Baked Fish with Lemon Garlic Butter
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With just 20 minutes and five familiar ingredients, I’ll show you how to make baked fish – AND how to make it perfectly every time. This is my go-to recipe for busy nights when I want something simple and full of delicious flavor. This method is perfect for cooking white fish, so it’s delicate and buttery – you’ll be hooked!
The trick to making really great baked fish is simple: coat it in garlic butter and sandwich it between slices of lemon. The butter keeps the fish tender, while the lemon infuses it with bright, fresh flavor as it bakes.
This recipe works with just about any mild white fish, like cod, lingcod, grouper, snapper, or tilapia. I love using white fish because it’s approachable, affordable, and a great choice if you’re still warming up to seafood. The mild flavor pairs perfectly with the lemony garlic butter, making this an easy, reliable fish dinner I come back to again and again.
Baked fish recipe ingredients
To make this baked fish recipe, gather these ingredients:
- Butter – I think butter gives this dish the best flavor. But you can opt for olive oil if that suits your diet.
- Garlic – I use three big cloves for lots of garlic flavor.
- Lemon – You’ll thinly slice one large lemon.
- White fish – You can use whatever kind of white fish that you have on hand or is available at your grocery store. If you use frozen, make sure to thaw it first.
- Minced parsley – I like to add this for a little color and fresh flavor, but you skip it if you don’t have any on hand.
Variations to try
Lemon is a classic flavor with baked white fish. In this recipe, I add some garlic to the mix. But other flavors work well, too. To switch it up, try sprinkling one teaspoon of any of the spices below on the fish when you season it with salt and pepper. Keep the rest of the recipe the same!
- Italian seasoning
- Dill
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Basil
- Smoked paprika
What to serve with lemon fish
This baked fish recipe is delicious served with some basmati rice (or cauliflower rice!) and some roasted broccoli on the side.
You could also opt for a potato side such as mashed potatoes with cream cheese or crispy roasted potatoes. And a salad such as our spring mix salad or our favorite kale salad rounds out the meal.
Store and reheat
If you have any leftover baked fish, store it in a sealed container in your fridge for 2-3 days. You can reheat it gently in the microwave or serve it cold over a salad for lunch. It’s delicious either way!
Baked Lemon Fish with Garlic Butter
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 lemon
- 1 ½ lb white fish fillets (see notes)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- Minced parsley (to serve)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Melt the butter in a small frying pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and let it cook for 1 minute. Zest the lemon (preferably with a Microplane) and add it to the butter.4 tablespoons butter, 3 cloves garlic
- Thinly slice the zested lemon and place the slices in the bottom of a baking dish. If there are extras, save them for the top of the fish.1 lemon
- Dry the fish with paper towels, season both sides with salt and pepper, then lay the fish on top of the lemon slices. Spoon or brush the garlic butter over the fish.1 ½ lb white fish fillets, ½ teaspoon sea salt, ½ teaspoon pepper
- Bake the fish for 10-12 minutes, or until it flakes easily with a fork. Serve with a little parsley sprinkled over the top for color.Minced parsley
Last step:
- After you make this recipe, take a picture with your phone and share it in the comments section below. I love seeing it when you make my recipes!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
Wow! Thank you for the recipe.
yummy & simple
Could I make this with hake?
Yes, that would work well!
My family loved this recipe and gave it 5 stars. We will definitely use this recipe again. It is really delicious and a crowd pleaser. It was super easy to make which is great. Thank you for sharing it.
This was a really easy recipe. Even my fish hating son liked it. I love fish. Fish was a staple in my home growing up.
So quick and easy to make. Came out delicious! My kids loved it! I’ll be making this again.
This looks quick and easy. Most importantly, I think my son will actually eat it. He is not a fish lover. Fish was a staple when I grew up. We lived very close the Baltic Sea and a fish monger would come around once a week with fresh caught fish. The grocery stores of course had fish as well.
Cant’ believe how easy it was!
This was a great recipe. Thanks for sharing it!
Delicious with just lemon and salt and pepper and garlic. I served with steamed rice and fresh microwaved buttered carrots. It was a fast and delicious recipe for cod fish.
Wonderful recipe, I used Pollock filets, Italian dressing and added capers.
Thank you !
Super easy way to prepare haddock! Came out delicious. Served over farro with roasted asparagus, and drizzled some of the leftover butter sauce over the top. Yum!
I made this Baked Fish recipe using Cod and followed the recipe except I add a sprinkle of Italian Spice mix and toasted sliced almonds. My family loved it!
Thank you so much for this recipe and the many others I have tried and enjoyed.
Deboria Henson
Amazing and BEAUTIFUL
Only way to enjoy baked fish
LOVE the recipe
So good and so easy! My wife commented twice on how good they were. Will make again! Thank you!!
I’m trying it for supper. Thank you ❣️
Look very yummy