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Easy garlic butter baked tilapia dish on a plate with herbs and lemon

Garlic Butter Oven-Baked Tilapia

A quick and elegant dish of tilapia fillets baked in a rich garlic butter sauce, perfect for busy weeknights or special gatherings.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Seafood
Calories: 300
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Tilapia
  • 4 fillets tilapia fillets (fresh or frozen, thawed)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • to taste Salt
  • to taste Pepper
For the Garlic Butter Sauce
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)
  • ½ teaspoon paprika (optional) for color and mild heat
  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese (optional) for added richness

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels. Drizzle the olive oil over the fillets, and season both sides with salt and pepper. Arrange on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
  3. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat until bubbly.
  4. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to brown it.
  5. Stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, chopped parsley, paprika (if using), and Parmesan cheese. Allow to simmer for another minute.
  6. Taste the sauce, adjusting seasoning as necessary, adding more salt, pepper, or lemon juice to your preference.
  7. Pour the garlic butter sauce evenly over the seasoned tilapia fillets.
Baking
  1. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for about 12-15 minutes until the fish flakes easily with a fork and is opaque.
Serving
  1. Garnish with additional chopped parsley and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice before serving.

Notes

This dish pairs well with a light salad, steamed vegetables, or garlic bread. Store leftovers in an airtight container for 2-3 days. Reheat in the oven for best results.