Garlic Butter Oven Baked Tilapia
Introduction
When you crave a dinner that’s both elegant and effortless, Garlic Butter Oven Baked Tilapia draws you in with its irresistible aroma and savory, melt-in-your-mouth flavor. The rich combination of garlic and butter transforms mild, flaky tilapia into a restaurant-worthy dish—ideal for weeknights, special occasions, or even meal prepping healthy lunches. It’s the ultimate crowd pleaser thanks to its simplicity, speed, and universally loved flavors.
Why This Garlic Butter Oven Baked Tilapia Is a Standout
What sets this recipe apart is the way it layers aromatic garlic with creamy butter, fresh herbs, and a hint of lemon. Baked gently in the oven, the tilapia fillets soak up every bit of savory goodness while staying perfectly moist and flaky. It’s not only quick (ready in under 30 minutes!) but requires minimal ingredients—perfect for effortless, delicious meal planning that the whole family will enjoy.
Simple Garlic Butter Sauce for Tilapia
The heart of this recipe is the garlic butter sauce: a combination of melted butter, minced garlic, bright lemon juice, and fresh parsley. The sauce infuses each fillet with flavor, preventing the fish from drying out while adding a fragrant, mouth-watering finish.
How to Oven Bake Tilapia for Perfect Results
Baking tilapia is as simple as placing the seasoned fillets on a lined baking dish, brushing them with the garlic butter mixture, and letting the oven work its magic. The fillets cook evenly, developing tender, flaky centers and slightly crisped edges. For an extra-rich finish, spoon over any pan juices just before serving.
Serving Suggestions for Garlic Butter Oven Baked Tilapia
Pair this tilapia with steamed vegetables, a crisp green salad, or fluffy rice pilaf. For a low-carb meal, serve alongside roasted asparagus or cauliflower mash. Garnish with fresh lemon slices and extra parsley for a beautiful presentation that’s as inviting as it is nutritious.
Nutritional Information and Serving Size
This recipe makes 4 servings. Each serving contains approximately 250 calories, 25g protein, 14g fat, and 3g carbs—making it a lean, high-protein dinner option that fits within a variety of healthy meal plans.
Garlic Butter Oven Baked Tilapia (Recap)
Succulent tilapia, infused with a velvety garlic butter sauce, delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort. This dish is not only pleasing to the palate but also wonderfully easy to add into meal planning routines, providing home cooks with a reliable weeknight favorite.
Ingredients
💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and seamless weekly meal planning.
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking dish with parchment paper or lightly coat with cooking spray for easy cleanup.
- Pat tilapia fillets dry with paper towels and place them in a single layer in the prepared dish. Season both sides with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, and lemon juice.
- Brush or spoon the garlic butter mixture evenly over the tilapia fillets.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork and is opaque throughout.
- Garnish with extra parsley and lemon wedges before serving. Spoon pan juices over the top for extra flavor.
Weekly Meal Planning
Garlic Butter Oven Baked Tilapia is a winning addition to your weekly meal rotation. Save and schedule this recipe to quickly build a healthy meal plan—CookifyAI will automatically generate a shopping list, consolidate ingredients across all meals, and organize everything by store section for ultimate convenience.
Planning Benefits:
- Totals up all ingredients for streamlined shopping
- Organizes your grocery list by store aisle
- Prevents accidental duplicate purchases
- Keeps meal prepping efficient, stress-free, and budget-friendly
Pro tip: When scheduling multiple recipes, use CookifyAI to see how ingredients like parsley or butter overlap, minimizing waste and maximizing value.
Cook and Prep Times
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Enjoy a flavorful, healthy meal with minimal prep, and discover how meal planning with CookifyAI can make your weeknights even easier and more delicious!
