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    Trout with Garlic Lemon Butter Herb Sauce

    By Julia | Updated: Aug 24, 2021 | Published: Oct 21, 2015 | 510 Comments

    387.7K shares
    • Facebook8.1K
    Jump to Recipe Print SaveSaved!

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

    Trout Recipe with Garlic Lemon Butter Herb Sauce - simple and delicious way to cook fish, especially if you're in a hurry!  The whole recipe takes only 30 minutes.  Italian herb seasoning, chopped fresh parsley and garlic give great flavor to the fish!  Healthy, low-carb dinner rich in lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids.

    2 Trout fillets with Garlic Lemon Butter Herb Sauce in a stainless steel skillet

    Trout fillets are usually pretty thin which makes them perfect for cooking on stove top in a skillet.  One of the best trout recipes I've tried is simply cooking the trout in the skillet  in olive oil, and then adding garlic, lemon juice, white wine, fresh parsley and butter.  That's it!  Simple and delicious.

    2 trout fillets seasoned with herb seasoning in a stainless steel skillet

    What makes this trout recipe work:

    • The ingredient list for this trout recipe is short and simple.
    • The trout itself is such a delicate fish with a great flavor, it doesn't need too many ingredients or special technique to enhance it.  So, just cook it in a large skillet on stove top with olive oil and butter, garlic, butter, lemon juice, white wine, fresh parsley.
    • The cooking times are short since trout fillets are usually pretty thin.  This trout recipe takes only 30 minutes from start to finish.
    2 Trout fillets seasoned with Italian seasoning, topped with chopped fresh parsley with Garlic Lemon Butter Herb Sauce in a stainless steel skillet

    I have also made this recipe using the type of fish I've never cooked with before - Arctic Char. Arctic Char looks very similar to trout, and it's closely related to both salmon and trout. Therefore, this recipe will also work with salmon and arctic char. Very easy and versatile!

    Other trout recipes

    • Another simple way to cook trout is simply to enhance it with capers, garlic, lemon and butter.  I combined just those ingredients to make this easy and delicious Trout with Caper-Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce.  And yes, I used steelhead trout for this recipe but you can use a regular trout.
    • I made this recipe with salmon - but it is easily adaptable for trout: Garlic Parmesan Crusted Salmon and Asparagus
    Trout with Garlic Lemon Butter Herb Sauce
    4.80 from 682 votes

    Trout with Garlic Lemon Butter Herb Sauce

    One of the best trout recipes I've tried is simply cooking the trout in the skillet  in olive oil, and then adding garlic, lemon juice, white wine, fresh parsley and butter.  Gluten free, healthy, easy-to-make and delicious!   Low-carb dinner rich in lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids. A family favorite!   Perfect way to cook an amazing fish: trout. 
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Mediterranean
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories per serving 380 kcal
    Author: Julia

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 pounds trout or salmon, or arctic char - 2 large fish fillets with skin on the bottom
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil more, if needed
    • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning (dried thyme, oregano, parsley, combined together)
    • ¼ teaspoon salt to taste
    • 4 garlic cloves diced
    • 3 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
    • 2 tablespoons white wine
    • 2 tablespoons butter softened
    • 2 tablespoons parsley chopped
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    Instructions 

    • Season the top of fish fillets with Italian herb seasoning and salt (generously). Fish fillets will have skins on the bottom - no need to season the skins.
    • In a large skillet (large enough to fit 2 fish fillets), heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil on medium heat until heated but not smoking.  To the hot skillet with olive oil, add fish fillets skin side up - flesh side down. Cook the flesh side of the fish for about 3-5 minutes on medium heat, making sure the oil does not smoke, until lightly browned.
    • Flip the fillets over to the other side, skin side down (add more oil, if needed). Cook for another 2-4 minutes on medium heat (to prevent oil from burning). 
    • Remove the skillet from heat, close with the lid, and let the fish sit for 5-10 minutes, covered, in the skillet, until flaky and cooked through completely.
    • After the fish is cooked through, off heat, using spatula, carefully remove fillets to the plate, separating the fish from the skin. Carefully remove or scrape the fish skin off the bottom of the pan, making sure to leave all the cooking oils in the pan.
    • Add diced garlic, lemon juice, and white wine to the same pan with oil. Cook on medium-low heat for about 1 minute, until garlic softens a bit. Remove from heat. Add 1 tablespoon of chopped parsley, and 2 tablespoons of butter, off heat, to the sauce, stirring, until the butter melts and forms a creamy mixture.
    • Add fish to the pan, spoon sauce over the fish, top the fish and sauce with the remaining 1 tablespoon of parsley, and serve.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Information
    Trout with Garlic Lemon Butter Herb Sauce
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    380
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    24
    g
    37
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    6
    g
    38
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    113
    mg
    38
    %
    Sodium
     
    286
    mg
    12
    %
    Potassium
     
    664
    mg
    19
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    2
    g
    1
    %
    Protein
     
    35
    g
    70
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    460
    IU
    9
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    8.8
    mg
    11
    %
    Calcium
     
    101
    mg
    10
    %
    Iron
     
    3.2
    mg
    18
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Nutrition Disclaimer:

    The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice.

    Keyword how to cook trout, trout
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    387.7K shares
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. John

      January 26, 2025 at 6:48 pm

      I don't like being tricked into installing an add-on "Torque Converter". Right under a picture of the trout there is a large "Continue" button which installs an unbidden add-on to my browser. Sorry, we must unsubscribe.

      Reply
    2. crissi

      September 29, 2024 at 8:01 pm

      A delicious recipe. Eating my trout while typing this. Next time adding the wine. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Julia

        September 29, 2024 at 9:40 pm

        Wine would be a great addition!!

        Reply
      • Penina Handelsman

        January 07, 2025 at 9:11 pm

        OMG this is really delicious trout! It’s like eating in a special Italian restaurant at home. Thank you so much for this great recipe!

        Reply
    3. LINDA

      September 03, 2024 at 12:00 am

      GREAT RECIPE, EASY AND QUICK. LOVED IT!

      Reply
      • Julia

        September 03, 2024 at 2:16 am

        Glad you loved it, Linda! ❤️

        Reply
    4. Dia

      August 20, 2024 at 10:13 pm

      This was such a simple recipe and the trout turned out amazing! I will definitely make this again very soon!

      Reply
      • Julia

        August 24, 2024 at 10:23 pm

        Thanks, Dia, for trying this recipe and sharing your 5-star review - it means a lot to me. 🙂

        Reply
    5. stephen roberts

      August 06, 2024 at 2:47 pm

      I had some Sea trout in the freezer
      I searched Easy Trout recipient in Google and found yours. That was easy, I had all the ingredients in had it with Salad . It was lovely thank you!!

      Reply
      • Julia

        August 06, 2024 at 4:17 pm

        Aww, thank you, Stephen, for such a wonderful review! I am glad my recipe did not disappoint! 🙂

        Reply
    6. sylviawhite

      July 31, 2024 at 6:15 pm

      am I amble to cook Trout on the BBQ and for how long

      Reply
      • Julia

        August 04, 2024 at 6:22 pm

        Hi Sylvia, I've never cooked it on BBQ, so I am of no help here, unfortunately.

        Reply
    7. Sherry

      June 12, 2024 at 12:40 pm

      This is an amazing recipe...I will definitely use again!

      Reply
      • Julia

        June 15, 2024 at 7:34 pm

        Thank you, Sherry, for taking the time to share your review!! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Sandy

      June 04, 2024 at 1:17 pm

      Wonderful!!!!

      Reply
      • Julia

        June 06, 2024 at 1:19 pm

        Thank you, Sandy! 🙂

        Reply
    9. Sandino

      June 03, 2024 at 7:43 pm

      I liked this recipe very much. Fairly easy and very tasty!

      Reply
      • Julia

        June 06, 2024 at 1:32 pm

        Thank you, Sandino, I am glad you loved it! 🙂

        Reply
    10. Kathleen Monaco

      May 08, 2024 at 7:16 am

      This is the best recipe for rainbow trout. I made this last night, so easy and so good. I recently found your blog and love your recipes. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Julia

        May 08, 2024 at 1:16 pm

        Thank you, Kathleen, you are so sweet! 🙂

        Reply
    11. Joan

      May 05, 2024 at 7:03 pm

      Made this recipe tonight and it was delicious and quick and easy as well. Thanks

      Reply
      • Julia

        May 05, 2024 at 7:37 pm

        Thank you for your review, Joan! Glad you loved it! 🙂

        Reply
    12. Ciara

      March 02, 2024 at 3:15 pm

      Can I make this without the white wine? Or will it taste funky ?

      Reply
      • Julia

        March 12, 2024 at 6:31 pm

        Ciara, you can skip the white wine altogether. Or, you can use 2 tablespoons of olive oil or butter instead!

        Reply
        • Claudia Mc

          April 06, 2024 at 2:16 am

          How can I reduce the cholesterol in this recipe?

          Reply
        • Mandy

          April 11, 2024 at 8:56 pm

          This is a fabulous recipe! I had some thin trout filets so I reduced the fry time alot. The sauce is devine!!!

          Reply
          • Julia

            April 13, 2024 at 10:32 am

            Wow, thank you, Mandy, for such a wonderful review! 🙂

            Reply
      • Tara

        March 30, 2024 at 12:12 am

        Omitted the wine simply because I forgot to add it! It turned out perfectly fine.

        Reply
        • Julia

          March 30, 2024 at 12:03 pm

          Thank you, Tara, for this feedback!

          Reply
          • Lu

            April 05, 2024 at 2:36 pm

            By far the simplest and absolutely tastiest fish recipe ever!

            Reply
            • Julia

              April 05, 2024 at 9:38 pm

              Lu, thank you for this rave review - I really appreciate it! 🙂

    13. Gina

      March 02, 2024 at 9:46 am

      I made this with salmon and used dried parsley and basil instead of the Italian seasoning, since I didn’t want the oregano. So easy to make and delicious.

      Reply
      • Julia

        March 12, 2024 at 6:35 pm

        Gina, I am so happy you loved this! 🙂 Thank you for such a positive review! ❤️

        Reply
    14. Karen

      February 20, 2024 at 3:06 pm

      WOW!!!!! This recipe is a favourite in our home!!! The flavours are amazing!!! It's a simple recipe, easy to make, staple ingredients and it's really delicious!!! We have served it for family and friends and everyone agrees! It melts in your mouth! Enjoy!!!

      Reply
      • Julia

        February 21, 2024 at 10:48 am

        Karen, thank you for your rave review - it means so much to me! ❤️❤️

        Reply
    15. Lisa

      December 21, 2023 at 8:16 pm

      Question: Can I successfully cook this in a cast iron skillet? This is an important meal, so I want it to be just right. I am afraid that the skillet might impart some blackness to it all.
      Thanks for a prompt reply!
      Lisa

      Reply
      • Julia

        December 28, 2023 at 2:25 pm

        Lisa, I am very sorry for the late response, but yes, you can cook this in a cast iron skillet. The kind of cast iron I like to use (Staub brand) will definitely not add any blackness to the sauce. The traditional cast iron skillet (properly seasoned, etc) should work just fine, too.

        Reply
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    Julia is the author of JuliasAlbum.com (a food blog focused on easy dinner recipes, pasta dishes, salads made with seasonal ingredients). In this photo, Julia is pictured wearing a yellow sweater against an Autumn background.

    Hi, I'm Julia!

    I am a full-time food blogger living in beautiful Colorado. I focus primarily on savory recipes (protein-based & fiber-rich main dishes, pasta, salads) using fresh & seasonal ingredients. A food blogger since 2012, I help home cooks create well-balanced and visually appealing dinners (many of which are 30-minute ONE-PAN meals). Find out more about me and my cooking philosophy. 

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