California Garlic Butter Halibut – Easy, Fresh & Flavor-Packed Recipe

August 23, 2025

Here’s a Quick & Easy Garlic Butter Halibut recipe perfect for a weeknight dinner. This version serves 2 and is suitable for beginner to intermediate home cooks.

🧄 Garlic Butter Halibut – Quick Setup Mode

🧂 Ingredients:

2 halibut fillets (6 oz each)
2 tbsp unsalted butter
3 cloves garlic (minced)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice (fresh)
1 tsp lemon zest
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
Optional: lemon wedges for garnish

🔪 Preparation:

Pat dry the halibut fillets with paper towels.
Season both sides with salt and pepper.
In a small bowl, combine minced garlic, lemon juice, and zest.

🍳 Cooking Instructions:

Heat olive oil in a non-stick or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
Add halibut fillets skin-side down (if skin-on) and sear for about 3–4 minutes until golden.
Flip the fillets and add butter and garlic mixture to the pan.
Spoon the garlic butter over the fish continuously as it finishes cooking (2–3 more minutes).
Halibut is done when it flakes easily and reaches an internal temperature of 130–135°F (54–57°C).
Finish with fresh parsley and an optional squeeze of lemon.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions:

Serve immediately with garlic butter spooned over top.
Excellent with:
- Roasted asparagus or green beans
- Mashed cauliflower or herbed rice
- Crusty bread to soak up the butter

🍷 Wine & Liquor Pairings:

White Wine: A crisp Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay
Sparkling: Brut Champagne or dry Prosecco
Liquor: A citrusy vodka spritz or light gin and tonic with lemon

🧮 Nutrition Facts (Per Serving – Approximate):

Calories: 310
Protein: 32g
Carbs: 2g
Fat: 20g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Cholesterol: 85mg
Sodium: 120mg

Here’s your grocery list for Garlic Butter Halibut (serves 2).

🛒 Grocery List

Proteins & Dairy:

2 halibut fillets (6 oz each)
2 tbsp unsalted butter

Produce:

3 garlic cloves
1 lemon
Fresh parsley (small bunch)

Pantry:

Olive oil (1 tbsp)
Salt & black pepper