Lemon Garlic Swordfish Steaks
A complete swordfish recipe guide showing how to grill, pan-sear, bake, broil, or air fry swordfish steaks with lemon garlic seasoning, cook times by thickness, doneness cues, sauces, and side ideas.
Ingredients
Instructions
Pat both sides of the swordfish steaks very dry with paper towels so the surface browns instead of steaming.
Mix olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, salt, pepper, and chopped herbs in a small bowl.
Brush the lemon garlic mixture over both sides of the swordfish and let the steaks sit for 15 to 30 minutes while you prepare the cooking method.
Choose grilled, pan-seared, baked, broiled, or air fryer swordfish based on your equipment, steak thickness, and the texture you want.
Cook the swordfish using one method
For grilled swordfish, preheat the grill to about 400°F / 200°C, clean and oil the grates, then cook 1-inch steaks for 4 to 5 minutes on the first side and 3 to 5 minutes on the second side.
For pan-seared swordfish, heat a heavy skillet over medium-high heat, add oil, and cook the steaks for 4 to 6 minutes per side until browned and just cooked through.
For baked swordfish, place the seasoned steaks in a lightly oiled baking dish or on a rimmed baking sheet and bake 1-inch steaks at 400°F / 200°C for 12 to 15 minutes.
For broiled swordfish, place the oven rack 4 to 6 inches from the heat source and broil the steaks for 3 to 4 minutes per side, watching closely.
For air fryer swordfish, arrange the steaks in a single layer and air fry at 400°F / 204°C for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking.
Check the thickest part of the fish. The center should look opaque, the flakes should separate with gentle pressure, and the internal temperature should reach 145°F / 63°C.
Let the swordfish rest for 3 to 5 minutes, then finish with lemon butter, capers, salmoriglio, tomato olive relish, mango salsa, or fresh herbs before serving.
