Description
This Baked Lemon Garlic Butter Tilapia recipe is a quick and flavorful dish perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner. Tender tilapia fillets are coated in a zesty lemon garlic butter sauce and baked to flaky perfection, garnished with fresh parsley and served with lemon wedges for an extra burst of citrus.
Ingredients
Scale
Tilapia and Seasoning
- 1 1/2 pounds tilapia fillets (3 to 4)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or red pepper flakes
Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 1/2 medium lemon)
- 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped fresh parsley leaves (from 5 sprigs)
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Butter Mixture: Heat the oven to 425ºF. In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, freshly squeezed lemon juice, finely chopped garlic, dried thyme, paprika, and black pepper until well combined.
- Prepare Tilapia Fillets: Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Season both sides evenly with kosher salt. Arrange the fillets in an even layer in a 9×13-inch baking dish, allowing slight overlap if necessary.
- Add Butter Mixture: Spoon the prepared lemon garlic butter mixture evenly over the tilapia fillets, making sure each piece is well coated.
- Bake the Tilapia: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake the tilapia for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the fish is opaque, flakes easily with a fork, and is cooked through.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the tilapia from the oven and sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley. Serve the baked fish with the buttery sauce from the baking dish and garnish with lemon wedges for squeezing over the top.
Notes
- Be careful not to overcook the tilapia to keep it moist and tender.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, increase the red pepper flakes slightly.
- Use fresh parsley for a bright, fresh flavor, but dried parsley can substitute in a pinch.
- This recipe pairs well with steamed vegetables, rice, or a light salad.
- Make sure to pat the fish dry before seasoning to help the seasoning stick better.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet (about 6 ounces)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 0.5g
- Sodium: 530mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
