Pan-Fried Fish with Creamy Lemon Sauce for Two

Name: Pan-Fried Fish with Creamy Lemon Sauce for Two
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 2 tilapia fillets; 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour; ¼ teaspoon garlic powder; ¼ teaspoon onion powder; Pinch of chili powder; Pinch of ground cumin; Salt and black pepper to taste; 2 tablespoons Italian dressing; ¼ cup fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth; 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice; 1 ounce fat-free cream cheese; 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley

Recipe GLPR54142c5be32248

Main Course

20 min

307 cal

Servings: 2

Stovetop

SNAP eligible

Tender tilapia fillets are lightly breaded and pan-fried until golden, then finished with a silky, light cream sauce infused with fresh lemon juice. This elegant yet simple dish comes together in just 20 minutes and serves two as a satisfying, protein-rich main course.

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Ingredients

2 tilapia fillets

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon onion powder

Pinch of chili powder

Pinch of ground cumin

Salt and black pepper to taste

2 tablespoons Italian dressing

¼ cup fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 ounce fat-free cream cheese

1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley

Directions

In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and cumin. Stir until well blended.
Season both tilapia fillets with salt and pepper on both sides. Working with one fillet at a time, dip it into the flour mixture, coating both sides evenly and shaking off any excess. Place coated fillets on a clean plate.
Heat the Italian dressing in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until it shimmers. Carefully add the tilapia fillets and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on the first side, until the crust is golden brown.
Flip the fillets gently and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes on the second side until the fish flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Transfer the cooked fish to a serving plate and keep warm. In the same skillet, pour in the chicken broth and lemon juice, stirring to deglaze and combine. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
Add the cream cheese to the simmering sauce and whisk continuously until it melts completely and the sauce becomes smooth and creamy. Cook for 1 minute more.
Spoon the creamy lemon sauce over the tilapia fillets and garnish with fresh chopped parsley. Serve immediately.

Comments

Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff4.5

This recipe hits its 20-minute target honestly—pan-frying tilapia and building a quick cream sauce is genuinely fast and requires no prep tricks. Tilapia, flour, lemon juice, cream cheese, and chicken broth are all staples at Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Kroger, and Walmart, with no special stops needed. At roughly $8–$10 for two servings, the cost centers on the tilapia fillet and cream cheese, making it moderate for a weeknight protein. The main caveat is scale: this is sized for two and doesn't adapt easily to a family table, and the cream sauce is a same-night dish that doesn't reheat gracefully, so plan accordingly if you're cooking for more or want leftovers.