Lemon Dill Baked Tilapia

This amazing Lemon Dill Baked Tilapia Recipe takes mere minutes to prep, is loaded with delicious flavors from creamy butter, garlic, lemon, and dill, and bakes up perfectly every time. This tasty, healthy recipe is an absolute favorite of ours.

Perfect Oven Baked Tilapia

This quick and easy baked tilapia cooks up perfectly every time. It is ideal for busy weeknights yet elegant enough for company. I like serving it with fresh veggies like roasted asparagus, green beans almondine, Asian cucumber salad, or zucchini noodles.

How to bake Tilapia

Start by melting your butter in a saucepan over low heat. Then add the garlic, lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, salt, pepper, and dill. Dry the fish fillets well with paper towels. Then, place the fish on a parchment-covered baking sheet or in a baking dish and brush with the butter mixture. Add fresh-cut lemon slices to the baking sheet.

Now bake for 10-15 minutes or until the fish flakes easily at its thickest part with a fork. Finally, garnish with chopped fresh parsley and, if desired, a little bit of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

How long to bake Tilapia

Do not overbake the tilapia. It will take about 10-15 minutes. Fish is done when it reaches 145 degrees. Insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the filet. If you do not have a thermometer, cook until it flakes easily with a fork at its thickest part.

Recipe Tips for Baked Tilapia

• Pat the tilapia dry with paper towels before brushing on the butter mixture.
• Fresh lemons, dill, and parsley are a must for full flavor if available, but see other spices and herbs below,
• The parchment paper keeps the fish from sticking and helps with easy cleanup. But you can easily cook it right on the baking sheet. Spray the fish filets with nonstick spray or brush lightly with the butter sauce.
• Do not overbake the fish. Fish is done when it reaches 145 degrees. Insert a thermometer into the thickest part of the filet. Cook until it flakes easily with a fork at its thickest part.
• Almost all tilapia is frozen or previously frozen, so I can not recommend refreezing it.
• This recipe is equally delicious with cod or halibut.

How to properly thaw fish

• The safest method is to remove the frozen fish from the freezer, puncture the vacuum packaging to introduce oxygen, and thaw it in the refrigerator overnight on a plate with a paper towel under the packaging. The refrigerator should be at 38 degrees or below. Read here for more safe tips on thawing fish.
• If you waited too long and need to thaw it fast. Remove the fish from the vacuum-sealed packaging and place it in a zipper freezer bag. Place the zipper bag in a bowl of very cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes to ensure that it stays cold. If the fish was not vacuum sealed, place it in a heavy-duty zipper bag, removing as much air as possible. Remove the fish from the cold water as soon as it is thawed and cook promptly. Store the thawed fish in the refrigerator while you are getting the rest of the ingredients together or preheating a grill.
• Do not thaw fish on the counter.
• Please do not thaw fish in warm water. It is not safe.
• Do not refreeze fish that was previously frozen and thawed.
• If the fish was thawed in the refrigerator, use it within 1-2 days. If the fish is thawed using the cold bowl method listed above, then cook promptly.

How to season oven Baked Tilapia

There are many seasonings that are delicious on tilapia. Many of these spices and herbs are delicious as a combination.

• lemon juice
• garlic
• lemon zest
• dill
• lemon pepper
• parsley
• garlic powder
• marjoram
• paprika
• thyme
• rosemary
• cayenne pepper
• tarragon
• onion powder
• fresh ground black pepper
• seasoned salt

Storage and Reheat

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To reheat, wrap in an aluminum foil tent and place in a preheated 275-degree oven for about 15 minutes.

Freeze baked tilapia for up to 2 months in a zipper freeze bag or freezer-safe container. Thaw in the fridge overnight. To reheat, wrap in an aluminum foil tent and place in a preheated 275-degree oven for about 15 minutes.

More seafood recipes

Lemon Dill Baked Tilapia

Enjoy this Lemon Dill Baked Tilapia made with fresh lemon, dill, and parsley.  It bakes up perfectly every time and is on the table in less than 15 minutes. 

5 from 37 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: fish/dinner

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 4 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 247kcal

Author: Beth Pierce

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1 lemon zested and juiced
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon fresh chopped dilll
• 20-24 ounces tilapia fillets
• lemon slices
• 1 tablespoon fresh chopped Italian Parsley
• Freshly grated Parmesan Cheese optional
• Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Dry the fish filets will with paper towels. 
• Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add the garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper and dill.
• Dry the fish filets well with paper towels. Place the fish on the prepared baking sheet or baking pan.  Brush with the butter mixture. Add fresh cut lemon slices to the baking sheet.
• Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the fish flakes easily at its thickest part with a fork. Fish is done when it reaches 145 degrees. Insert a thermometer into the thickest part of the filet. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and if desired a little bit of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Season with kosher salt and black pepper to taste. 

Notes

• Pat the tilapia dry with paper towels before brushing on the butter mixture.
• Fresh lemons, dill, and parsley are a must for full flavor if available, but see other spices and herbs below,
• The parchment paper keeps the fish from sticking and helps with easy cleanup. But you can easily cook it right on the baking sheet. Spray the fish filets with nonstick spray or brush lightly with the butter sauce.
• Do not overbake the fish. Fish is done when it reaches 145 degrees. Insert a thermometer into the thickest part of the filet. Cook until it flakes easily with a fork at its thickest part.
• Almost all tilapia is frozen or previously frozen, so I can not recommend refreezing it.
• This recipe is equally delicious with cod or halibut.

Nutrition

Calories: 247kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 311mg | Potassium: 483mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 449IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg

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