This oven baked tilapia recipe is an easy, healthy weeknight dinner made with seasoned fillets drizzled with butter, baked until flaky then garnished with a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Two forks flaking apart a piece of tender oven baked tilapia.

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Oven Baked Tilapia

With a simple yet flavorful seasoning, this oven baked tilapia is a family favorite. It comes out tender, flaky, and full of mouthwatering flavor. Just dredge the fillets in seasoning, dot with butter, and bake until perfectly cooked.

This baked tilapia recipe is a healthy 30 minute meal that’s easy to love. Its mild, delicate flavor appeals even to non-seafood eaters, and it’s a great source of lean protein and omega-3s while still being low carb. If you enjoy flaky white fish, this crispy lemon baked fish is another favorite.

Why I Love This Baked Tilapia Recipe

  • Ready in 30 minutes. I love a recipe that I know is healthy and fast but not fast food. It’s filling, nutritious, and light and a great source of lean protein.
  • Versatile. This flavorful fish can be seasoned any which way, which means it can be served with everything from an easy rice pilaf or even made into tilapia fish tacos.

Recipe Ingredients

Tilapia fillets, olive oil, butter, lime wedges, and seasoning ingredients arranged on a counter.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Tilapia filets: You’ll need about 2 pounds of fish with the bones removed. Trim and pat dry with a paper towel. This recipe works well with other whitefish such as cod, rockfish, or halibut.
  • Seasoning: Salt, garlic powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper combined to give the fish a caramelized outer crust, and delicious flavor with a bit of a spicy kick. If you prefer paprika over cayenne for a milder flavor, you can use it instead.
  • Olive oil & butter: I like to use both to help brown and crisp up the outside of the fish. The butter gives it a delicious buttery flavor too.
  • Fresh lemon: A squirt of fresh lemon juice (or lime juice) is the perfect finishing touch. Citrus is a great way to brighten up any fish!

How to Make Baked Tilapia

In a shallow bowl, stir cumin, salt, garlic powder, and cayenne until combined and blended.

Small bowl of seasoning ingredients, including paprika, garlic powder, cumin, and salt.

Season tilapia on both sides with the seasoning blend. Transfer them to a prepared baking sheet lined with aluminum foil or parchment paper and sprayed with nonstick spray.

Tilapia fillet coated in seasoning mixture on a white plate.

Drizzle each piece with olive oil and dot with butter. Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 20-25 minutes until the fish is no longer translucent and it flakes easily.

Raw tilapia fillets on a baking sheet topped with small pats of butter before baking.

Remove the tilapia from the oven and allow it to rest for a few minutes before serving. Squeeze some fresh lemon or lime juice if desired. Enjoy!

Three baked tilapia fillets on a foil-lined sheet pan with two forks flaking one of the pieces.

Tips for Making Tilapia in the Oven

  • To brown the edges, broil the baked tilapia for an extra 2-3 minutes.
  • Do not overcrowd the pan. It’s ok if the fillets are touching, just make sure they don’t overlap. Otherwise, some parts of them may not cook properly.
  • Switch up the seasoning. Baked tilapia works well with all kinds of classic seasoning blends. Try Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, Greek seasoning, or lemon pepper.
  • Add a crust. Use breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese to coat the oven baked tilapia and it will have a nice crunch to it!
Seasoned baked tilapia fillets on a foil-lined baking sheet after coming out of the oven.

Don’t miss these other easy fish recipes including British fish and chips, grilled salmon, and pan seared salmon.

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Baked tilapia on foil sheet.

Baked Tilapia Recipe

4.97 from 28 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6
This oven baked tilapia recipe is an easy, healthy weeknight dinner made with seasoned fillets drizzled with butter, baked until flaky then garnished with a squeeze of fresh lemon.
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Ingredients 

  • 2 pounds tilapia fillets , bones removed, or other white fish *see notes
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter , cut into small slices
  • fresh lime or lemon , optional

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Place tilapia on the pan or a cutting board to trim.
  • In a shallow bowl, stir together 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne.
  • Dredge each tilapia fillet in the spice mixture until well coated on each side. Place on baking sheet.
  • Drizzle tilapia with 1 Tablespoon olive oil and dot with 1 Tablespoon butter cut into small pieces. Cook 20 to 25 minutes, or until flakes easily with a fork and is no longer translucent in the center. A digital thermometer should read 140°F at the thickest part. To brown the edges, broil an additional 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Allow to rest for a few minutes before serving. Squeeze fresh lime or lemon on top if desired.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

White fish: This recipe also works well with cod, rockfish or halibut.
Other ways of cooking: 
  • Grill. Preheat a grill to medium-high, lightly oil the grates (or use a grill basket), and cook 2 to 3 minutes per side.
  • Air Fryer. Preheat an air fryer to 370°F. Lightly grease basket. Add fish in a single layer and cook 6 to 7 minutes. You may have to do this in batches.
  • Stovetop. Heat 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the fish in a single layer, and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side. Be careful not to crowd the pan. You may need to do this in batches. 

Nutrition

Calories: 186kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 31g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 81mg, Sodium: 467mg, Potassium: 471mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 0.03g, Vitamin A: 97IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 20mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Recipe FAQs

What temp should tilapia be baked at?

For this baked tilapia recipe, 375° is the optimal temperature. Cooking at a higher temperature ensures a flaky fish that your family will love.

How long to bake tilapia?

Baking tilapia fillets in the oven is a pretty simple process and if your oven runs hot I would start checking them at 10 minutes. The fillets will flake easily with a fork if they are done. If they don’t, bake another 5-10 minutes.

What temperature should baked tilapia be when it’s ready?

When you test your oven-baked tilapia with a digital thermometer, at the thickest part it should have an internal temperature of 140°F.

How to store and reheat leftover tilapia?

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To freeze, place the fillets in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet, flash-freeze until firm, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag and keep frozen for 3 weeks up to 2 months. Reheat gently in the oven covered with foil, in the air fryer, or in the microwave until warmed through.