Baked Tilapia Lemon Garlic (Printable)

Tender tilapia fillets baked with lemon garlic butter, ideal for a quick and flavorful meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ Fish

01 - 4 tilapia fillets (5–6 oz each), fresh or thawed
02 - Salt, to taste
03 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Lemon Garlic Butter

04 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about ½ lemon)
07 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
08 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
09 - ½ teaspoon paprika

→ Garnish

10 - Lemon slices
11 - Extra fresh parsley, chopped

# Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a large baking dish or line with parchment paper.
02 - Pat tilapia fillets dry with paper towels and place them in a single layer in the prepared dish.
03 - Season both sides of the fillets with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
04 - In a small bowl, combine melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, chopped parsley, and paprika; mix thoroughly.
05 - Pour the lemon garlic butter evenly over the tilapia fillets, ensuring full coverage.
06 - Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the fish flakes easily with a fork and is opaque throughout.
07 - Remove from the oven, garnish with additional parsley and lemon slices, and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It cooks in under 30 minutes, so weeknight dinner doesn't mean compromise.
  • The lemon and garlic butter feels fancy enough for guests but honest enough for just you and a quiet evening.
  • Tilapia is forgiving—it doesn't demand perfect timing or technical skill.
02 -
  • Pat the fish completely dry before seasoning—any excess moisture will steam the fillet instead of letting it stay tender.
  • Don't skip the lemon zest; it's small but it's the difference between good and memorable.
  • Oven temperatures vary wildly, so check at 15 minutes—better to catch it early than discover it's been in for 25.
03 -
  • Mix your butter sauce while it's still warm so everything combines smoothly and the flavors meld together.
  • If you're cooking for a crowd, this doubles easily—just give yourself a couple more minutes in the oven.

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