat and mix in ½ a tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of parsley. Set aside until ready to use.
Try your sauce on some grilled grouper or for a quick and easy dinner, use your sauce to dress up some air fryer salmon! This butter sauce is also tasty drizzled over veggies. Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- The lemon butter sauce will be pourable for 20-30 minutes after removing from heat.
- A serving is 1 tablespoon of lemon butter sauce.
- Storing: Refrigerate unused sauce in an airtight container for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave in 10-second increments.
What Fish Are Best Served With Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce?
Most white fish will taste fabulous with lemon garlic butter sauce. A few of my favorites include cod, grouper, snapper, or tilapia!
Can I Boil Seafood In My Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce?
Yes. Boil at a low simmer anywhere between only a few minutes and up to 6-8 minutes (depending on the type of seafood), stirring frequently.
Can I Add Cream To This Sauce?
You can add cream to make a creamy lemon butter garlic sauce. The cream should be slowly whisked in after the lemon juice so it does not curdle. Start with 1 tablespoon, taste, and add more if desired.
😋 More Tasty Sauces!
- Toffee Sauce
- Tzatziki Sauce
- Chicken Wing Sauce
- Hawaiian BBQ Sauce
- Cheese Sauce for Broccoli
- Apple Cider Cranberry Sauce
Lemon Butter Sauce For Fish
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon garlic (minced)
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.4 tablespoon butter
- Whisk or stir frequently until the butter starts turning golden-brown and has a slightly 'nutty' aroma (about 3 minutes).
- Add the garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Then remove the saucepan from the stovetop and mix in the lemon juice and parsley. Set aside until ready to use.1 tablespoon fresh parsley, 1 teaspoon garlic, ½ tablespoon lemon juice
Equipment You May Need
Notes
- The lemon butter sauce will be pourable for 20-30 minutes after removing from heat.
- A serving is 1 tablespoon of lemon butter sauce.
- Storing: Refrigerate unused sauce in an airtight container for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave in 10-second increments.
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
Anonymous says
Très bonne sauce avec poisson dorée européen
"Very good sauce with European golden fish"
Carmela says
Questa salsa al burro e buona per mettere sulla baccalà la accada fatta con tarallo sbriciolato mandorle e poi messa questa salsa posa bene
Carmela says
Ciao vorrei sapere anche io se la salsa al burro la posso usare sulla baccalà con briciole di tarallo e nocciole grazie
"Hi, I would also like to know if I can use the butter sauce on cod with tarallo crumbs and hazelnuts, thanks"
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Sì, sembra meraviglioso!
"Yes, that sounds wonderful!"
Marvin says
I used this amazing butter sauce for baked halibut, I would ge well with almost any fish. Simple and tasty thanks!
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Thanks Marvin! I agree, it would be amazing with any fish (but I like it best with white fish).