Baked Tilapia with Lemon Butter (Printable Version)
Tender tilapia baked with bright lemon butter sauce for an easy 30-minute dinner.
# What You'll Need:
→ Fish
01 - 4 tilapia fillets (approximately 5-6 ounces each)
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Lemon Butter Sauce
04 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from approximately 1 lemon)
06 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
→ Garnish
09 - 4 thin lemon slices
10 - Additional chopped parsley (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to accommodate tilapia fillets in a single layer.
02 - Pat tilapia fillets dry using paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper, then arrange in prepared baking dish.
03 - In small bowl, whisk together melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and minced garlic until fully incorporated.
04 - Pour lemon butter mixture evenly over each tilapia fillet, ensuring complete coverage.
05 - Place one thin lemon slice on top of each fillet.
06 - Bake for 15-18 minutes until fish becomes opaque and flakes easily when tested with a fork.
07 - Remove from oven and garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The whole house smells like a Mediterranean kitchen in under ten minutes prep
- Fish that emerges impossibly tender without any fancy techniques or guesswork
02 -
- Overcooked fish becomes dry and rubbery, so pull it from the oven the moment it flakes
- Letting the melted butter cool slightly prevents the garlic from turning bitter
03 -
- Room temperature fish cooks more evenly than cold from the fridge
- A pinch of crushed red pepper in the butter sauce adds gentle warmth