🍳DailyRecipes
Dinner

Golden Pan Fried Walleye with Caper Butter Sauce

This pan seared walleye is a simple weeknight favorite that tastes like a restaurant meal at home.

By Daily Recipes Book· 🌍 American· July 21, 2026
Golden Pan Fried Walleye with Caper Butter Sauce
dailyrecipesbook.com
Prep
10 minutes
Cook
10 minutes
Total
20 minutes
Serves
2

Walleye is such a wonderful fish to cook because it is mild and flaky. This method keeps things nice and simple, using just a few pantry staples to get a crispy golden crust on the fish.

I love serving this with a quick pan sauce because it adds a lovely bit of tang and richness. My top tip is to make sure your pan is good and hot before adding the fish so you get a nice sear without the fillets sticking.

Ingredients

  • 2 walleye fillets
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon capers, drained
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. 1

    Pat the walleye fillets dry with a paper towel and season both sides with salt and pepper.

  2. 2

    Dredge each fillet in the flour and shake off any excess so you have a very thin coating.

  3. 3

    Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.

  4. 4

    Place the fish in the hot pan and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes per side until the crust is golden brown and the fish flakes easily with a fork.

  5. 5

    Remove the fish from the pan and set it aside on a plate.

  6. 6

    Lower the heat to medium and add the butter to the same pan, letting it melt and foam.

  7. 7

    Stir in the capers and lemon juice, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan.

  8. 8

    Pour the butter sauce over the fish and sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.

💡 Tips

Serve this fish alongside roasted asparagus or steamed green beans for a complete meal. You can keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days, though it is best enjoyed fresh. If you do not have fresh parsley, a little bit of fresh dill works beautifully with the lemon and capers.

#seafood#fish#dinner#easy recipes#healthy

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