Lemon Dill Baked Tilapia

January 22, 2025 by Beth Pierce 78 Comments

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

Fresh baked lemon dip tilapia with lemon slices and herbs on a parchment covered baking sheet.

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.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.

Butter: salted or unsalted. If using salted butter reduce the amount of added salt to 1/4 teaspoon.
Seasonings: Fresh lemons, dill, and parsley are a must for full flavor if available, but see other spices and herbs below,
Tilapia filets: This recipe is equally delicious with cod or halibut.
Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is worth every penny. It has a better texture, tastes better, and melts better than pre-grated Parmesan. Use a microplane or box grater to grate the cheese.

How to Bake Tilapia

This is the summary version; see the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and the instructions.

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.

Some of the steps to preparing baked tilapia. Prepare the butter mixture and lather it on the fish filets before baking.

Preparation Tips

Pat the tilapia dry with paper towels before brushing on the butter mixture.
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.

A close up view of baked tilapia with fresh herbs and lemons on parchment paper.

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.

A serving plate with lemon dill baked tilapia, spaghetti noodles, and broccoli.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I 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.

What seasonings are good with tilapia?

There are many seasonings that are delicious on tilapia. Many of these spices and herbs are delicious as a combination. Try lemon juice, garlic, lemon zest, dill, lemon pepper, parsley, garlic powder, marjoram, paprika, thyme, rosemary, cayenne pepper, and tarragon.

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