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Delicious Garlic Butter Tilapia with Lemon, baked to flaky perfection with herbs.

Garlic Butter Tilapia with Lemon

A quick and easy baked tilapia recipe featuring a flavorful garlic butter and lemon sauce that makes for a delightful dinner in about 20 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Total Time 24 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 180
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 4 fillets Tilapia fillets, fresh or thawed Ensure they are patted dry before cooking.
  • 1/4 cup Butter, melted
  • 4 cloves Garlic, minced or grated Use fresh garlic for best flavor.
  • 1 large Lemon, zest and juice Both zest and juice are required.
  • 1 teaspoon Salt Adjust to taste.
  • 1 teaspoon Black pepper Adjust to taste.
Optional Ingredients
  • 1/2 teaspoon Paprika or chili flakes For added warmth.
  • 2 tablespoons Chopped parsley For garnish.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Heat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a baking dish or line it with parchment.
  2. Pat the tilapia dry and place the fillets in the dish, spreading them out as best you can.
  3. In a small bowl, mix melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Add salt, pepper, and paprika if using.
Cooking
  1. Spoon the garlic butter mixture over the fish, ensuring each fillet gets some garlic bits and a little pool of butter.
  2. Bake for about 10 to 14 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets. The fish is done when it flakes easily with a fork and looks opaque all the way through.
Serving
  1. Finish with chopped parsley and an extra squeeze of lemon right before serving.

Notes

Pat the fish dry before adding sauce to help the flavor stick. Do not overbake, as tilapia can dry out quickly. Let it rest for 2 minutes after baking for best texture.