Baked Tilapia with Garlic Butter is the perfect dish when you want big flavor with minimal effort. The tilapia is baked to tender perfection, topped with a rich and savory garlic butter sauce made with butter, lemon, and fresh garlic. Ready in under 30 minutes, this easy-to-make recipe is full of bright, zesty flavors and a great option for a quick weeknight dinner!

cooked tilapia fillets with garlic butter sauce in a white baking dish

I have several fish recipes that feature a tried-and-true garlic butter sauce, one that I’ve made so many times it’s become a staple in my kitchen. Some of my favorites include Garlic Butter Salmon, Garlic Butter Halibut, Cod Recipe, and Rainbow Trout in Foil.

Now it’s time to make tilapia with this delicious garlic butter sauce, made with just a few simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.

Key Ingredients you need

Tilapia Filets: I’ve made this recipe with both fresh and frozen tilapia. If using frozen, be sure to thaw the fillets completely in the refrigerator first. I suggest rinsing the fillets under cold water. Then, pat them dry with a paper towel before seasoning.

Garlic – I love freshly minced garlic for a richer, more fragrant flavor, fresh garlic is the way to go. It really makes the garlic butter sauce shine.

Unsalted butter – I prefer to use unsalted butter because it gives you more control over the saltiness of your gluten-free dish.

Lemon juice – I recommend using fresh lemon juice and not bottled, because fresh lemon juice has a brighter, more vibrant flavor that really enhances the dish. If you don’t have lemon, you can replace for lime juice too. Optional: use some lemon slices or lemon zest to garnish your fish.

How to Make Baked Tilapia

ingredients on a countertop to make tilapia

First: Pre-het the oven at 400ºF and gather together all the ingredients for this recipe.

Second: In a small bowl, add melt the butter, mince the garlic, onion powder, paprika, fresh parsley and lemon juice. Whisk until well combined, then set aside.

Third: Grease a baking sheet and arrange the tilapia fillets in a single layer. Then, season the white fish well with salt and pepper.

raw tilapia inside of a white baking sheet with garlic butter sauce

Then: pour the garlic butter sauce evenly over the top of the fish. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes. The fish is done when it is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. No need to flip.

Recipe notes

To check if your fish is done, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the fillet. It should read an internal temperature of 140 to 145 degrees F.
You can broil this fish at the end if desired to give the tops a more golden finish.
For an extra kick, season with cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes, if you like.

What to serve with baked tilapia

Baked tilapia pairs well with roasted vegetables like broccoli or green beans. You can also serve it with rice—white, brown, or lemon herb—or a fresh arugula salad or cherry tomatoes salad for a lighter option.

For something heartier, mashed potatoes work great. A slice of crusty garlic bread is perfect to enjoy with the sauce. You can also make fish tacos with it. So good!

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Baked Tilapia Recipe With Garlic Butter

3.46 from 264 votes

Author: Olivia Ribas

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Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease an 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray*. In a small bowl, whisk together butter, parsley, onion powder, paprika, garlic and lemon juice. Set aside.
Season tilapia with salt and pepper, to taste and place onto the prepared baking dish.
Pour the butter mixture over the tilapia fillets.
Place into oven and bake for about 10-12 minutes or until tilapia flakes easily with a fork. Serve immediately with rice, cauliflower rice, mashed potato, mashed cauliflower or roasted veggies.

Notes

Store Instructions:

Leftovers — Transfer leftover baked tilapia to an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Freezer — You can freeze it by placing completely cooled tilapia in an airtight freezer-friendly container. Keep in the freezer for up to 4 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Reheating — Reheat leftovers in the microwave with a splash of water or on the stovetop with olive oil until heated through.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4, Calories: 193kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 14g, Cholesterol: 72mg, Sodium: 194mg, Potassium: 32mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Garlic Butter Baked Tilapia

Key Ingredients you need

How to Make Baked Tilapia

Recipe notes

What to serve with baked tilapia