Baked Tilapia with Lemon Butter (Printable Version)
Tender tilapia fillets baked with zesty lemon butter sauce. Quick, easy, and perfect for weeknight dinners.
# What You Need:
→ Fish
01 - 4 tilapia fillets (about 5 oz 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 (about 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 - Extra chopped parsley (optional)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to fit the tilapia fillets in a single layer.
02 - Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper, then place in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and minced garlic until well combined.
04 - Pour the lemon butter sauce evenly over the tilapia fillets, ensuring each piece is well coated.
05 - Top each fillet with a thin lemon slice for presentation and extra citrus flavor.
06 - Bake for 15–18 minutes, or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
07 - Remove from oven and garnish with additional chopped parsley before serving.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- It comes together in under 30 minutes, perfect for those nights when takeout feels like the only option but you want something real
- The lemon butter sauce is bright enough to make you forget you're eating something so incredibly simple
02 -
- Overcooked fish is tragic, so pull it from the oven as soon as it flakes easily since residual heat will finish the job
- Patting the fish completely dry before seasoning is the secret to getting a beautiful finish instead of a steamed texture
03 -
- Let your butter come to room temperature before melting for the smoothest sauce possible
- Zest your lemon before juicing it, it's so much easier to handle the whole fruit at once