Grilled Sea Bass with Lemon Chive Butter
On November 11, 2024
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Tender, flaky white fish made on your grill, then topped with a zesty lemon chive butter, this Grilled Sea Bass is both simple and delicious.
Grilled Sea Bass with Lemon Chive Butter
There are a lot of fish in the sea, but once you get a bite, this Grilled Sea Bass is the only one you’ll want on your plate. I’m talking about thick fillets of sweet sea bass seasoned simply, then grilled to flaky perfection. The flavor doesn’t stop there, though. A generous dollop of lemon chive butter brings a zesty, bright punch to the mild, sweet fish. With this powerful, one-two punch, this dish works great as a main course all on its own. The grilled fillets also taste amazing in tacos, sandwiches, salads, and a whole lot more. So, if you’re ready to impress the guests at your next gathering with your fish grilling skills, let’s get started.
Lemon Chive Butter
What sets this recipe apart from other grilled fish is the herby, bright lemon chive butter. I originally came up with this for my Cedar Plank Salmon, but found it adds serious flavor to all kinds of fish. This stuff enhances the naturally sweet notes and buttery texture of your sea bass, while adding an herby zest that’s irresistible. The best part is you can make it with just three common ingredients. Here’s what you need:
- 4 Tablespoons salted butter (softened)
- 1 lemon (zest)
- 1 Tablespoon chives (minced)
Preparing Fish for Grilling
If you’re lucky enough to get fresh fillets, then you’re ready to season your sea bass for the grill. If you have frozen fillets, make sure to let them thaw in the fridge overnight. All you need to do to prepare your fillets is drizzle them with some avocado oil and sprinkle with Kosher salt and some fresh cracked black pepper. The salt and pepper add depth of flavor to your sea bass, while the avocado oil helps your fish develop a crispy exterior. The oil also helps your fillets keep from sticking to the grates while grilling. Once you’ve got your sea bass oiled and seasoned, you’re ready to hit the grill.
Susie’s Grilled Sea Bass Pro Tip
In addition to coating your fish fillets with oil, ensuring your grill grates are clean is a great way to avoid sticking. Give your grates a good cleaning and rub them with oil as well before you fire it up.
How Long to Grill Sea Bass
One awesome thing about sea bass and other fish is how quickly they grill up for you to enjoy. For this recipe, you’ll grill your fish in two stages, and the whole thing will only take about 15 minutes. I made these on my charcoal grill with a method called two-zone grilling that uses both heat and indirect heat. You want your grill to have direct heat on one side, indirect on the other, and an overall temperature around 350 degrees F. If you need some help setting up for two-zone grilling on a charcoal or gas grill, you can review my post here.
Start by placing your fillets flesh-side down on the grill grates for around 2 minutes, then rotate for another 2 minutes. This both caramelizes the exterior of your sea bass, and gives you those gorgeous grill marks. Next, flip your fillets skin-side down and repeat the process. After that, move your fish to the indirect heat side of your grill for another 5-7 minutes. Once your sea bass reads an internal temperature of 145 degrees F with a reliable meat thermometer, it’s ready to top and serve.
How to Make Sea Bass on the Grill
Alright, it’s time to put all your new sea bass knowledge to the test. Fire up your grill, then follow these easy steps:
- Preheat grill. Before starting your grill, clean the grates thoroughly and rub them with a little avocado oil. This helps you avoid any fish sticking to the grates and ruining your beautiful fillets. After that, set your grill up for two-zone grilling, then move on to your fish.
- Season sea bass. If you have frozen fillets to thaw, or need to cut your sea bass into fillets, do that first. Next, drizzle your fillets all around with a coating of the same avocado oil you rubbed on your grates. Hit them with a little salt and pepper, and your fish are ready to get on the grill.
- Cook sea bass. Start your fillets out flesh-side down on the direct heat side of your grill. Doing this sears your sea bass, creating a crispy, caramelized exterior, and locking in the juicy goodness. Rotate them once to create some nice grill marks, then flip skin-side down and repeat the process.
- Finish cooking and make butter. Once you have a nice sear on both sides, move your sea bass to the indirect heat side of your grill. Close the lid and allow them to cook 5-7 minutes, until they reach 145 degrees F internal temperature. While your fish is finishing, whip up your lemon chive butter to add just before you remove it from the grill.
- Serve and enjoy. Transfer your grilled sea bass fillets to a serving platter. Serve with an extra side of butter and some lemon wedges for squeezing fresh juice.
More BBQ Seafood Recipes
If you’re a fan of this Grilled Sea Bass, then make sure to check out the Seafood Section of this site and the Hey Grill Hey App. Whether you’re looking for a different fish or even shellfish, I’ve got dozens of recipes for the smoker and grill. For now, here are some of my most trusted seafood recipes to try at your next fish dinner:
Salads
Three Bean Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette
Crisp green beans with creamy chickpeas and kidney beans, tossed in a rich red wine vinaigrette, this Three Bean Salad…
Easy Grilled Sea Bass Recipe
Once you’re hooked on this Grilled Sea Bass, feel free to give the recipe a 5-star review. You can tell me all about your experience in the comments, and you can even share some photos of your fish feast. Just tag @heygrillhey on Instagram and Facebook so the whole BBQ community can get inspired to get out on the grill.
You can even more recipe inspiration on my YouTube channel, plus how-to videos and all kinds of top BBQ tips. If you’re ready to take your BBQ game to the next level, try one of the Pitmaster classes available in The Grill Squad. Hey Grill Hey is here to help, no matter where you are on your journey to become a Backyard BBQ Hero.
Grilled Sea Bass with Lemon Chive Butter
Ingredients
- 4 sea bass fillets
- 1 Tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Lemon Chive Butter
- 4 Tablespoons salted butter softened
- 1 lemon for zest
- 1 Tablespoon chives minced
Instructions
- Preheat grill. Set your grill up for two-zone heat with an overall temperature of around 350 degrees F. There’s a link in the notes section to a post on how to grill with two-zones, if you need a refresher.
- Season sea bass. Drizzle fish with avocado oil and season with salt and pepper.4 sea bass fillets, 1 Tablespoon avocado oil, 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Sear sea bass. Place your fillets flesh-side down on your clean grill grates, also sprayed with avocado oil. Sear for about 2 minutes, then rotate for 2 more minutes. Flip skin-side down, and repeat this process.
- Finish over indirect heat. Move your sea bass to the other side of your grill and close the lid. Cook 5-7 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
- Make lemon chive butter. Combine all ingredients for your butter in a medium-size bowl, then stir until evenly mixed. Place a spoonful of butter on each fillet just before you remove them from the grill.4 Tablespoons salted butter, 1 lemon, 1 Tablespoon chives
- Serve and enjoy. Transfer your grilled sea bass fillets to a serving platter and enjoy immediately with lemon wedges.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
