Lemon Butter Broiled Tilapia

My family and I love fish — any kind of fish. From the indulgent and more expensive halibut to the extremely affordable tilapia, we love them all. I love buying tilapia and having frozen fish fillets in the freezer for a quick meal whenever I need it. I have five different tilapia recipes currently on the blog, but this lemon butter broiled tilapia recipe has my heart. The combo of lemon slices and butter make a lemon butter sauce that adds such an extravagant, rich flavor and freshness, all while keeping the fish moist. Plus, the recipe takes a mere 15 minutes!

Make Broiled Tilapia in 4 Easy Steps

This broiled tilapia recipe takes only fifteen minutes to make, so there’s no surprise there are only four steps to the entire thing!

• Prepare the tilapia: Place the tilapia filets on a baking dish. Prepare the oven to broil.
• Season the tilapia: Season the fish with salt and paprika on both sides.
• Place the toppings on: Top the tilapia with the lemon slices and butter pieces.
• Bake: Broil the fish for about 8-10 minutes, or until it is cooked through. Serve and enjoy!

Tips for a Perfectly Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia

The key to a restaurant-worthy fish is to make it moist and flavorful. Follow these tips to ensure your tilapia is absolutely perfect.

• Grease the baking dish: To make the fish easier to remove from the pan, spray the baking dish with a little bit of oil prior to baking. (See our guide on oils and how to best use each type). Parchment paper works, too.
• Substitute butter with oil: Unsalted butter is important to keep the tilapia moist as it bakes. For a healthier alternative, olive oil or avocado oil work well, too.
• Use tilapia fillets: Tilapia fillets are the best cuts to use for this recipe (rather than the whole fish). Fillets can be bought either fresh or frozen, and either work beautifully. For the best texture and flavor, thaw the frozen fillets and dry them with a paper towel prior to baking.
• Avoid overcooking the tilapia: For the most tender and moist fish, remove the tilapia from the oven as soon as it is ready. Tilapia is fully cooked when it is white in color, flakes easily with a fork, and temperature reads 145°F when an instant read thermometer is placed in the thickest part of the fish. Overcooked tilapia can become dry and chewy.
• Add more flavor (optional): For more flavor, add your choice of diced garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or ground black pepper to the dry rub seasoning. Great herbs to add would be thyme, parsley, oregano, or dill. Or, make a flavored butter with garlic cloves like this. If you’re wishing for more lemon flavor, sprinkle lemon juice or lemon zest on top of the filets.
• Bake the tilapia uncovered: Tilapia does not need to be covered while baking in the oven. Because it is a thin fillet, it cooks through quickly. Leaving it uncovered also allows it to develop more color and crisp on top while baking.
• Garnish with cheese or herbs: For a little more flare, sprinkle a little Parmesan cheese on top of the fillets just before removing from the oven. Or, garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley.

Serving Broiled Tilapia

Serve lemon butter broiled tilapia with a side of carbs like basmati rice, Parmesan risotto, or potatoes. For even more balance, add an array of your favorite fresh or cooked vegetables, such as asparagus or sautéed mushrooms. Or, serve it with a fresh tomato mozzarella lettuce salad.

Storage & Reheating Tips

This broiled tilapia has the best flavor and texture when enjoyed right away. However, in case of leftovers, here are my top recommendations for storing and reheating to ensure the quality and taste remain great.

• Refrigerating: To store for 3-4 days, store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• Reheating: For best flavor, reheat the fish in a baking dish at 400°F until warm. Alternatively, reheat on the stove with a teaspoon of olive oil on a hot nonstick pan. For a quick reheat, place in the microwave and heat in 30 second increments until warm. If you’re worried about fish drying out, add a splash of water or broth to the fish when reheating.

More Baked Fish Recipes

• Baked Halibut – Easy baked lemon butter halibut
• Butter Cod – Quick oven-baked garlic lemon cod
• Lemon Herb Baked Trout – A perfect balance of citrus, herbs, and buttery white fish
• Baked Teriyaki Salmon – Savory teriyaki-soy marinated salmon fillets
• Parmesan Crusted Tilapia – Another delicious baked tilapia recipe

Recipe

Lemon Butter Broiled Tilapia

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Servings

6 servings

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

This mouthwatering lemon butter broiled tilapia is infused with butter, lemon, and paprika flavors. It's a divinely tasty fish that takes a scant 15 minutes to make.

Ingredients

• 3 lbs tilapia filets
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 lemon sliced
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter

US Units – Metric

Instructions

• Assemble the tilapia on a baking dish.
  
• Season the fish with salt and smoked paprika.
  
• Top with lemon slices and pieces of butter.
  
• Broil on high for 8-10 minutes or until the tilapia reaches 145°F.
  

Nutrition Facts

Lemon Butter Broiled Tilapia

Amount Per Serving

Calories 293 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 6g30%

Trans Fat 0.3g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 3g

Cholesterol 133mg44%

Sodium 1283mg53%

Potassium 739mg21%

Carbohydrates 2g1%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 46g92%

Vitamin A 812IU16%

Vitamin C 10mg12%

Calcium 33mg3%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.