Baked Tilapia with Lemon Garlic Butter (Printable)

Tender tilapia fillets in a zesty lemon garlic butter sauce. Light, flavorful, and ready in just 25 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 tilapia fillets (about 5.3 oz each), fresh or thawed

→ Lemon Garlic Butter

02 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
06 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnish

09 - Lemon slices
10 - Additional fresh parsley, chopped

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to accommodate the fillets in a single layer.
02 - Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels and arrange them in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a small bowl, combine melted butter, minced garlic, parsley, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and black pepper.
04 - Pour the lemon garlic butter mixture evenly over the tilapia fillets.
05 - Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
06 - Broil for 1 to 2 minutes for a golden top, watching carefully to prevent burning.
07 - Garnish with lemon slices and additional parsley before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The lemon garlic butter creates this perfect little sauce pool that keeps the fish remarkably tender without any fussy technique.
  • From fridge to table in under 30 minutes, this dish has saved me countless times when company drops by unexpectedly but still feels thoughtful.
02 -
  • If your fillets vary in thickness, fold the thinner end underneath to create even thickness or they'll cook unevenly and the thin parts will dry out.
  • The fish continues cooking for about a minute after you take it out of the oven, so it's better to remove it just before it looks completely done.
03 -
  • Let the butter cool slightly after melting before adding the lemon juice, or it will splatter and separate instead of blending smoothly.
  • Reserve a tablespoon of the butter mixture to brush over the fish just before serving for an extra glossy, flavorful finish that makes the dish restaurant-worthy.

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