Description
A quick and flavorful tilapia dish baked with garlic, butter, lemon, and paprika for a tender, flaky result ready in under 20 minutes—perfect for busy weeknights or elegant dinners.
Ingredients
4 tilapia fillets
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
½ tsp paprika
½ tsp dried thyme
½ tsp dried oregano
4 tbsp butter, melted
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp lemon juice
¼ tsp lemon zest
Lemon slices, for garnish
Red pepper flakes, for garnish
Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Season tilapia fillets with salt, pepper, paprika, thyme, and oregano. Arrange in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a bowl, whisk together melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Pour over the fillets.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.
- Garnish with lemon slices, red pepper flakes, and chopped parsley. Serve immediately.
Notes
- For extra heat, add cayenne pepper or more red pepper flakes.
- Top with breadcrumbs or panko for a crunchy texture.
- Swap or add fresh herbs like parsley, basil, or dill.
- Serve over rice, vegetables, mashed potatoes, or in tacos.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Seafood
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
