Baked Tilapia Lemon Butter (Printable)

Tender tilapia baked with lemon, garlic, and butter for a flavorful, easy-to-make fish dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 tilapia fillets (approximately 5.3 oz each), fresh or thawed
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Lemon Butter Sauce

03 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
06 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

10 - Lemon slices
11 - Additional fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to hold the fillets in a single layer.
02 - Pat the tilapia fillets dry using paper towels. Place them evenly in the prepared baking dish and brush both sides lightly with olive oil.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk melted butter with minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper until well incorporated.
04 - Pour the lemon butter mixture evenly over each fillet, ensuring thorough coverage.
05 - Place a slice of lemon atop each fillet to enhance flavor and presentation.
06 - Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork and is opaque throughout.
07 - Remove from the oven, garnish with additional chopped parsley if desired, and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 30 minutes flat, which means you can actually enjoy cooking instead of stress-cooking.
  • The lemon and garlic do all the heavy lifting flavor-wise, so even if you're skeptical about mild white fish, this will change your mind.
  • It feels elegant enough for guests but honest enough for a regular weeknight, no pretense required.
02 -
  • Don't overcrowd the baking dish or the fish will steam instead of bake—they need room to breathe and cook evenly.
  • The fish continues cooking slightly after you remove it from the oven, so pull it out when it's just barely opaque, not when it flakes apart at a touch.
  • Tilapia is mild and delicate, which means it pairs beautifully with this sauce but also means it can dry out fast—watch your timing closely.
03 -
  • Make the sauce first and set it aside so it's ready to pour the moment your fish is in the dish—this keeps your timing tight and stress-free.
  • Room-temperature fish cooks more evenly than cold fish straight from the fridge, so pull it out 10 minutes before you plan to bake it.

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