Chilean Sea Bass (Oven Baked)

Name: Chilean Sea Bass Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 pound Chilean sea bass fillets; 1.5 teaspoons kosher salt; 1 teaspoon oregano; 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes ((optional and to taste) ); 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 medium lemon, zest ((zest of 1 lemon)); 1/2 medium lemon, juiced ((juice of 1/2 lemon) ); 4 cloves garlic, minced; lemon slices to top the fillets; oregano & parsley to garnish

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Try this Oven-Baked Chilean Sea Bass. It's elegant, flavorful, and simple to make in under 25 minutes! With a simple blend of lemon, garlic, butter, and a herb seasoning mixture, this dish is both healthy and delicious. Perfect for both weeknight dinners and dinner parties.

delicious herbed chilean sea bass served with lemon slices, broccoli, and potatoes.

This flaky white fish with a rich flavor and buttery texture may seem like something you only order at restaurants, but not anymore! This recipe is incredibly easy to make in your home kitchen.

Oven-baking sea bass is our preferred cooking method. Since sea bass can be a more expensive fish saved for special occasions, it's important to get it right! With our tips and tricks, this recipe is foolproof, so you'll wind up with a delicious meal every time.

Looking for more tasty fish and seafood recipes? Try this creamy salmon pasta, this baked cod in tomato sauce, these baked crab legs, this butter poached lobster, or this lobster ravioli sauce!

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❤️Why we love this recipe
🧈Ingredients
✨Substitutions & variations
🔪Prep work
📋Instructions
✨Tips & tricks
💭Frequently Asked Questions
More Recipes To Consider
📖 Recipe
💬 Community

❤️Why we love this recipe

Delicious recipe - Chilean Sea Bass is a delicious and delicate fish with a flaky texture, and a buttery, mild flavor. The lemon, garlic, and herb marinade used in this recipe pairs perfectly with the natural flavors of the sea bass.
Quick & easy - The recipe needs less than 5 minutes of prep work, and under 15 minutes of bake time, making it a great option for both weeknight dinners, or entertaining guests.
Simple ingredients - Everything needed to make this recipe can be found in your pantry, in your fridge, or at your local grocery store.
Foolproof method - Oven-baking is the best way to ensure the fish is cooked evenly. No need to worry about constantly monitoring it, flipping it, or oil splattering everywhere.
Healthy - This recipe is made with sustainable Chilean sea bass, and is naturally gluten free, low in carbs, and can be made dairy free as well.

🧈Ingredients

Here are the ingredients we used for this recipe. You can find more information for substitutions below.

Chilean sea bass fillets - Fresh fish or frozen and thawed are fine.
Kosher salt & black pepper
Seasoning blend - A mixture of Italian seasoning, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
Garlic - Freshly minced.
Olive oil & unsalted butter - We use a mixture of both for an incredible flavor and silky texture. You can use one or the other as well. Avocado oil will also work.
Lemon - We use fresh lemon juice, zest, and lemon slices to top the fillets.
Fresh parsley & oregano - Optional, for garnish.

Visit the recipe card for the full quantities and nutritional information.

✨Substitutions & variations

Here are a few suggestions on additional flavors to try, or simple variations to this recipe.

Different herbs. Swap out the herbs for your favorites, like basil, dill, thyme, rosemary, cilantro or tarragon.
Spicy. Add a sprinkle of cayenne pepper or more red pepper flakes for a spicier kick.
Smoky. Add a sprinkle of smoked paprika for a slightly smoky flavor.
Different citrus. Try using lime or orange juice instead of lemon.
Add veggies. You could add some thinly sliced onions, bell peppers, or halved cherry tomatoes to the baking dish for a quick and easy one pan meal!
Dairy-free. Simply swap the butter for olive oil.

🔪Prep work

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Prepare a baking dish or baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mince the garlic.
Pat the sea bass fillets off with paper towels to soak up any excess moisture.
Measure out all remaining ingredients.

📋Instructions

In a small dish, combine salt, pepper, oregano, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. (Image 1)

hand holding a small wooden bowl with seasonings over a plate of sea bass fillets.

In a small bowl, combine melted butter, olive oil, minced garlic, lemon zest, and lemon juice. (Image 2)

melted butter in a bowl surrounded by garlic, olive oil, and a zested lemon.

Pour the melted butter mixture over top of the sea bass fillets, then season well with the seasoning mixture on all sides. (Image 3)

chilean sea bass fillets seasoned on a plate and drizzled with butter and olive oil.

Place fish skin side down on the baking sheet. Pour any remaining garlic butter sauce over top of the fish. Place lemon slices on top of the seasoned flesh side. (Image 4)

chilean sea bass fillets seasoned and topped with lemon slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through and you can flake the white flesh with a fork, or the internal temperature reaches 145°F with an instant read thermometer. (affiliate link) (Image 5)

cooked chilean sea bass with lemon slices on top on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Allow the fish to rest for a few minutes on the baking sheet, then gently, using a fish spatula, transfer the fillets to plates, and spoon over any excess butter sauce.

Serve with lemon wedges, fresh herbs, a glass of white wine, and your favorite sides. We like serving it with broccoli, air fryer zucchini, a simple spinach and arugula salad, or some air fryer fingerling potatoes. Enjoy!

close up shot of flaky chilean sea bass on a fork with roasted potatoes and broccoli.

✨Tips & tricks

Thaw the sea bass completely before cooking.
Make sure to dry off the fillets very well to soak up any excess moisture.
Use parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Don't overcook the fish, or it will become dry and lose flavor. A meat thermometer is the best way to ensure it's cooked to perfection.
Let the fish rest for a few minutes after cooking to allow the fish to hold onto some of the moisture and the flavor.

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💭Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chilean sea bass?

Chilean sea bass, also known as Patagonian toothfish, is a type of fish that is found in the southern waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, including around the southern coast of South America, specifically in the waters around Chile and Argentina.

It is a deep-water fish that can grow up to 7 feet in length and weigh over 200 pounds. This species of fish has a high-fat content, a rich flavor, and a delicate, flaky texture.

How to store leftovers?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. Reheat gently in the oven or microwave.

Do not freeze, or the texture will become mushy upon reheating.

What is the best way to defrost frozen Chilean sea bass?

The best way to defrost Chilean Sea Bass is to transfer it from the freezer to the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight on a plate.

If you're in a hurry, you can also place it in a sealed plastic bag and submerge it in cold water for a few hours, changing the water every 20-30 minutes or so.

More Recipes To Consider

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