Name: Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 tilapia fillets (about 6 oz each); 3 tablespoons melted butter; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 teaspoon lemon zest; 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1/2 teaspoon paprika; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley; lemon slices for garnish

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If you’re searching for a bright, beautiful seafood dish that’s easy enough for busy weeknights but sophisticated enough to impress, look no further than Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia. This recipe celebrates mild, flaky tilapia fillets bathed in a zesty, garlicky lemon-butter sauce, then roasted to irresistible tenderness. With a handful of fresh ingredients and just a few minutes of prep, you can have a restaurant-worthy main course on the table in under half an hour. It’s healthy, versatile, and guaranteed to become a beloved staple in your home kitchen.

Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

The appeal of Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia is its simplicity: each ingredient plays a starring role, bringing either bold flavor, delicate texture, or a pop of color to every bite. Here’s what you’ll need, and why it matters:

Tilapia fillets: Choose fresh or thawed white fish fillets for a mild base that soaks up the lemon butter sauce beautifully.
Melted butter: This rich base infuses the fish with moisture and lends a silky texture to every bite.
Fresh lemon juice: The acidity brightens and balances the richness, creating an unmistakably fresh flavor profile.
Lemon zest: A fine grate of zest adds citrusy perfume and lively tang you just can’t get from juice alone.
Garlic (minced): Fresh garlic gives the fish aromatic depth and punchy flavor, balancing the lemon.
Paprika: This gentle spice adds warmth and a subtle touch of color without overpowering the delicate fish.
Salt: A half teaspoon is just enough to coax out all the flavors and season the fish through.
Black pepper: For gentle heat and earthy undertones in every forkful.
Chopped fresh parsley: Sprinkling this on at the end brings brightness and a touch of green to finish the dish.
Lemon slices for garnish: Not just pretty, the slices invite everyone to add another squeeze of lemon to taste.

How to Make Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia

Step 1: Prepare the Baking Dish

Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease your favorite shallow baking dish, so the fish doesn’t stick and to help that velvety lemon butter reach every edge around the fillets. This step ensures easy cleanup and that each piece comes out in perfect shape.

Step 2: Arrange the Tilapia

Pat each tilapia fillet dry with paper towels. This little move might seem minor, but it’s the secret to both a gorgeous golden edge and keeping the fish from getting soggy. Lay the fillets in a single layer—nestled but not overlapping—so that the sauce can coat and flavor every side. This helps the Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia cook evenly and soak up all the sauce.

Step 3: Whisk the Lemon Butter Sauce

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, paprika, salt, and black pepper. You’ll see the colors marry into a dreamy, fragrant sauce. This glorious blend will become the backbone of your Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia’s flavor, bringing together zippy lemon, savory butter, and just a touch of aromatic spice.

Step 4: Pour and Coat

Spoon the lemon butter mixture evenly over all the tilapia fillets. Use the back of your spoon to spread it out, making sure every inch is covered. The sizzling sauce will seep into every crevice, ensuring the fish is deliciously moist and seasoned all the way through.

Step 5: Bake That Tilapia

Place your dish in the oven and bake for 12–15 minutes. Watch as the fillets turn opaque and flake easily with a fork, a sure sign they’re done. Don’t overbake—gentleness is key to keeping tilapia tender and juicy! When cooked perfectly, Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia should practically melt in your mouth.

Step 6: Garnish and Serve

Sprinkle the hot fish with chopped fresh parsley and arrange lemon slices down the middle or around the edges. That final flourish brings color and a hint of extra zesty aroma that makes this dish visually stunning and ultra-fresh at first bite.

How to Serve Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia

Garnishes

Generously scatter fresh parsley and a few delicate lemon slices over the presented tilapia fillets just before serving. These vibrant greens and yellows add a cheerful pop to your table while giving everyone the option to squeeze on extra citrus for even more zing. If you’re feeling fancy, a light dash of extra paprika makes for a pretty and flavorful finish on the Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia.

Side Dishes

This versatile main pairs perfectly with steamed veggies like broccoli, asparagus, or green beans, which balance the buttery sauce. Rice (especially jasmine or basmati) or fluffy mashed potatoes are also ideal for soaking up all the extra sauce. For a lighter touch, serve Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia with a crisp green salad or a plate of roasted carrots for a lovely contrast in color and texture.

Creative Ways to Present

If you want to dress it up for company or a special occasion, try serving the fillets atop a creamy risotto or nestling them into a bed of sautéed spinach. For a dinner party, fan out the fillets on a large platter with lemon wheels, fresh parsley, and extra sauce on the side. Mini portions of Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia also make fantastic toppings for fish tacos or delicate open-faced sandwiches at brunches and luncheons.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Let any leftover Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia cool to room temperature, then transfer the fillets to an airtight container. They’ll stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to two days. The fish remains moist and flavorful, absorbing even more of that lovely lemon-butter essence as it sits overnight.

Freezing

You can freeze the cooked fillets for up to a month. Wrap each piece tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Store them in a freezer-safe bag to prevent freezer burn and maintain quality. Thaw Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia overnight in the fridge before reheating, for best results.

Reheating

For reheating, place the fillets in a covered baking dish and warm in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 8–10 minutes, just until heated through. Avoid microwaving if you can—gentle reheating preserves both texture and flavor. Add a splash of fresh lemon juice or a pat of butter if you want to revitalize that signature sauce.

FAQs

Can I use another type Main Course

Absolutely! Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia is delightful, but you can swap tilapia for cod, haddock, or even flounder without missing a beat. Just adjust the cooking time depending on the thickness of your fillets.

How do I know when the tilapia is done baking?

You’ll know it’s ready when the fish turns opaque and flakes easily with a fork. For extra accuracy, check for an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). Keep a close eye, as overcooking can make tilapia dry quickly.

Can I make Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia dairy-free?

Yes, simply replace the butter with a plant-based alternative, like vegan butter or a combination of olive oil and a dash of coconut oil. The result is still wonderfully fragrant and moist, but entirely dairy-free.

What’s the best way to zest a lemon?

Use a microplane or the fine side of a box grater to gently remove only the bright yellow part of the peel. Avoid the bitter white pith beneath. Zest adds loads of flavor and perfume to Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia without extra tartness.

Is this dish suitable for meal prep?

Definitely! You can assemble the fish with the sauce up to a day ahead, cover, and refrigerate until ready to bake. The convenience of Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia makes busy weeknight dinners or lunchboxes a true breeze.

Final Thoughts

I can’t wait for you to taste just how vibrant, easy, and delicious Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia is. With its irresistibly tender fish and radiant, buttery lemon sauce, this recipe has become a weeknight hero and a weekend star in my kitchen. Give it a try, dress it up however you wish, and let it bring that sunny, fresh flavor to your next meal!

Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia Recipe

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4.8 from 22 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Diet: Non-Vegetarian

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Description

Delight your taste buds with this succulent Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia recipe. Tender tilapia fillets bathed in a tangy lemon butter sauce, baked to perfection, and garnished with fresh parsley and lemon slices.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

4 tilapia fillets (about 6 oz each)
3 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
lemon slices for garnish

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Instructions

Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a baking dish.
Prep the Fillets: Pat the tilapia fillets dry and arrange them in the baking dish.
Make Lemon Butter Sauce: Whisk together melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Bake: Spoon the lemon butter mixture over the fillets and bake for 12–15 minutes until cooked through.
Garnish and Serve: Garnish with parsley and lemon slices before serving.