Oven-baked lemon butter tilapia
For an easy fish recipe, try tilapia baked in the oven and served with a homemade lemon butter sauce for a delicious lunch or dinner.
This Recipe includes:
![]() | Tilapia – you can use any type of white fish, but I’m using tilapia for its mild flavor and delicate texture. |
![]() | Olive oil – extra virgin olive oil for flavor. |
![]() | Garlic powder or flakes |
![]() | Onion powder – for a bit more flavor in the spice rub. |
![]() | Butter – unsalted or semi-salted butter |
![]() | Lemon – for the lemon juice |
![]() | Parsley – fresh parsley for decoration and flavor |
![]() | (Optional) Breadcrumbs – any type of breadcrumbs, such as panko, fresh toasted, etc. |
![]() | Pinch of salt and pepper |
Baked tilapia is a great dish to make when you want the flavors of a fish fillet but don’t have a lot of time. This baked tilapia recipe is easy to prepare and simple to cook.

The lemon butter sauce adds another layer of flavor to this dish. It is a classic combination, with the citrusy and salty flavors of the sauce offset by the mild fish. (Another alternative is a 10-minute hollandaise sauce.)
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Baked lemon butter tilapia
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5-8 pieces of fresh tilapia fish
- 1 tablespoon of breadcrumbs (optional)
- 2-3 sprigs of parsley
Lemon butter sauce
- 1/2 cup of butter
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 2-3 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder
- pinch of salt and pepper
Instructions
- Lay the tilapia out on a paper towel and pat them dry.
- In a small microwavable bowl, place the butter heat for 1 minute in the microwave to soften.
- Add the rest of the ingredients for the lemon butter sauce in with the melted butter and mix to make the sauce.
- Preheat your oven to 360°C (180°C).
- Place the tilapia in a large deep casserole dish, and coat it with the lemon butter sauce.
- Sprinkle some pieces of parsley and optional breadcrumbs across the tilapia.
- Cook the tilapia for 20-25 minutes in the oven till the fish looks golden brown.
- Decorate with a slice of lemon and serve while warm.
Nutrition
Please note: We are not certified nutritionists and these estimates written and produced for entertainment purposes only.
What to serve with it?
You can serve this lemon butter tilapia with a starter like these smoked salmon canapés, fresh seafood spring rolls or these creamy scallops gratin.
As a side, you can serve it with these saucy quenelles or this potato mushroom casserole.

How to store it?
You can prepare this oven-baked lemon butter tilapia in advance, and leave them in the fridge.
When ready to eat, just put them back on the stove top at medium heat for 5-7 minutes to make them crispy again.









