Baked tilapia with garlic butter is great for when you want lots of flavor without a lot of work. Make this recipe for dinner in less than 30 minutes!
I have several fish recipes that all use garlic butter sauce. Some examples include Garlic Butter Salmon recipe, Cod Fish recipe, Garlic Butter Halibut, and Garlic Butter Rainbow Trout in Foil.
I love fish especially salmon and tilapia. They go with everything, like in my Chopped Salmon Salad. I love tilapia because I can cook it in many different ways. It has a mild flavor that absorbs the flavors of other ingredients.
For this oven baked tilapia recipe, the fish is cooked in a simple and delicious garlic butter sauce made with a few simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand.
Ingredients
This oven baked tilapia recipe bakes tilapia in a tasty garlic butter sauce with basic ingredients you likely have.
- Tilapia filets – Use either fresh or frozen. Be sure to completely thaw frozen fillets in the refrigerator before using in this recipe. Wash filets with water and pat them dry using a paper towel.
- Fresh parsley – I love using fresh herbs like parsley for this recipe but if you only have dried herbs, you can use that. Feel free to swap for fresh basil instead.
- Garlic – I love freshly minced garlic. You can use garlic powder if needed.
- Unsalted butter – For paleo or Whole30, use ghee instead. Any vegan butter alternative will work as well.
- Lemon juice – I recommend using fresh lemon juice and not bottled. If you don’t have lemon, you can use lime juice too. Optional: use some lemon slices or lemon zest to garnish your fish.
- Spices: onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Sometimes I like to add a little bit of Italian seasoning too. You can also add a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to give the dish a little bit of heat.
How to Make Baked Tilapia
This gluten-free fish recipe couldn’t be any simpler – just bake the fish in a homemade butter sauce until done!
Mix together butter sauce
- Melt the butter or ghee, mince the garlic, and chop the fresh parsley.
- Next, combine them in a small bowl with the onion powder, paprika, and lemon juice.
- Whisk until well combined, then set aside.
Season the fish
- Grease a baking sheet and lay the tilapia fillets inside in a single layer.
- Then, season the tilapia fish well with salt and pepper.
Bake and serve
- Next, pour the garlic butter sauce evenly over the top of the fish.
- Place the pan in the oven and bake until the fish is done. The cooking time is about 10 to 12 minutes. It will be an opaque white color instead of translucent and will flake easily with a fork.
- Garnish with lemon slices, if desired. Serve it immediately with your sides of choice and enjoy!
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.
- If you don’t have nonstick spray, you can use olive oil to coat the pan instead.
- You can broil this fish at the end if desired to give the tops a more golden finish.
Storage Tips
Leftovers — Transfer leftover baked tilapia to an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Or, portion them out into meal prep containers to have for lunches throughout the week.
Freezer — You can freeze it by placing completely cooled tilapia in an airtight freezer-friendly container or freezer bag. Keep in the freezer for up to 4 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Reheating — You can heat the leftover in the microwave. Add a splash of water if you’re worried it will dry out. You can also reheat this on the stovetop. Add some olive oil to a hot pan and add the baked tilapia to it. Cook until heated through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tilapia is an extremely mild and flakey white fish so it doesn’t have a fishy taste to it. Because of how mild it is, it takes on flavor exceptionally well, like the garlic butter that I use here.
Just like salmon, tilapia is protein-packed and is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients. I would call this a healthy fish to enjoy!
Just like salmon, tilapia is protein-packed and is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients. I would call this a healthy fish to enjoy!
When making oven baked tilapia with garlic butter, there is no need to flip halfway through baking time. Just heat the oven, follow the recipe for the fish, and bake for 10-12 minutes. The fish reaches doneness when a fork easily flakes it. Add lemon slices for garnish when serving, if desired.
You can replace it for cod fish or halibut fish if you don’t have tilapia.
What to serve with baked tilapia
Because this recipe has such simple, classic flavors, the side dish options are endless! Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Tossed green salad or cherry tomatoes salad.
Pasta
Other fish recipes to try
- Dijon Mustard Salmon: Dijon mustard salmon is quick, easy, and full of flavor. Make this quick and easy recipe tonight. It only takes 15 minutes to cook and uses just a few ingredients.
- Easy Grilled Fish Tacos: This grilled fish taco comes together so quickly and is the perfect summertime meal!
- Cajun Salmon with Strawberry Salsa: This Cajun Salmon with Strawberry Salsa is a perfect summer lunch or light dinner to enjoy during the week.
- Salmon Chopped Salad Recipe: Make this quick and easy Salmon Chopped Salad recipe with lemon vinaigrette for a healthy meal packed with protein and healthy fats.
Baked Tilapia Recipe With Garlic Butter
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Video
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted melted butter use ghee for paleo and whole30
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 4 fillets of tilapia
- Salt and black pepper
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.
Tips
- Click HERE to watch the Web Stories for this recipe.
- If you don’t have cooking spray, use a cooking brush and olive oil.
- If the fish was frozen beforehand, make sure you fully thaw it before using it.
- For more golden tops, you can broil the fish for a few minutes.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
Similar Recipes:
Check out the Web Story HERE.
Linda Wise says
Excellent dish
Olivia says
Happy you liked it!
Rohit Kharat says
No temp
Olivia says
The temperature is on the first line of the recipe box.
Angela Navarrete says
It is so. Ease and soooooo delicious . Thank you very much.
Olivia says
You’re so welcome 😉
Taina Kingston says
Excellent! This is now added to my family recipes of frequently made meals!
Olivia says
This makes me so happy 😉
Beth Southerland says
This recipe is awesome!! It was a quick & easy weeknight prep but tasted gourmet. It was delicious, even our teen son loved it. I only added Zatarain’s Creole Seasoning dusted across the dish before baking. I shared this with family and friends. Highly recommend this!!
Olivia says
I’m so glad you loved the recipe! Adding Zatarain’s Creole Seasoning sounds like a delicious twist. It’s great to hear that even your teen son enjoyed it—that’s always a win! Thanks for sharing it with your family and friends, and for the awesome recommendation!
Zanariah Othman says
Great recipe. Simple to make but very tasty. On repeat. Always.
Olivia says
Happy to hear that 😉
Matthew Morland says
This recipe was fantastic, even my picky 8 yo liked it.
Olivia says
SO happy you and your son liked it!