Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia
The easiest, most effortless 20 min meal ever from start to finish. And it’s all made in a single pan. Win-win situation here.
Okay, guys. I figured we all needed a little bit of a chicken thigh break.
I clearly love to create a new chicken thigh recipe once a week but we were due for a change. But still, we’re keeping the basics down with the whole lemon-garlic-butter situation.
Because let’s face it. We don’t want to mess with that combination.
So that’s exactly what’s happening here. We’re using budget-friendly tilapia, which cooks in just 10 minutes, drizzled with that butter sauce. It goes right in the oven from start to finish, making your life just that much easier.
You can thank me later.
Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, or more, to taste
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 4 6-ounce tilapia fillets
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly oil a 9×13 baking dish or coat with nonstick spray.
- In a small bowl, whisk together butter, garlic, lemon juice and lemon zest; set aside.
- Season tilapia with salt and pepper, to taste and place onto the prepared baking dish. Drizzle with butter mixture.
- Place into oven and bake until fish flakes easily with a fork, about 10-12 minutes.
- Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @damn_delicious on Instagram and hashtag it #damndelicious!
I usually love all of your recipes, but this one just wasn’t for me and my husband. First, 12 minutes was no where near long enough to fully cook the fish. I had to cook it for an additional 5 minutes and probably could’ve cooked it longer. The flavor was just very bland to me even though it was swimming in butter.
Omg Kelly, I’m sorry you didn’t like it? Did you use all of the lemon juice and the zest??? Maybe you’re taste buds are off a tad?
Woah! Maybe your words are not working for you on this day but this (“maybe you’re taste buds are off”) comment made me not make this recipe and to note that this site is toxic.
AMAZINGLY simple and verrry delicious! My taste buds can get wonky at times, so I totally understand your very gently worded question posted to one of the reviewers… so much is misunderstood when only relying on text…
thank you for taking the time to post your recipes.
Kindest Regards
Kathy is not the author of the recipe!
If this is the reason you turned away from this site and recipe then I suggest you stay in your little bubble. good lord people are so damn sensitive.
OMG what a sensitive big baby. Her questions were valid and so was her statement. Everyone’s tastebuds are “off” sometimes and during 2020 when COVID was hitting every other person and impacting both taste and smell, her statement and questions have unique validity. The site is not toxic because the recipe creator asked a very valid and timely question.
KATHY is the new KAREN
Ayyy, here we go
You meant KELLY.
Anyway, this recipe is fabulous. I made it using whiting fish which has a similar flaky texture and light non-fishy flavor. Served with butter garlic mashed cauliflower and green beans for a perfect KETO meal. Thank you for your creativity.
Very good. Great recipe. I had broccoli fettuccine alfredo with mine. Thanks! -m.
This dish was soooo good and so easy. I added small shrimp to mine and had yellow rice and broccoli salad.
Made this tonight. Simple, easy, delicious. Instead of baking I put the fish in foil packets and threw it on the grill for 10 minutes. Came out perfect!
I just got back from Florida and have a ton of Red Snapper to cook. Could I use this recipe with Red snapper?
Thank you, Brigitte
I used this recipe with pollack exactly as written. Very good. A bit of bickering about who was going to get the last piece of fish.
D@mn delicious! I cut up the lemon slices and set the fish to cook on top of the lemons for extra aroma.
I served with wild rice and broccoli. I used the lemon-butter to season the fish and broccoli.
I will make it again. Thank you!
This is the best fish I have ever had. It is also the most easiest recipe I’ve ever done.
Very Very tasty. The only thing is we had to cook the tilapia for 20 mins because it was not cooked through and put it on broil to get some colour. So maybe keep that in mind when making your own.
I wish I had seen your review before I tried this! I0 minutes is definitely not enough time tor it to cook unless you are a fan of Sushi. I’m going to try again with your suggestions. Thank you!!
This is a fabulous dish! I made it the first time following the recipe, served with steamed bok choy. . The second time I made it, the only change was that I doubled the sauce so that we could pour on rice as a side dish. A winner 🙂 Much gratitude
This was a fantastic recipe thank you so much for sharing
I’ve been making this recipe for years now. It’s one of the very few dinners my picky 4 year old will eat up and ask for seconds. LOVE how fast it is, simple, and with ingredients you will always have. And I love how fast tilapia will thaw in a bowl of cold water if you didn’t thaw ahead of time. Thank you!
My husband loved it. we had sweet potatoes on the side. Very healthy.
This sauce was amazing! The only change I made was that I added fresh basil to the sauce.
The best tilapia ever!!
Nice simple recipe. I subbed olive oil for butter to cut saturated fats, and calories,
leaveing the fish in a more healthy state.
Tasty, moist, tender, easy, quick. Thanks for the great recipe!
Here’s the thing… I love you!
My husband and i have been trying to eat healthy. Unfortunately, sometimes healthy = boring. Not tonight, Bland Dinner! Your days are over! Lol, i kid….but not really. This fish was just yet another of your hit it out of the ballpark meals. I saved a little of the lemon mixture and drizzled my quinoa .
Love you Lots!
Keep them coming!
Very easy and tasty receive!
I made this dish as written except I added crumbled Ritz crackers. It was fantastic. Highly recommend!