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    Baked Tilapia

    Updated February 23, 2026 / By Holly Erickson

    I love this simple-is-better buttery baked tilapia recipe. A little lemon, butter and garlic, plus a sprinkle of toasted breadcrumbs make for a really special baked fish recipe.   

    Baked tilapia seasoned with salt, paprika, garlic, lemon zest, panko breadcrumbs, and pepper. Easy, healthy fish recipe.
    Photography by Gayle McLeod

    An Oven Baked Tilapia Recipe For Any Night Of The Week

    My healthy, oven baked tilapia is just simply seasoned and baked with a zingy, lemon-garlic butter. Garlic butter keeps the fish so moist, and baking it on top of lemon slices infuses every bite with bright flavor. The finishing touch is a sprinkle of toasted breadcrumbs and a little fresh parsley. Frozen tilapia works as well as fresh, and either way, the results are delicious and so healthy. If you love this simple weeknight fish recipe, try baked cod or tilapia tacos next. 

    tilapia, butter, salt, paprika, garlic, lemon zest, lemon slices, breadcrumbs, and pepper prepped to make baked tilapia

    Why You Love It

    This was incredibly easy and fast to make and turned out so delicious! Steamed some broccoli and had brown rice with it. This will now be one of my go to recipes for fish. - Kay

    How To Make Baked Tilapia

    Find the full recipe instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this page. 

    1. Season the tilapia: Pat the tilapia filets dry and then season them all over with salt and paprika.
    2. Set your oven to 425°F.
    3. Bake until the tilapia easily flakes with a fork, about 10 minutes. 
    Tilapia seasoned with salt and paprika on top of lemon slices in a baking dish covered with melted garlic butter.

    Key Ingredients 

    • Tilapia filet: Fresh or frozen, either will work.
    • Butter: I like to use salted butter, but you can use unsalted. Just adjust the seasoning to taste.
    • Lemon: You’ll use the zest and the slices, so just be sure to zest before you slice.
    • Fresh garlic: Fresh really is best! The jarred stuff has a really different flavor. 

    Tips For Moist, Perfect Baked Tilapia

    • One of the reasons fish like tilapia is a favorite weeknight dinner is that it cooks so FAST. However, do keep an eye on it! Check for doneness at 10 minutes, or even at 9 minutes if your tilapia fillet is thin.
    • Line the pan with parchment paper or a silpat. It makes cleanup a LOT easier.
    • If you’re using frozen fish, thaw it completely in the refrigerator overnight, and remember to pat it very dry with a paper towel before you season and bake it.
    Baked tilapia seasoned with salt, paprika, garlic, lemon zest, panko breadcrumbs, and pepper. Easy, healthy fish recipe.

    Ingredient Swaps 

    • Use a different fish. Cod, halibut, snapper or even salmon fillets would all work with this recipe. You just need to adjust the cooking time for thicker filets.
    • Regular or Italian breadcrumbs are OK if you don't have panko or use gluten-free breadcrumbs to make this recipe gluten-free.
    • Jazz up the breadcrumbs by adding a little parmesan or red pepper flakes. 
    15 minute perfectly seasoned baked tilapia served with rice and asparagus and sprinkled with toasted breadcrumbs.

    What To Serve With Baked Tilapia

    Baked tilapia filets are an easy and delicious main to serve with so many sides! Keep it simple with roasted broccoli or simply steamed vegetables on the side. Or I love to serve this with dry-fried green beans. For something a bit more hearty but still low-carb, zucchini bake would be a nice side dish. Rice seems to go really nicely with tilapia. You could do plain rice, brown rice or a fragrant lemon rice to perk things up. 

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    Baked tilapia seasoned with salt, paprika, garlic, lemon zest, panko breadcrumbs, and pepper. Easy, healthy fish recipe.

    Baked Tilapia Recipe

    Updated February 23, 2026

    By Holly Erickson

    • Serves:  4
    • Prep Time:  5 min
    • Cook Time:  12 min
    • Calories:  322

    Description

    Baked Tilapia is a quick, healthy dinner made with tender tilapia fillets baked in lemon garlic butter and finished with toasted breadcrumbs. This easy oven-baked fish recipe is ready in about 20 minutes and perfect for busy weeknights.

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      Ingredients

      • 4 (6 ounce) tilapia fillets, (1½ pounds total)
      • ¾ teaspoon sea salt
      • 1 teaspoon paprika
      • 5 ½ tablespoons salted butter
      • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
      • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
      • 2 lemons, sliced into rounds
      • ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs
      • Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
      • Fresh flat leaf parsley, minced (optional)

      Method

      1. Preheat the oven to 425°F with a rack in the center position. 

        tilapia, butter, salt, paprika, garlic, lemon zest, lemon slices, breadcrumbs, and pepper prepped to make baked tilapia

      2. Pat the tilapia dry with a paper towel. Season all over with the salt and paprika. Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the lemon zest. 

        Tilapia seasoned with salt and paprika on top of lemon slices in a baking dish covered with melted garlic butter.

      3. Place the lemon slices in a single layer on the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Add the tilapia over top of the lemon, then pour over the garlic butter. Bake until the tilapia easily flakes with a fork, 10 to 12 minutes. 

        Baked tilapia seasoned with salt, paprika, garlic, lemon zest, panko breadcrumbs, and pepper. Easy, healthy fish recipe.

      4. Meanwhile, melt the remaining 1½ tablespoons of butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Stir in the panko and cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes. 

      5. Divide the tilapia between plates and sprinkle with the toasted breadcrumbs, pepper, and parsley. Serve the lemon rounds on the side if desired.

        15 minute perfectly seasoned baked tilapia served with rice and asparagus and sprinkled with toasted breadcrumbs.

      Related Recipes

      Nutrition Info

      • Per Serving
      • Amount
      • Calories 322
      • Protein 35 g
      • Carbohydrates 4 g
      • Total Fat 18 g
      • Dietary Fiber 0 g
      • Cholesterol 126 mg
      • Sodium 663 mg
      • Total Sugars 0 g

      Baked Tilapia

      Questions & Reviews

      Rated 5 stars by 3 readers

      or
      • Kayla

        Can you do this in an airfryer?

        Hi Kayla, you definitely could but we haven't tested it to give you specific instructions.

      • C.

        5-star rating

        Very good & easy!
        I would not put all those lemons in the bottom of the fish unless you like alot of a lemony taste. I like mine more like scampi...but just my preference.

        Thanks C! Glad you enjoyed it and knew how to make it work for ya!

      • Maria

        5-star rating

        Thank you for this super easy and yummy recipe! I love it when they are easy, fast and delicious!

        You're welcome, Maria! We are so glad you love this one!

      • Kay

        5-star rating

        This was incredibly easy and fast to make and turned out so delicious! Steamed some broccoli and had brown rice with it. This will now be one of my go to recipes for fish.

        Thanks Kay, so happy you found it delicious and easy!

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