Light, flakey, and moist, you are going to love this Garlic Butter Halibut Recipe. It’s pan-seared to perfection and topped with a rich garlic butter sauce—a quick and delicious weeknight dinner you’ll love!
I love pan-searing halibut for weeknight dinners—it comes together so quickly and easily, making busy nights feel stress-free. If you’ve tried my cod recipe, baked salmon, baked tilapia, or rainbow trout recipe, you’re going to love this recipe too. It’s packed with the same delicious garlic butter flavors as the others!
Key Ingredients to Make This Halibut Recipe
Halibut Fish – After making this recipe so many times, I’ve found that Pacific halibut and wild-caught types are the best for their firm, flaky texture and clean, mild flavor. They’re also more sustainable. When buying fresh halibut, look for white, glossy flesh. For frozen fillets, avoid those with dried-out edges for the best quality.
Seasoning – I use garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper to season my halibut. After testing different combinations, I’ve found this blend strikes the perfect balance of savory and aromatic. For an extra kick, I add red pepper for some heat.
Butter – Unsalted butter is essential here because we’re already seasoning with salt. After experimenting with both salted and unsalted butter, I’ve found that unsalted gives me more control over the final taste.
Garlic Cloves – I always use fresh garlic for a stronger, richer flavor. I’ve found that fresh garlic really infuses the butter with depth, aroma, and a natural kick that brings the dish to life.
Fresh Rosemary – Fresh rosemary is perfect for garnish, adding a fragrant, earthy touch to the dish. If you don’t have fresh rosemary, you can substitute with other fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, or dill for a different twist.
1. In a large skillet heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Pat the white fish dry with a paper towel and season both sides of the fish with the dried spices.
Tip: If your fish was in the fridge, let your fish comes to room temperature for about 20 minutes before cooking.
2. Place the fillets in a large cast-iron skillet and turn the heat to medium heat. Cook it for 3-4 minutes (cooking time will depend on the size of your fillets).
3. Using a turner, flip your halibut fillets over to cook the other side. It’s cooked when it flakes easily with a fork or reaches the temperature of 118ºF. Set aside once it’s cooked.
4. Reduce the heat to low and add butter to the skillet. Melt the butter and then, add garlic. Saute for about 30 seconds or 1 minute. Add the fish back to the pan and spoon the sauce over the fillets. You might have to tilt the pan a bit.
5. Garnish this pan fried fish recipe with fresh rosemary or fresh parsley. You can also garnish it with lemon zest.
Tip: The perfectly cooked fillet should have an internal temperature of 118°F. This little thermometer has saved so many dinners from overcooking—it’s the easiest way to ensure your fish is perfectly cooked every time (no more dry halibut!). It also works great for chicken and steak too.
This pan seared halibut recipe pairs well with an array of delicious sides. Try rice, cucumber salad and mashed potatoes for savory flavors that complement the fish.
For variety, consider air fryer asparagus, air fryer green beans and roasted sweet potato, each adding unique tastes and textures to enhance your halibut recipe.
Try it!
Best Fish Turner
I love using this turner because it’s designed to cradle delicate fillets and easily flip them without them breaking apart.
Garlic Butter Halibut Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 halibut fish fillets
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp garlic clove – minced
- 1 tbsp fresh chopped rosemary for garnish
Instructions
- In a large skillet heat olive oil over medium high heat. Pat halibut fish dry with paper towel and season all over with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and salt and pepper.
- Place the halibut filets in a large (10-inch) cast iron skillet and turn the heat to medium. Sear fish for 3-4 minutes. Flip your fish fillets over to cook the other side. Set aside once the fish is cooked.
- Reduce the heat to low and add butter in the skillet. When it melts, add garlic. Cook for about 30 seconds or 1 minute. Be careful not to burn the garlic. Gently bring back the fish to the pan.
- Using a spoon, pour some of the butter sauce left in the skillet onto the halibut fillets before serving. Garnish with fresh rosemary.
Notes
- Do not leave the fish in the pan when it is done. The residual heat from the cast iron will continue to cook the fish.
- Try to buy fillets that are similar in size so they cook evenly.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did You Make This?
Follow @primaverakitchen on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag it #primaverakitchen. We’d love to see your recreation.
JUST SIMPLE AND EASY TO MAKE THAK FOR SHARING
You’re very welcome.
Quick and delicious perhaps a bit more seasoning.
Indeed it’s quick, easy and delicious! Adjust seasoning according to your taste 😉
Thanks for sharing! Easy to prepare & delicious!
You’re so welcome!
It was lacking flavor and it took way longer to cook than just 3-4 min on each side.
I’m sorry to hear it didn’t turn out as expected! Did you follow the recipe exactly? It’s usually quite flavorful, so I’d love to help troubleshoot and make sure it comes out perfect for you next time!
I usually don’t write reviews but this recipe deserves my time. I followed the recipe to the ”I” and it came fabulous. If you want a healthy, quick and full flavor dinner or if you want to impress a guest, this is it.
I served it with a green salad and cooked little potatoes that I heated them in the remaining butter garlic in the skillet. The thickness of the fillets is very important, mine were about 3/4” and it took around 2 to 3 minutes to cook to perfection.
Finally I found out how expensive restaurants fix halibut.
Thank you very much!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! 😊 I’m thrilled to hear that the recipe turned out so fabulous for you. It sounds like you nailed the cooking time with the fillets, and serving it with a green salad and butter-garlic potatoes sounds absolutely delicious! I love how you made it your own. So glad I could help bring a bit of that restaurant-quality touch to your kitchen! 🍽️
So simple and amazing
Indeed it is 😉
We loved this! Did it in our cast iron and let it rest in the pan for 5 minutes off the heat while my side dish finished cooking. Perfect! I did not have rosemary and used garlic powder to make it quicker. We loved it.
I’m so glad you loved it! Using the cast iron and letting it rest sounds like a great idea. Garlic powder is a perfect quick substitute for rosemary. Thanks for sharing your tips! 😊
My first time fixing halibut fish for myself. I must say, recipe is very good to me. Thank you!
You’re so welcome! Happy you liked it!