Ingredients
Scale
- 4 tilapia filets patted dry
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoon butter melted
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 lemon sliced
- fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. This gives you time to gather your ingredients and get everything ready. No one likes starting with a cold oven!
- Prep the fish by patting your tilapia filets dry. This helps the seasoning stick and prevents the fish from steaming instead of baking. Lay the filets in your baking dish in a single layer.
- Season it up by sprinkling the salt, pepper, and paprika evenly over the fish. This is your flavor base, and while it’s simple, it really enhances the tilapia.
- Whisk together the magic—melted butter, lemon juice, and minced garlic. Pour this buttery mixture over the tilapia, making sure each filet gets some love. You can even spoon a little extra over the fish to make sure it’s coated.
- Layer those lemon slices over and under the filets. This not only looks pretty but adds even more lemon flavor as it bakes.
- Bake for 11 minutes. The fish will turn opaque and flake easily with a fork when it’s done. Keep an eye on it—overcooked tilapia can get dry, but undercooking it leaves it a bit too soft for my liking.
- Broil for 2-3 minutes at the end for a little extra color. This step isn’t strictly necessary, but I find that it adds a lovely golden finish to the fish and helps the lemon slices caramelize slightly.
- Garnish with parsley and serve! The fresh parsley adds a pop of color and a bit of herby freshness to balance the richness of the butter.
Notes
How to serve it up
For serving, I love to keep things light and fresh. This tilapia pairs beautifully with a simple side salad or roasted vegetables. If you’re feeling fancy, you can place the filets on a bed of rice or quinoa to soak up all that lemony butter goodness.
For presentation, I like to serve the fish with the baked lemon slices on top and a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley. It makes the dish look vibrant and appetizing, even though it’s so easy to pull together.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Dinner