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    Whisk Affair » Recipes » Meal Type » Lunch & Dinner » Lemon Garlic Baked Tilapia

    Published: May 11, 2021 | Last Updated On: May 12, 2021 by Neha Mathur

    Lemon Garlic Baked Tilapia

    263293 shares
    Jump to Recipe
    This Spicy Lemon Garlic Baked Tilapia takes all of 5 minute of preparation time before you pop it in the oven. Pair it with sautéed vegetables and steamed rice for a hearty meal. Here is how to make it. #Baked #Healthy #Tilapia #Fish

    This lemon garlic baked tilapia is super easy to make and comes together in under 20 minutes. It’s low carb, gluten-free, keto-friendly, and very flavorful. Here is how to make it.

    In case you are looking for more delicious fish recipes, then here are some more for you – Fish Fingers, Crispy Fish Tacos With Cabbage Slaw, Honey Garlic Fish, and Spicy Fish Fry.

    lemon Garlic Baked Tilapia served on a plate.
    Jump to:
    • About This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • How to cook Lemon Garlic Baked Tilapia?
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Pro Tips By Neha
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storing Suggestions
    • Variations
    • You might also like
    • Recipe Card

    About This Recipe

    Flaky and moist lemon garlic baked tilapia recipe is one of the easiest and most flavorful dishes you can make for dinner. It is spicy, tangy, and garlicky and this tilapia recipe comes together in under 20 minutes using simple ingredients.

    You just have to mix a handful of ingredients in a bowl, pour them over the fish fillets, pop the tray in the oven and your dinner is ready. Yes, It is that easy!

    This lemon garlic oven baked tilapia is a healthy and quick meal that you can make for your weekday dinners or just serve as a side dish with your weekend brunch. You can even grill it on a pan, instead of baking it.

    Not only is this recipe super simple to make, but it is also low carb, gluten-free, and keto-friendly. This tilapia recipe is 250 calories per serving, with only 12 g of fat.

    This Baked Tilapia Recipe is,

    • Spicy + Lemony
    • Nutritious
    • Easy to make
    • Keto-friendly + Gluten Free
    • Perfect for Quick meals

    Ingredients

    Lemon Garlic baked tilapia ingredients.

    To cook this easy oven baked tilapia, you will need –

    Fish Fillets – This recipe is prepared with Tilapia fillets. But if you don’t get access to the same, feel free to use any other white fish. I like to use Tilapia because it’s not super expensive, does not taste super fishy and I get frozen fillets easily.

    Marination – For the marinade, you will need lemon juice, unsalted butter, garlic, hot paprika (or use Kashmiri red chili powder), salt, and black pepper. Use fresh garlic, as it adds the most flavor and complements the butter really well. You can adjust the amount of lemon juice and paprika as per your taste.

    Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best taste. You can even substitute butter with extra virgin olive oil if you want a healthy alternative.

    Parsley – Finally garnish it with some fresh parsley. You can even use fresh cilantro leaves instead.

    How to cook Lemon Garlic Baked Tilapia?

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Wash 4-5 medium-sized tilapia fillets with water and pat them dry using a paper towel. Line the tilapia fillets on a 9×13 inch baking tray.

    Note – if using frozen fillets, thaw them before using.

    Tilapia fillets arranged on a baking tray.

    Stir together 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 3 tablespoon melted unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, ½ teaspoon hot paprika (or Kashmiri red chili powder), ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper in a small mixing bowl.

    Marinade ingredients mixed in a bowl.

    Ready marinade.

    Ready marinade.

    Pour the marinade over the Tilapia fillets. Arrange 3-4 slices of lemon over the fish.

    Marinade poured over the fillets.

    Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until the fish is flaky and fork-tender. Garnish with pepper flakes, lemon slices, and chopped parsley or cilantro, and serve hot.

    Ready lemon garlic baked tilapia.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Fresh tilapia or frozen tilapia?

    If you have access to fish that has been caught, cleaned, and sold under 48 hours, then you can use the fresh fish. I like to use frozen because in most cases, it is processed and frozen almost immediately after it’s caught and is as good as the ones sold at the counter. Plus you can just pull a bag and it’s ready to cook. No need to preplan the shopping.

    How to defrost tilapia?

    Put your frozen tilapia, still in its packaging or in a plastic bag, in a big bowl and cover with slightly cold water. Ice-cold water won’t defrost the fish quickly enough but warm or hot water will mess with the fish’s texture. If the fish is bobbing around, use a weighted bowl to keep it submerged so that all parts defrost at the same rate.

    Is tilapia healthy?

    When the tilapia is farmed properly it is quite healthy. It is high in omega 3 fatty acids and is a rich source of protein. Read the label about the fishing practices, fish feed, etc before buying the fish.

    How long to bake tilapia?

    The fillets of tilapia may vary in size and hence baking time slightly varies for everyone.

    I bake the fish until the flesh turns white, opaque, and flaky, which happens usually between 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).

    If you have a candy thermometer, you can check the temperature of the inside of the fish and it should be 145 degrees F (62 degrees C).

    Do check your fish filets after 12 minutes and if the flesh doesn’t look white and flaky, keep it in the oven for some more time. Do not over-bake the fish otherwise, it will become too dry and chewy.

    How to make it in a foil?

    This is a great recipe for BBQ. You can wrap the fillets individually in foil with some marinade on top and pop the foil packets in the BBQ for 15-20 minutes.

    Flip it once midway to make sure the fish is cooked from all the sides. If you are going outdoors for a BBQ, these packets are very easy to carry along.

    How to make it without butter?

    Butter gives a very delicious taste to this dish but if you are on a healthy regime, you can very well replace it with extra virgin olive oil. The taste will be very different but I can assure you it will be delicious.

    Pro Tips By Neha

    Make sure to dry the fillets after washing them. You can dab them with a kitchen towel to take out the extra water.

    Do not overcook the fillets, they will turn a little chewy if overcooked.

    You can try swapping the butter with coconut oil, olive oil, etc.

    This recipe can be made with chicken as well.

    Increase or decrease the amount of hot paprika to suit your taste. You can totally skip it too if not fond of spicy food.

    You can swap tilapia with any white fish to make this recipe.

    If you don’t like spicy, you can replace hot paprika with regular paprika.

    You can use lime juice instead of lemon juice if you like it tangier.

    Serving Suggestions

    My favorite way to serve this baked tilapia is over instant pot basmati rice, instant pot brown rice, or instant pot quinoa. Some roasted green beans, roasted zucchini, or roasted broccoli on the side and you have a filling meal ready in no time.

    Instant pot garlic mashed potatoes is also a great side to serve with it.

    You can also make tacos using this baked tilapia fillet recipe. Even a delicious pasta or spaghetti on the side is a good option.

    For a healthy meal, just serve this oven baked tilapia along with a refreshing salad like this cucumber avocado salad or strawberry walnut salad.

    Storing Suggestions

    Once it cools down properly, you can store baked tilapia in an air-tight container for about 3 to 4 days in the fridge.

    To freeze, arrange the filets in a single layer on a tray and freeze until frozen solid. then transfer the fillets in a zip lock back. Remove as much air as possible before sealing and freeze for up to a month.

    Reheat it in an oven until nice and warm before serving again. Just pop the bowl in the microwave for a minute or pop the tray back in the oven for 5 minutes at 200 degrees F for reheating the fish.

    Thaw the fish if it’s frozen before re heating.

    Variations

    Mexican Style – To make Mexican style Tilapia, arrange the fillets on a baking tray.

    In a pan over the stovetop, heat light olive oil on medium-high heat. Add sliced onion and chopped garlic and fry for 3-4 minutes. Add sliced tomatoes and cook for another minute. Now add salt, paprika powder, and freshly cracked black pepper.

    Add olives and capers and some brine from the capers. Spread this mixture over the fish fillets and bake until the fish is cooked. 

    Parmesan Crusted – I have a detailed recipe to make Parmesan Crusted Tilapia here. Do check it out.

    Some other tilapia recipes that you might like are Pan Fried Tilapia, Roasted Tilapia with Mustard Sauce, Blackened Cajun Tilapia.

    You might also like

    • Spicy Baked Basa
    • Honey Garlic Fish
    • Shrimp Quinoa Fried Rice
    • How To Make Sour Cream

    Recipe Card

    Loved this recipe?Click here to leave a review and give us a five star rating ★★★★★
    This oven-baked lemon garlic baked tilapia is super easy to make and comes together in under 20 minutes. It's low carb, gluten-free, keto-friendly, and very flavorful. Here is how to make it.

    Lemon Garlic Baked Tilapia Recipe

    This lemon garlic baked tilapia is super easy to make and comes together in under 20 minutes. It's low carb, gluten-free, keto-friendly, and very flavorful. Here is how to make it.
    4.19 from 506 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Continental
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 250kcal
    Author: Neha Mathur

    Ingredients 

    • 4-6 medium sized (1½ – 2 lb) tilapia fillets
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
    • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
    • ½ teaspoon hot paprika (or Kashmiri red chili powder. Use regular paprika for non spicy.)
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
    • 1 lemon (cut into thin slices)
    • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
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    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Wash 4-5 medium-sized tilapia fillets with water and pat them dry using a paper towel. Line the tilapia fillets on a 9×13 inch baking tray.
    • Note – if using frozen fillets, thaw them before using.
    • Stir together 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 3 tablespoon melted unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, ½ teaspoon hot paprika (or Kashmiri red chili powder), ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper in a small mixing bowl.
    • Pour the marinade over the Tilapia fillets. Arrange 3-4 slices of lemon over the fish.
    • Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until the fish is flaky and fork-tender. Garnish with pepper flakes, lemon slices, and chopped parsley or cilantro, and serve hot.

    Notes

    Make sure to dry the fillets after washing them. You can dab them with a kitchen towel to take out the extra water.
    Do not overcook the fillets. they will turn a little chewy if overcooked.
    You can try swapping the butter with coconut oil, olive oil, etc.
    You can increase the amount of lemon juice if you like the baked tilapia tangier.
    Use lime juice instead of lemon juice if you like it tangier.
    Use the residual liquid to pour over the fish fillet once you have served it on the plate.
    Serve this lemon garlic baked tilapia as an appetizer or with steamed rice and sautéed vegetables as the main course.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 250kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 165mg | Potassium: 574mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 438IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg
    Pin this recipe for later use!I LOVE to see your creations so pin and mention @WhiskAffair!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tequila

      June 18, 2018 at 10:15 pm

      5 stars
      I made this and it was so good!! Thanks for this delicious recipe!!

      Reply
      • Kitty

        February 02, 2021 at 8:35 pm

        This looks delicious! I would like to make this ahead of time for quick lunches. After this is baked, does it freeze well?
        Thank you!

        Reply
        • Neha Mathur

          May 12, 2021 at 1:16 pm

          Yes, you can freeze it. I have included the direction in the post. Have a look. Thanks

          Reply
    2. Angela W Broyles

      September 17, 2018 at 10:17 am

      5 stars
      This was a hit at my house! Two thumbs up from the family!

      Reply
    3. Breyana Wynn

      November 04, 2018 at 1:31 am

      5 stars
      Thank you for the delicious recipe! I paired it with some fresh green beans out the field and it was very good . 🙂

      Reply
    4. Patricia Regan

      January 09, 2019 at 1:01 am

      4 stars
      Is heating oven to 180 for bakina a correct temp???..seems low to me?? Please advise.

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        January 09, 2019 at 2:50 am

        Hi Patricia. It’s 180 Degree C. Same as 350 Degree F.

        Reply
    5. Staci

      April 03, 2019 at 1:04 am

      4 stars
      Great recipe! I decreased the lemon juice a bit and added capers. Perfectly cooked at 7 minutes.

      Reply
      • nyenbee

        May 11, 2020 at 7:41 pm

        I’m totally going to add capers! I’m so glad i always read comments before cooking!

        Reply
      • Christi

        June 06, 2020 at 4:27 pm

        5 stars
        This was a big WIN at our house and my family LOVED IT. I love how easy it was and your directions were spot on.

        Reply
        • Neha Mathur

          June 07, 2020 at 1:59 am

          So good to know this Christi 🙂

          Reply
    6. Mallory

      June 02, 2019 at 8:33 pm

      Can you use frozen tilapia, or is this for fresh?

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        June 04, 2019 at 2:43 am

        Yes you can use frozen tilapia. Just thaw it before using.

        Reply
    7. Julie Fournier

      June 23, 2019 at 11:05 pm

      Can I use Halibut instead

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        June 24, 2019 at 4:47 am

        Yes sure, you can.

        Reply
    8. Shelly

      September 26, 2019 at 5:29 am

      Are you supposed to melt the
      butter?

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        September 27, 2019 at 2:13 am

        Yes Shelly, I will mention it in the post. Thanks

        Reply
      • Rebecca

        July 23, 2021 at 11:15 pm

        Hi! I just discovered your lovely recipe. Can I use regular butter instead of unsalted? I ran out…Many thanks and continued success!

        Reply
        • Neha Mathur

          July 26, 2021 at 3:02 pm

          Yes, sure you can. Add salt as per your taste.

          Reply
    9. Cecia

      October 10, 2019 at 6:43 pm

      Could I cook the fish and sauce together in a skillet vs baking it?

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        October 11, 2019 at 2:42 am

        Yes sure, you can do.

        Reply
    10. Amanda

      October 22, 2019 at 11:31 pm

      Made this tonight.. it had great flavor.. I tripled the recipe bc I had more fish and I used chrushed red pepper flakes instead of the chili powder

      Reply
    11. Welchella

      January 18, 2020 at 5:50 pm

      Can you substitute olive oil for butter? If not, do you have an alternate to butter for use in this recipe? I am excited to try but can’t use butter. Thanks

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        January 20, 2020 at 2:06 am

        Yes sure. You can do that.

        Reply
    12. Holly M

      February 10, 2020 at 3:30 am

      5 stars
      This was wonderful! It’s the first time I’ve ever baked fish and not had my house overwhelmed by fish smell! While it was baking, it just smelled of fragrant garlic (I doubled it) and mine cooked through right at 10 minutes.
      I had a half a pint of grape tomatoes that were starting to go & needed to use them up. I sliced them in halves and sprinkled them all around the pan before baking. They cooked perfectly and added such a wonderful flavor! I also mixed cilantro with my parsley because I had some chopped. Mmmmmm!

      I served mine with some curried couscous. It cooks in 5 minutes and is very light like the Tilapia.

      Thank you for so much for the recipe and thank you everyone else for adding their own suggestions. I always read through the comment section first out of curiosity 🙂

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        February 10, 2020 at 8:07 am

        Wow Holly. Your take on this recipe sounds fabulous 🙂

        Reply
    13. Alejandra Loyet

      February 25, 2020 at 10:49 pm

      So delicious. I made this with a cauliflower mash and it paired so well.

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        February 26, 2020 at 3:30 am

        I ma glad you liked it:)

        Reply
    14. Lauren

      March 23, 2020 at 6:23 pm

      Could I use lime wedges instead of lemon? Is regular chili powder the same as red chili powder?

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        March 25, 2020 at 4:52 am

        Yes sure, you can.

        Reply
    15. Melissa

      March 29, 2020 at 5:46 pm

      5 stars
      Love it! The i didn’t have butter so I subbed extra virgin olive oil. The sauce was delicious. I had a little sample before pouring it over the tilapia and it could be used as a tangy salad dressing with a kick! Simple and delicious. Thank you!

      Reply
    16. Tricia

      March 29, 2020 at 9:47 pm

      if your making it from frozen should I defrost first. Is overnight okay to defrost

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        March 30, 2020 at 4:06 am

        You can defrost it overnight in refrigerator or on counter for a few hours.

        Reply
    17. Charles Bodnar

      March 31, 2020 at 7:13 pm

      I just thawed out 2 Tilapia fillets and will follow your receipe exactly. Will let you know how it comes out. My wife is not a big fish fan so we will see what happens. Thank you CB

      Reply
    18. Natalie

      April 07, 2020 at 10:03 pm

      5 stars
      I subbed the butter for coconut oil (since I didn’t have any butter) and it turned out super delicious!

      Reply
    19. Tamra

      April 28, 2020 at 11:45 pm

      5 stars
      I just made this recipe and it was a hit. I added shrimp to mine and was enough with fish for 3 to 4 people. Next time I am going to add cherry tomatoes like the lady above. will make again.

      Reply
      • Christa P

        May 08, 2020 at 11:53 pm

        4 stars
        Perfect except for the sliced lemons… The sliced lemons give too strong of a flavor. The little bit of lemon juice in the recipe is good enough. I love the spice from the chili powder to combat the tangy lemon. And who doesnt love garlic ????. I baked on 450 for 8 mins.

        Reply
        • Neha Mathur

          May 09, 2020 at 3:50 am

          You can skip adding it next time.

          Reply
    20. LPhillips

      June 17, 2020 at 11:37 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe! Kept the Tilapia from getting too dry. We’re thinking it’s a keeper. 👍🏻

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        June 18, 2020 at 3:05 am

        Nice to know 🙂

        Reply
    21. Anchal

      June 30, 2020 at 8:54 pm

      The recipe came out great! I served it with grilled vegetables and Quinoa:)

      Reply
    22. Sharni

      July 10, 2020 at 11:50 am

      5 stars
      Delicious

      Reply
    23. Carolyn

      July 12, 2020 at 9:55 pm

      Sounds delish. I’m making tonight. Undecided about using butter or olive oil. We’ll see. Thanks for sharing this

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        July 15, 2020 at 5:52 am

        Butter Butter 🙂 But honestly it tastes great with both, so feel free to use whatever you fancy.

        Reply
    24. Aga

      July 16, 2020 at 12:24 am

      I really want to try this recipe for tomorrow’s dinner but I can’t use butter bc my daughter is allergic to diary. Can I substitute with extra virgin olive oil- or other oil, and get the same results? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        July 19, 2020 at 4:54 am

        Yes sure, you can.

        Reply
    25. Aga

      July 17, 2020 at 11:34 am

      5 stars
      I had made this last night and already added to my favorites! Simply yet delish recipe. I substituted butter with evoo since my daughter is allergic to diary, but it still came out great! I paired it with herb and roasted garlic couscous and green beans. Everyone was happy at the dinner table! 🤗

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        July 18, 2020 at 4:27 am

        Awesome 🙂

        Reply
    26. Melanie East

      July 17, 2020 at 6:15 pm

      5 stars
      I’ll be making this for the 2nd time tonight. It was delicious and we loved it the first time! Tonight, I’ll serve it with rice and salad. Thanks so much!

      Reply
    27. Angie

      July 18, 2020 at 7:14 am

      If I want to meal prep this, how long would the baked tilapia be good for? (how many days)

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        July 18, 2020 at 10:25 am

        It will be good for 3 days in the refrigerator.

        Reply
    28. Savannah

      August 10, 2020 at 9:42 pm

      5 stars
      Hello Neha,

      my family adored the recipe! Thx for the wonderful recipe! I put it at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 mins and it seems to cook well. Just something I noted!

      Reply
    29. steve verster

      September 01, 2020 at 7:32 pm

      i haven’t made it yet but am really looking forward to doing so.

      Reply
    30. Deanna

      May 04, 2021 at 11:19 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe! My husband and I are eating healthier than we have in the past. He has always liked fried fish. I purchased tilapia filets and found this recipe on Pinterest. We both loved this baked fish. It will become a staple for us. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        May 07, 2021 at 1:56 pm

        Happy to hear 🙂

        Reply

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