Garlic Butter Baked Tilapia - Easy Fish for Dinner Tonight

If you’re hunting for a weeknight dinner that’s both stress-free and ridiculously tasty, let me introduce you to Garlic Butter Baked Tilapia. This dish is ready in 20 minutes flat, yet it tastes like you put in way more effort. Seriously, why overcomplicate dinner when you can have juicy, flaky tilapia drenched in melted butter, garlic, a squeeze of lemon, and just the right spices? It’s the kind of flavor combo that makes you wonder why you don’t cook fish every night.

Now, here’s the best part: this isn’t just another boring recipes fish option. Nope. Think of it as your gateway to endless tilapia ideas. Wanna get fancy? Add herbs. Feeling experimental? Swap the lemon for lime or toss in a little chili. Heck, pair it with veggies for one of those “fat burning recipes meals” the internet loves to talk about. And if you’re already a fan of red tilapia recipes or even roasted tilapia, this one slides right into your weekly rotation like it was always meant to be there.

And let’s not ignore the “what if I have leftovers?” question. FYI, you totally can store your baked tilapia in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–4 days. When reheating, cover it with foil and bake at 350°F until warm. Trust me, dry fish is not the vibe.

For those of you who want more variety, this dish also plays nice with other recipes with seafood. Try serving it alongside rice, roasted veggies, or even as part of fish with mushrooms recipes for something earthy and unexpected. IMO, it’s one of those underrated talapia ideas meals that proves healthy doesn’t have to mean boring.

So, what are you waiting for? Dinner’s practically begging to be this buttery, garlicky masterpiece.

Garlic Butter Baked Tilapia - Easy Fish for Dinner Tonight

Looking for a fast, flavor-packed dinner that feels fancy but takes almost no effort? This garlic butter baked tilapia is your answer. In just 20 minutes, you’ll have tender, flaky fish that’s loaded with buttery, garlicky goodness and a bright hit of lemon. Even picky eaters can’t resist this one.

Prep Time: 5 minutes   |   Cook Time: 15 minutes   |   Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 4   |   Calories: 337 kcal   |   Author: Alma

Ingredients

• 4 tilapia fillets (about 6 oz each)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 4 tablespoons salted butter
• 6 cloves garlic, finely minced
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions

1. Lightly season the tilapia fillets with salt and pepper, then place them in a 9x13-inch baking dish in a single layer.
2. In a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter with the garlic, paprika, onion powder, and red pepper flakes.
3. Stir in the lemon juice, then drizzle this buttery mixture evenly over the fish. Lay the lemon slices on top for extra citrusy flavor.
4. Bake at 400°F for 12–15 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.
5. Sprinkle with fresh parsley, add more salt and pepper if needed, and serve right away.

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