Pan Seared Sea Bass Recipe with Thyme Butter

With only five ingredients, this pan seared Chilean sea bass recipe may look simple, but it has a deep, rich flavor that is worthy of fine dining. The sea bass is topped with a fresh thyme compound butter that seeps into every crevice of the fish for a luxurious taste. 

This sea bass recipe takes less than 15 minutes to cook and is perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends. It is a meal that is much less effortless than our Chilean sea bass with beurre blanc but equally worthy of chef status.

Pan searing is an excellent method to prepare Chilean sea bass as it lets the flavors of the fish shine. The snow-white flesh has a smooth, buttery texture that highlights the subtle sweetness and mild flavor Chilean sea bass is known for.  And if you love this recipe I’m sure you will enjoy our pan fried cod or broiled cod recipes.

Pan Seared Sea Bass:

Don’t let the simplicity of this recipe fool you, it is a fantastic way to prepare fish and it lets the flavor of the sea bass stand out.

When you sear the sea bass in a hot skillet, a chemical process called the Maillard reaction occurs and the bass develops additional layers of flavor and complexity. 

Pan searing is an easy cooking method that is perfect for delicate fish like sea bass. But unless you know how to do it correctly, your efforts can fall flat. We have some tips to help you make this the best sea bass recipe you can make. 

Recipe Ingredients

I mentioned that this Chilean sea bass recipe only uses five ingredients. It’s a super quick dinner and you can use this same technique on other fish like pan seared salmon, a wolffish recipe, or sablefish. The list of fish is endless. Here are the ingredients you will need.

• Chilean sea bass. You can use fresh or frozen sea bass. If you use frozen fish then make sure you let it thaw completely before you begin the recipe.
• Thyme. We used fresh thyme but you can change up the flavor by substituting any fresh herb you have on hand. Some great ideas are rosemary, sage, dill, chive, and tarragon.
• Butter. You can use salted or unsalted butter. Whichever one you have on hand.
• Salt.
• Pepper.
• Lemon. You will use the lemon zest and the lemon juice. Make sure you zest the lemon before you squeeze the juice. It is much harder to remove the lemon zest after you squeeze the lemon.
• Garlic. Fresh garlic will add more flavor than dried garlic but you can use garlic powder in a pinch.

How to Prepare our Chilean Bass Recipe:

Here’s the simplified version of the recipe. You will see how easy it is with just five simple steps.

Please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post so you get all the details.

Compound Butter Recipe

1. Place the butter, thyme, lemon zest, lemon juice, and garlic in a small dish and mash with a fork. Set the butter aside while you sear the sea bass.

For the Fish

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Season the sea bass with salt and black pepper. 
2. Add the fish fillets to the hot skillet, flesh side down. Cook until golden brown.
3. Flip the fish and cook skin-side down.  Add a knob of the butter mixture to the top of each filet.  Continue cooking for 2 additional minutes while spooning the melting butter over the top.  
4. Check for doneness. It should flake easily and be opaque in color (not translucent).

Tips for the Best Recipe

Here are some helpful tips to get the best results from this recipe. 

• We prefer our cast iron skillet because it is heavy and distributes heat evenly. A stainless steel or non-stick skillet also works but heavy pans work the best.
• Make sure you blot the fish dry before you season and cook them. If the fish have moisture on the surface of them then they will steam instead of sear and you won’t get a golden crust.
• If the sea bass fillets stick to the pan when you try to flip them, let them cook a bit longer until they release easily.
• To check for doneness, insert a fork into the thickest part of the fillet and give the fork a twist. It will flake easily when it is done.

Remove the skillet from the heat, transfer the filets to dinner plates and enjoy with a squeeze of lemon juice.

Recipe Variations

Here are some creative twists and delicious recipes you can try the next time you’re in the mood for sea bass.

• Mediterranean Style Sea Bass: Enhance the flavor of your Chilean sea bass by adding a Mediterranean twist. Top your filets with chopped kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, and a hint of lemon zest. 
• Herb-Crusted Sea Bass: Coat the fish in a herb bread crust. Mix breadcrumbs with some finely chopped herbs like rosemary, thyme, and parsley, similar to our rockfish recipe. 
• Asian Inspired recipe: Give your sea bass an Asian flair by letting it hang out in our Japanese marinade for 20 minutes before cooking. 
• Top with salsa: Try topping the pan seared Sea Bass with a vibrant pineapple mango salsa or our corn salsa. 
• Serve with a creamy sauce: Swap the thyme butter for our tarragon sauce or lemon garlic sauce. Both are creamy and flavorful and will pair well with the flavor of the sea bass. 

Storage and Reheating

Storage: To store leftover fish, allow it to come to room temperature, then place it in an airtight container and refrigerate it for 2-3 days.

Freezing: You can freeze sea bass for 3 to 4 months. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge.

Reheating: Reheat the sea bass in an oven at 275°F for about 8-10 minutes, or until the fish is heated through.

What to Serve with Sea Bass:

We served this with roasted fingerling potatoes and a heap of grape tomatoes as they roasted while the fish was cooking. Other options are roasted sweet potatoes, with fresh asparagus. And….a crisp make-ahead beet salad would be lovely. For a great wine paring, choose a crisp white wine like Pinot Gris or a Chablis. 

If you are looking for more healthy recipes to serve with fish, here are some more options. 

• spinach salad
• sriracha Brussels sprouts
• sauteed rainbow carrots
• braised fennel
• corn succotash
• Instant Pot wild blend rice

What is Sea Bass?

Chilean sea bass is fished from the waters near Chile but is actually a fish by the name of Patagonian Toothfish and not really a sea bass.  The fish has a buttery, white, flaky flesh and tastes similar to bass when cooked. 

Because the Patagonian Toothfish was a rather unappetizing name for a fish and was not selling well the name was changed to Chilean sea bass in 1977. 

Sea Bass Flavor

Chilean sea bass has a delicate, buttery flavor with a firm texture and large flakes. It is often described as having a taste similar to halibut or swordfish. However, it does not have a strong fishy flavor. When cooked properly, the flesh of this fish should be moist and tender with a rich flavor and mild sweetness. With a simple seasoning of salt and pepper, the rich taste of Chilean sea bass will truly shine! 

Is Sea Bass Healthy?

Yes, sea bass is a healthy source of protein and contains high levels of omega-3 fats which are beneficial for heart health. Our baked sea bass is another healthy recipe that you will enjoy. Here are some more sea bass recipes to try.

• smoked sea bass
• miso glazed sea bass
• bass with beurre blanc
• grilled sea bass

Is This Sea Bass Recipe Good for a Keto Diet?

Yes, it is! Chilean sea bass is rich in protein and low in carbohydrates. Our recipe has an easy compound butter that is keto-friendly. If you follow a paleo diet, you can swap the butter for ghee. Serve the fish with zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice to keep it keto or paleo friendly.

Frequently Asked Questions:

More Fish Recipes You Will Love:

Spicy blackened tilapia: Tilapia is a tender, flaky fish with delicate flesh. The spice blend that cooks on the fish is a perfect balance and compliments every bite.

This one-skillet meal is a simple yet delicious way to cook a whole rainbow trout. The fish gets served with a delicious soy citrus sauce.

Bourbon Glazed Salmon: We served this tender, buttery salmon fillet with a luscious bourbon glaze that doubles as a marinade.  This makes an elegant meal that is simple to prepare and ready in under 30 minutes!

Grilled swordfish steak: If you have never cooked swordfish before, this grilled swordfish recipe is the place to start. Swordfish is a firm textured fish with a meaty texture and mild flavor. This recipe is one of our favorites. The lemon dill aioli sauce elevates this recipe to chef status.

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