Baked Tilapia Recipe

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This oven baked tilapia recipe is an easy way to get dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes. Made with just five simple ingredients (plus salt and pepper), this easy fish dish has a bright lemon flavor and a rich, buttery texture. And unlike my standalone lemon butter sauce for fish, this sauce does not require cooking separately.

Tilapia in the oven is just as easy as baking other fish recipes, like baked cod, flaky baked salmon, quick rainbow trout, or even baked halibut. But with a mild flavor, delicate texture, and reasonable price, baked tilapia recipes are a particularly good uption if you want a more cost-effective, lighter fish option.

Why You’ll Love This Baked Tilapia Recipe

Buttery, bright lemon flavor
Flaky, tender fish
Ready in 20 minutes
Easy, inexpensive, and healthy dinner
Naturally low carb and gluten-free

Baked tilapia recipe in a baking dish with lemon slices.

Ingredients & Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for oven baked tilapia, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

Tilapia – Tilapia is a fresh water fish that were native to Africa, but are now farmed all over the world. While I usually prefer wild caught fish, tilapia is a great cost-saving choice. Most tilapia fillets will be around the same size, but tilapia loins will be the thicker part of the fillet, without the flat part. I used whole fillets for this baked tilapia recipe, but loins are fine to use as well. Fresh or frozen both work fine. Skinless tilapia is best to avoid any bitter taste.
Butter – I prefer to use grass fed butter for the best flavor and nutrition, but any unsalted butter will work. If you need a dairy-free option, you can use olive oil (it will have a different flavor) or butter-flavored coconut oil (for a similar flavor).
Lemon – We’re going to use half to get lemon juice and lemon zest, and use the other half to make slices to place on top of the fish. Feel free to use two separate lemons if it’s easier for you. You’ll need a total of 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice and 1/2 tablespoon lemon zest. If you don’t have fresh lemons on hand but have bottled lemon juice, you can increase the lemon juice to 2 tablespoons and omit the zest and slices, but the flavor is less lemony this way. Lime juice can also work in a pinch, but the flavor will be different.
Fresh Parsley – Feel free to substitute other fresh herbs, such as dill or chives. You can also reserve extra for garnish.
Garlic – Use fresh garlic, not jarred, as we’re going to crush the cloves. Minced is okay to use in a pinch, but the flavor is more evenly distributed if you crush it. You can also substitute 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder instead.
Seasoning – The seasoning for this easy baked tilapia is super simple: Just salt and pepper! The lemon butter provides plenty of flavor as is. For a little more heat, you can add a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper. If you want to season the fish in other ways, check out the variations I have listed below!

How To Bake Tilapia In The Oven

This section shows how to make baked tilapia, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

Prep the fish. Use paper towels to pat the fish fillets dry. Arrange them in a single layer in a baking dish. It’s fine if they touch, but don’t overlap them much, if at all.
Prep the lemon. Slice the lemon in half. Juice and zest one half. Slice the other half into thin slices.

Make the lemon butter sauce. In a small bowl in the microwave or saucepan on the stove, melt the butter. Remove from heat. Stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, parsley, and crushed garlic.
Season the fish. Brush the garlic lemon butter over the tilapia fillets. Season with sea salt and black pepper. Flip and repeat. Arrange the lemon slices over the fish.

Raw tilapia with lemon butter sauce and lemon slices, before baking.

Bake. Place the pan in the oven and bake tilapia until it’s opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Garnish with more parsley if you like.

Oven baked tilapia in a baking dish garnished with parsley.

How Long To Bake Tilapia?

Bake tilapia for 12-15 minutes, or until it flakes easily with a fork. The best way to tell it’s done is to use an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part — it should read between 140 and 145 degrees F.

Can You Make Baked Tilapia From Frozen?

Yes, you can make baked tilapia from frozen, but the cooking time needs to be adjusted. If baking from frozen, it typically takes around 18-22 minutes. However, the fish cooks more evenly if you thaw it first.

Seasoning Variations

If you want a different flavor profile, try these popular options:

Spices – For more flavor, add a sprinkle of paprika, cumin, and/or onion powder in addition to the salt and pepper.
Southern – Omit the lemon and use 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning or blackened seasoning in place of the sea salt and black pepper.
Parmesan – Follow my parmesan crusted tilapia recipe. It uses just 4 simple ingredients and is ready in 15 minutes!
Old Bay – Simply swap out the sea salt for Old Bay seasoning.

Storage Instructions

Store: Leftovers from baked tilapia recipes will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Reheat: Warm up the fish in a 350 degree F oven, covered with aluminum foil. Reheating in the microwave will dry out the fish more, but can work (on half power) if it’s your only option.
Freeze: Allow baked tilapia to cool completely, then transfer to a freezer bag with layers of parchment paper between the pieces, to prevent sticking. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, or in a bowl of cold water on the counter, before reheating.

Baked tilapia recipe on a plate with fork.

What To Serve With Baked Tilapia

Baked tilapia recipes go with almost anything! Try these simple ideas for your weeknight meals:

Rice – Serve this easy white fish with rice, or cauliflower rice for a healthier option.
Potatoes – Choose your favorite: Roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, or even Greek lemon potatoes pair nicely. You can even lighten up this idea with cauliflower mashed potatoes.
Sauteed Vegetables – Veggies like sauteed broccoli, green beans almondine, and sauteed zucchini all go great with baked tilapia.
Roasted Vegetables – If you switch the positions of the racks halfway through, you can cook your main dish and side dish at the same time. Roasted broccoli or roasted cauliflower would work well because they need the same oven temperature as the baked tilapia fillets. You could also make roasted cherry tomatoes or roasted asparagus right in the same baking dish with the fish.
Salads – A light, fresh salad pairs perfectly with fish. Try a fresh Israeli salad, a simple cucumber tomato salad, or a spring mix salad in the spring or summer, or a sweet kale salad in the fall or winter.
Fish Tacos – Replace the lemon in this baked tilapia recipe with lime and replace the seasonings with taco seasoning. Bake as directed, and serve flaked in tortillas, burrito bowls, or in a taco salad.

More Easy Tilapia Recipes

If you like this oven baked tilapia, you’ll probably also like these other easy ways to prepare this fish:

Recipe Video

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Ingredients

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Instructions

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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C).
Use paper towels to pat the fish fillets dry. Arrange them in a single layer in a 9×13 baking dish.
Cut the lemon in half. Juice and zest one half (you should get about 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1/2 tablespoon lemon zest). Slice the other half into thin slices.
In a small bowl in the microwave or saucepan on the stove, melt the butter. Remove from heat. Stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, parsley, and crushed garlic.
Brush the garlic lemon butter over the tilapia fillets. Season with sea salt and black pepper. Flip and repeat both lemon butter and seasoning on the other side. Arrange the lemon slices over the fish.
Bake for 12-15 minutes, (will vary by thickness), until the baked tilapia is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.

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Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 baked tilapia fillet

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 270

Fat 14.4g

Protein 34.4g

Total Carbs 1.2g

Net Carbs 1.1g

Fiber 0.1g

Sugar 0.2g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.