Baked Fish with Lemon Garlic Butter
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This baked fish is our absolute favorite baked white fish recipe. It's cooked in a delicious lemon garlic butter sauce until tender and flaky. It's a 20 minute dinner recipe you don't want to miss!
If you're looking for a delicious alternative to this baked fish recipe, try our lemon pepper fish and our favorite lingcod recipe next!
This is a recipe for making baked white fish. There are several kinds you can choose from: cod, lingcod, grouper, snapper, tilapia. White fish are mild-flavored so it's a good choice if you're unsure about eating fish.
Bonus that they tend to be very inexpensive! We love this recipe as it is full of bright lemon flavor that goes so well with the mild-tasting fish.
How to bake fish
This is a very easy recipe. Here's what you're going to do:
- Lay some lemon slices in a baking dish.
- Season the fish with salt and pepper and put it on top of the lemons.
- Melt some butter and add garlic and lemon zest to it before spooning or brushing it onto the fish.
- Now pop the fish into the oven for 10 minutes and dinner will be ready!
How long to bake fish?
One of the great things about making baked fish is that it cooks quickly so you can get a healthy dinner on the table fast.
The exact cooking time varies a little, depending on the thickness of the fish fillets. In a 425-degree Fahrenheit oven, the fish will be cooked in 10-12 minutes.
Because white fish is pretty thin, it can be a little tricky to use an instant-read meat thermometer. If you want to try, fish is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees.
How can I tell when the fish is finished cooking?
When cooked, the fish will become completely opaque ā rather than the slightly translucent color it has when raw. And it will flake easily with a fork.
Seasonings for oven baked fish
Lemon is a classic flavor with baked white fish. In this recipe, we add some garlic to the mix. But other flavors work well, too. To switch it up, try sprinkling on 1 teaspoon of any of the spices below when you season the fish with salt and pepper. Keep the rest of the recipe the same!
- Italian seasoning
- Dill
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Basil
- Smoked paprika
What is the best kind of fish to bake
This recipe works best with mild-flavored white fish. Some of our favorite kinds of white fish are:
- Cod
- Lingcod (pictured)
- Tilapia
- Haddock
- Grouper
- Rockfish
- Sole
Does the fish need to be flipped part way through baking?
Nope! White fish is very delicate and would fall apart if you tried to flip it. Simply leave it to bake on one side.
What to serve with baked fish
This baked fish recipe is delicious served with some basmati riceĀ (or low-carb 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.
Popular baked fish recipes
Lemon Garlic Butter Baked Fish Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 lemon
- 1 Ā½ lb white fish fillets (see notes)
- Ā½ teaspoon EACH: sea salt and pepper
- Minced parsley (to serve)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.Ā
- 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.Ā4 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.Ā1 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 Ā½ lb white fish fillets, Ā½ teaspoon EACH: sea salt and 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
Video
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
For more inspiration, check out all of our fish recipes!
Truly restaurant style! Amazingly quick to make too. I made this recipe using fresh caught Florida Grouper (never frozen). Follow the recipe, as Ms. Stevens has written it, and you will look like a pro!
I cooked this for dinner and my family loved it. I made just a slight modification by seasoning it Ā with mixed herbs, aside from salt and pepper. It was perfect! ššš
Brilliant recipe, easy and quick, so delicious
Does this need parchment paper or foil above the fish to cook?
No we bake this fish uncovered.
Can you tell me if you use salted or unsalted butter? Thank you
I always opt for salted butter – but then I like things well seasoned. If you prefer unsalted butter, that will work just as well.
So easy, delicious, and elegant looking!
Outstanding!!!!!! Quick and Easy!!!!! Even a meat and potatoes man will enjoy this. Served the fish over wild rice and added tumeric to the Italian herbs.
This recipe is SUPERB!! SOOOOO delicious, ty for sharing it. My sides were pierogi casserole and cream peas!!! š¤¤š¤¤
Yummy
Super easy and super delicious! I made it with Lake Michigan Whitefish. YUM! I added dill because I didn’t have parsley š My fish had to cook about 10 minutes longer but it was a little thick. Thanks so much! I’ll be making this again!
Just made this with fresh Lake Michigan whitefish. Superb! Accompanied by dill potatoes, & fresh local corn & beets.
Thanks for this tasty & easy entree!
I love this recipe! I have tried it with Haddock, Cod and Pollock all were delicious! Thank youš
My dish came out perfect. Thanks. The garlic and lemon made it all delightful.
How much fish do I need for 45 heads?
A lot! Count on 8 ounces of raw fish per person – which will give you 6 ounces of cooked fish per serving.
Absolutely delicious! Juicy fish, not dry. The next time I will use a little less pepper.Ā
I used Tilapia fillets and they were delicious! Sides were flavored wild rice and salad. I will definitely make again. Thank you! Elaine
Easy delicious dinner. Family loved the fish and the baking time was very short. Will be using this recipe again.