Pan-Seared Red Snapper

Published: Feb 26, 2021 · Modified: Mar 16, 2025 · 73 Comments

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This delicious pan-seared red snapper is made with fish seared in butter and oil, and then served with a lemon and caper pan sauce.

Several years ago, my husband and I had a pretty incredible chance to go to the Bahamas and help volunteer with storm clean-up.

After long days of clean-up work and construction, we were hungry. No, I take that back. We were HUNGRY. And guys, we ate so much yellowtail snapper and red snapper in the Bahamas!

It was my first time eating this tasty fish, and while I'm sure the ocean breeze made the snapper taste even more incredible, I'm also positive that it was, in fact, absolutely delicious.

We had snapper at a Bahamian fish fry, fried snapper cooked by friends and (of course!) pan-seared snapper.

When we got home, I found myself wanting more snapper! But snapper isn't really something you can find easily at a grocery store in Kentucky.

So, when I had a chance to order some frozen red snapper from a special "Gulf of Mexico" seafood box from Sitka Seafood Market (previously Sitka Salmon Shares), I jumped at it!

When the snapper arrived, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.

This pan-seared red snapper is cooked using the same French searing technique I use with other white fish, such as pan-seared halibut and hake. It's served with an easy lemon caper sauce, and is so good that you'll wish you had an endless supply of snapper!

Want more East-coast seafood inspiration? Try making a grouper Reuben, grilled sea scallops with bourbon sauce, langostino lobster rolls and blackened shrimp and grits.

What Does Red Snapper Taste Like?

Red snapper, and actually, most varieties of snapper, are firm, meaty white fish.

The flavor is sweet, nutty and mild, making it perfect with lots of different recipes.

What If I Can't Find Red Snapper?

You can use any other variety of snapper or any firm white fish in this recipe.

It works well with halibut and rockfish.

Pan-Seared Fish Tip!

Make sure to pat the fish dry before cooking. Damp fillets are much more likely to stick to the pan.

How to Prepare the Snapper Fillets

This recipe assumes your fish is already cleaned and filleted.

Start by patting the fish dry.

Dust the fillets with flour and season with a little salt and pepper. If you avoid gluten, you can swap an all-purpose gluten-free flour here, such as Cup 4 Cup and it will work perfectly.

If you skip this step, the fish will still be delicious but may be less golden and crispy.

How to Pan-Sear Red Snapper

Start by adding butter and oil to a heavy pan. I like to use this Lodge 12" carbon steel skillet.

When the pan is hot and the butter is melted, add the fish to the pan.

Set a timer for four minutes, and avoid touching the fish as it cooks.

After four minutes, use a thin metal spatula to test the fish. I use this Wusthof fish spatula, but I've heard great things about this OXO fish spatula.

When the fish easily releases from the hot pan, it's ready to flip. Flip the fish and top the fillets with a little more butter.

Cook the fish for about four more minutes and then remove it from the pan.

Make the Lemon Caper Pan-Sauce

Add a little lemon juice and capers to the hot pan, and stir, stir, stir with a wooden spoon.

Scrape up any bits of fish stuck to the pan. Add some fresh herbs to the pan.

Serve the pan-seared red snapper along with the caper pan sauce. I like to serve the snapper along with garlic cauliflower mash and a green bean salad.

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