Make this easy Fish in Lemon Butter Sauce in just 25 minutes for a delicious one-pan meal. Fish & broccoli are cooked all the way in the sauce made from lemon, butter, white wine & capers - for a dish that will be a fast favorite.
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I dreamed up this recipe a couple of years back when I went to bed little bit hungry, and it quickly became one of my favorite fish recipes. It's got all the best flavors: butter, white wine, lemon and salty capers - a flavor combo that's great with fish, and with a nice glass of wine.
Why you will love this recipe
- Quick and all done in 25 minutes
- Easy recipe with just a few simple steps and simple ingredients
- Hands off with 15 minutes of active cooking - great for busy weeknights!
- All done in one pan for super easy cleanup
- Loaded with flavor and an addictive lemon butter sauce
- A healthy meal on its own or with a side of rice
What you need to make it
Ingredient notes & substiutions
- Heavy cream should be used to avoid the sauce breaking
- White wine: Choose a kind you enjoy drinking, and serve a glass with dinner for the perfect pairing. I recommend Sauvignon Blanc as it goes perfectly with the other flavors.
- Fish fillets: Most white fish fillets work well for this recipe, for example plaice, bream, tilapia and cod
- Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice is the way to go, bottled won't do
- Mini capers can be skipped - just add a bit of salt instead
- Salt can be added if needed
How to make it
- Melt butter in an oven safe pan (for example, a cast iron skillet) over medium-high heat
- Pour in white wine and simmer for 2 minutes
- Add cream, mix, and simmer for 2 minutes
- Spoon a bit of the cream sauce into a separate dish and mix in the lemon juice. Then add this to the rest of the sauce, mix, and simmer for 1 minute.
- Remove the pan from the heat and add capers
- Taste test and add salt if needed
- Place fish filets in the bottom of the pan
- Top with broccoli
- Spoon some of the sauce over the broccoli, then cook in the middle of the oven at 390°F (200°C) for 10 (for thin filets) to 15 minutes (for thick filets)
- Check that the fish is cooked through, then serve as it is or with a side of rice!
Tips & tricks
- For less crunchy broccoli cut it in smaller pieces and/or pre-cook for 1-2 minutes before adding to the pan
- If you don't have an oven safe pan you can make the sauce in a regular skillet and then place the fish and broccoli in a baking dish and pour over the sauce
- Mix lemon juice with a bit of the cream sauce before adding to the sauce, to avoid the sauce breaking
- To find out if the fish is done, poke a fork through it. If it's flaky, comes apart easily, and white (not translucent) inside, it's done.
- This dish is best eaten straight away but you can store leftovers for up to 2 days in an airtight container in the fridge. The texture of the fish will not be as nice though.
- This dish does not freeze well
Recipe FAQ
What kind of fish can I use for this recipe?
This recipe works best with white fish, for example plaice, tilapia, bream and cod.
How do I know if the fish is ready?
To find out if the fish is ready, poke a fork through it. If it's flaky, comes apart easily, and white (not translucent) inside, it's done.
More quick & easy dinner recipes
Love quick & easy weeknight approved dinners, like this Fish in Lemon Butter Sauce? Then I think you will love these recipes!
- Baked Cod in Foil with Lemon, Potatoes & Tomatoes
- Mexican Stuffed Bell Peppers without Rice
- Vegetarian Chili Sin Carne
- Meatballs without Eggs & Breadcrumbs
- Shrimp Mei Fun
- Smoked Salmon & Spinach Pasta
Did you love this recipe? Rate it five stars!
...and let me know what you loved about it in the comments.
Recipe
Fish in Lemon Butter Sauce with Capers & Broccoli
Print RateServings: 2
Calories: 425kcal
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ cup white wine
- ⅔ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup mini capers
- 1 lemon juice only
- ¼ teaspoon salt according to taste, only if needed
- ½ lb white fish filets
- ½ lb broccoli cut in florets, stem peeled and chopped
To serve
- 2 servings rice optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven for 200 C/390 F.
- Melt the butter in an oven safe frying pan or skillet over medium-high heat, then pour in the wine and bring to a boil. Simmer for 2 minutes.
- Add cream and simmer for 2 minutes.
- In a small bowl, mix the lemon juice with a few tablespoons of the cream sauce, then add to the sauce and simmer for 1 minute.
- Remove the pan from the heat and add the capers. Taste test and season with salt as needed.
- Place the fish filets in the bottom of the pan and place the broccoli on top. Spoon some sauce over the fish & broccoli.
- Cook in the middle of the oven for 10-15 minutes. For thin plaice filets, 10 minutes is enough, for thicker fish filets like cod 15 minutes might be needed.
- Serve on its own, or with a side of rice.
Equipment (may contain affiliate links)
- Measuring cups (metric or US)*
Notes
Ingredient notes & substitutions
- Heavy cream is best to use to avoid the sauce breaking
- White wine: Choose a kind you enjoy drinking, and serve a glass with dinner for the perfect pairing. I recommend Sauvignon Blanc as it goes perfectly with the other flavors.
- Fish fillets: Most white fish fillets work well for this recipe, for example plaice, bream, tilapia and cod
- Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice is the way to go, bottled won't do
- Mini capers can be skipped - just add a bit of salt instead
Tips & tricks
- If you don't have an oven safe pan you can make the sauce in a regular skillet and then place the fish and broccoli in a baking dish and pour over the sauce
- Mix the lemon juice with a bit of the sauce before adding, to avoid the sauce breaking
- To find out if the fish is done, poke a fork through it. If it's flaky, comes apart easily, and white (not translucent) inside, it's done.
- If you don't like crunchy broccoli then cut the pieces really small
- This dish is best eaten straight away but you can store leftovers for up to 2 days in an airtight container in the fridge. The texture of the fish will not be as nice though.
- This dish does not freeze well
Nutrition
Calories: 425kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 1017mg | Potassium: 508mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2084IU | Vitamin C: 117mg | Calcium: 128mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.
Did you make this? Tag me today!Tag @alwaysusebutter and use the hashtag #alwaysusebutter!
Dr. K. Lee Banks
This sounds good, except I would leave out the capers. I think I might try it with mahi mahi, a new favorite fish hubby and I recently discovered.
Emmeline
Oh interesting! Don’t think I ever had it - let me know how it turns out!
Carly Delski
This looks delicious and easy! I'm a sucker for broccoli.. I could probably eat the whole pan myself!
Jyothi (Jo)
I honestly haven't tried fish with broccoli and I wonder why haven't I tried it until now. Because you fish and broccoli and especially that sauce looks so damn delicious!
Emmeline
Thank you! So happy you likes it. I hadn’t tried it before either but I an so happy I did!
Twinspirational
Yum this recipe looks so good. We love fish and broccoli but never made it together.
aditi
I've never made fish and brocolli together but this looks really good. Definitely a must try!
Kay
Yes!! I will be adding this to my list of recipes. I love fish and broccoli and I dont have a problem with butter. Yum!! I wish I could go to sleep and come up with recipes. All of my cooking is done by using other people's recipes sadly but they all turn put great.
Megan
Yummm this looks simple and delicious! I'd love to try this for dinner tonight. Thank you!
Sinjana Ghosh
Perfect combination of healthy and tasty meal . Plys it has two of my favorite items- broccoli and Fish!!
myweethoughts
Looks appetizing! I Would love to try this at home.. thank you for sharing it 🙂
Emmeline
You’re very welcome! Thank you for commenting! 😃
nicol
would never have thought that you can do this in one pan. will definitely have to try it and saves cleaning up haha. looks absolutely scrumptious
Emmeline
Yep, hate doing dishes! 😅 thank you for commenting!
kikaysikat
Mmmm looks yum! I'm bookmarking this recipe for next time
Emmeline
Thank you for commenting! Let me know when you try it!
Christa
This looks so flavorful and delicious! Broccoli is one of my favorite veggies. I’m a,ways looking for new ways to prepare it!
Stephanie @ Nutrition Hungry
This looks delicious! I love the addition of broccoli, it really makes it a complete meal! One thing I noticed that you might want to check is the nutrition label, the fat content looks like it may be a little off. Based on the amount of cream and butter I don't think you'd end up with 35g of fat for one serving, maybe that's for the whole recipe?? Thanks again for sharing looks like a delicious recipe!
Emmeline
Thank you! I will definitely look into that - great if there’s actually less fat 😃
Jackline A
Oh my gosh that looks amazing! I'm in need of a new fish recipe! Definitely gonna try this!
Czjai Reyes-Ocampo
Looks yummy! My son loves fish, and I'm sure this will be a hit with him. 🙂
Emmeline
Thank you!
Mahy Elamin
So good...a nice twist on plain old broccoli. A quick and easy way to add some delicious color to your plate.
Ariel
Looks healthy!l I’m sure it’s also delicious 😋
Gervin Khan
Broccoli is one of my favorite vegetable to eat and this one pan meal recipe of yours definitely makes my mouth watering. It looks really delicious!
Emmeline
Thank you! I'm just obsessed with broccoli right now.
Cheese Curd In Paradise
What a fantastic weeknight meal! I love the combination of flavors, and am a sucker for any time fish and capers are cooked together- I can't wait to try this one!
Emmeline
So happy you liked it! Yep those capers are little gems for sure 👌🏻
Stephanie Stebbins
I'm trying to eat more fish so thanks so much for this recipe!! Yum!
Emmeline
Happy you liked it! 😃
Jeannette (Jay Joy)
We are lemon addicts too!!!! I love the idea of eating this for me and just adding some rice so that it can fill up my family as well! My family loves fish and they have asked for more fish this New YEar. I am putting this on the menu!
Emmeline
I love it! Let me know when you try it! 😍
Rachel
I am not a massive fan of capers but this does sound tasty and healthy! Might have to give it go soon!
Emmeline
It’s delicious without the capers as well! 😃 Thanks for commenting!
Judy
I’m not a fan of fish but this still looks good. I love the pictures you provided and the step by step instructions. It makes it all seem easy to make.
Emmeline
Thank you! Well we can't all be fish lovers 😉
Liz
You had me at one pan! haha my husband loves fish so I'm glad to find a recipe that doesn't require tons of clean up! Thank you!
Emmeline
Haha yes one pan is the way to go! Thanks for commenting!
Danielle Wolter
This sounds so delicious! That sauce sounds just incredible - love this idea!
Emmeline
Thanks for commenting! Love the sauce, so lemony and creamy!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
That sauce sounds ever so delicious! We love fish in our house so will definitely be giving this recipe a try.
Emmeline
It sure is! So creamy and lemony - my two favorite things 😉 Thanks for commenting!
Nathan Wyper
This looks so delicious, I've never had broccoli with fish before, sounds amazing with that sauce!
Amy | The Cook Report
I love one pan recipes and we're trying to eat more fish this year so this is perfect!
Natalie
Looks so delicious and balanced! Perfect for a healthy meal!
Jacqueline Debono
This is such a great one pan weeknight meal. I love the idea of the lemon butter caper sauce, am sure it's totally yummy!
Emmeline
Thank you! It really is soo delicious. All lemony and creamy!