Description
Garlic Butter Oven Baked Tilapia features tender tilapia fillets baked with a rich garlic butter sauce, lemon zest, and fresh parsley, making it a delicious and easy weeknight meal.
Ingredients
- 4 tilapia fillets (fresh or frozen, thawed)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, 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)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Pat the tilapia fillets dry and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
- Place the fillets in a single layer on a lined baking sheet.
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic to the butter and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Stir in lemon juice, lemon zest, parsley, and paprika (if using) into the butter-garlic mixture.
- Drizzle the garlic butter sauce evenly over the tilapia fillets.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until the fish flakes easily.
- Garnish with additional parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice before serving.
Notes
Experiment with seasonings and serve with rice or a light salad for a complete meal.
