Baked Tilapia with Lemon Butter (Printer-friendly)

Tender tilapia baked with zesty lemon butter sauce. Ready in 30 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 tilapia fillets (about 5 oz each)
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Lemon Butter Sauce

04 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
06 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

→ Garnish

09 - 4 thin lemon slices
10 - Extra chopped parsley (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to fit the tilapia fillets in a single layer.
02 - Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper, then place in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and minced garlic until well combined.
04 - Pour the lemon butter sauce evenly over the tilapia fillets, ensuring each piece is well coated.
05 - Top each fillet with a thin lemon slice for added flavor and presentation.
06 - Bake for 15–18 minutes, or until the fish is opaque throughout and flakes easily with a fork.
07 - Remove from the oven and garnish with additional chopped parsley before serving hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Ready in 30 minutes with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen
  • The lemon butter sauce transforms ordinary fish into something that feels like a restaurant quality dinner
02 -
  • Dont skip drying the fish first, any moisture on the surface will prevent proper seasoning
  • The butter might separate slightly from the lemon juice as it bakes, this is totally normal
03 -
  • Let the fish rest for about 5 minutes after baking, it helps the juices redistribute
  • If your sauce looks too thick, add a teaspoon of warm water to loosen it up

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