Baked Fish Lemon Butter (Printable)

Tender baked fish fillets enhanced with zesty lemon butter and fresh herbs.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 fillets (approximately 5.3 oz each) white fish (cod, haddock, or tilapia)
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Lemon Butter Sauce

04 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
06 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
09 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika (optional)

→ Garnish

10 - Lemon slices
11 - Extra chopped parsley

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking dish with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
02 - Pat fish fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and black pepper.
03 - Place the fillets in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
04 - In a small bowl, combine melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, chopped parsley, and paprika if using.
05 - Pour the lemon butter mixture evenly over the fish fillets.
06 - Place a lemon slice atop each fillet.
07 - Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
08 - Remove from oven, garnish with extra parsley, and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes impressive but takes less time than ordering takeout.
  • The lemon butter sauce does all the heavy lifting, making even basic white fish taste restaurant-quality.
  • Works perfectly for weeknight dinners or when you need to feed guests without stress.
02 -
  • Overcooked fish becomes dry and sad, so err on the side of removing it early. It continues cooking slightly as it rests.
  • Fresh lemon juice makes an enormous difference compared to bottled; it's worth squeezing one real lemon for this dish.
  • Pat your fish completely dry before seasoning, or the moisture will prevent proper browning even in the oven.
03 -
  • Line your baking dish with parchment paper and you'll spend zero time scrubbing afterward, which might be the best hack in this entire recipe.
  • Bring your fish to room temperature while the oven preheats, about ten minutes, so it cooks more evenly and takes less time overall.

Go Back