Baked Tilapia Lemon Butter (Printable)
Tender tilapia fillets baked in lemon butter sauce for a light, flavorful main course.
# What You'll Need:
→ Fish
01 - 4 tilapia fillets (approximately 5.3 oz each)
→ Lemon Butter Sauce
02 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
03 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
04 - 1 tsp lemon zest
05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 1/4 tsp paprika
08 - 1/4 tsp salt
09 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Garnish
10 - Lemon slices for serving
11 - Additional chopped parsley (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to hold tilapia fillets in a single layer.
02 - Pat tilapia fillets dry with paper towels and place them evenly in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, chopped parsley, paprika, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
04 - Evenly pour the lemon butter sauce over the tilapia fillets, ensuring they are fully coated.
05 - Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork and is opaque throughout.
06 - Garnish with lemon slices and additional parsley if desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Hacks:
01 -
- It tastes elegant enough for guests but comes together faster than ordering takeout.
- The fish stays moist and flaky every single time, no dry-mouth regrets.
- Lemon butter sauce is the kind of thing that makes people think you spent hours in the kitchen.
02 -
- Tilapia is forgiving, but it dries out fast once it's overcooked, so set a timer and check a minute or two early rather than waiting until it's definitely done.
- The thickness of your fillets matters more than the exact cooking time—thick fillets need a few extra minutes, thin ones cook in a flash.
03 -
- Buy your tilapia the day you plan to cook it or freeze it properly; fresh fish tastes noticeably better and cooks more predictably.
- Room temperature fish cooks more evenly than cold fish straight from the fridge, so pull your fillets out ten minutes before you start prepping everything else.