Description
This Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia is a simple and flavorful seafood dish featuring tender tilapia fillets baked in a zesty lemon butter sauce infused with garlic and paprika. Perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner, it cooks quickly in the oven, resulting in moist, flaky fish garnished with fresh parsley and lemon slices.
Ingredients
Scale
Fish
- 4 tilapia fillets (about 4–6 oz each)
Lemon Butter Sauce
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- Lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a baking dish to prevent the fish from sticking.
- Arrange Tilapia Fillets: Place the four tilapia fillets in a single layer in the greased baking dish, ensuring they are evenly spaced for uniform cooking.
- Make Lemon Butter Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the melted unsalted butter, freshly squeezed lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, paprika, salt, and black pepper until fully combined and fragrant.
- Coat the Fish: Pour the lemon butter mixture evenly over the tilapia fillets, making sure each piece is well coated to infuse flavor during baking.
- Bake the Tilapia: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork, indicating it is fully cooked.
- Add Final Touches: Remove the dish from the oven, sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the baked tilapia, and garnish with lemon slices for a bright, fresh presentation.
- Serve: Serve the tilapia hot, paired ideally with rice, steamed vegetables, or a light salad to complete the meal.
Notes
- This recipe is versatile and also works well with other white fish varieties like cod or haddock.
- For a complete meal, serve alongside rice, steamed vegetables, or a crisp side salad.
- Ensure not to overbake the fish to keep it moist and tender.
- Adjust the seasoning to taste; you can add more garlic or lemon zest for extra flavor.
