Baked Tilapia (The BEST Recipe!)

4.52 from 294 votes

Baked Tilapia (The BEST Recipe!)

This baked lemon parmesan tilapia recipe is my go-to for a quick weeknight dinner or when I want to impress at a dinner party! Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s one of the easiest and most delicious tilapia recipes you can make.

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Course: Fish

Cuisine: American Recipes

Keyword: Baked Tilapia

Servings:

Author: Bee Yinn Low

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs (750g) tilapia fillet or cod, sole, and halibut
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
ground black pepper
3 dashes cayenne pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
lemon wedges for serving

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425°F (218°C). Rinse the tilapia fish fillets with cold running water. Pad dry with paper towels. Arrange them in a single layer in a baking dish. Add the olive oil, garlic, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper and lemon juice.
Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese evenly on top of the tilapia. Top with chopped parsley.
Baked the fish in the oven for about 10 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through. Serve immediately with fresh lemon wedges.

Video

Notes

If I have a little extra time, I like to marinate the tilapia in a lemon-olive oil mixture for about 15 to 30 minutes before baking. It’s not a must, but it really boosts the flavor of the fish. I usually do this while I’m preheating the oven and getting the side dishes ready.
I make sure to season the tilapia generously. With its mild taste, the fish can handle a good amount of seasoning without it becoming too much.
I also add enough lemon juice and garlic to cut through any “fishy” or “muddy” odor.
Since tilapia is delicate, I’m careful not to leave it in the oven for too long. I pull it out as soon as it’s flaky and fully cooked, or when it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C)—it’ll keep cooking a little once it’s out of the oven.

Nutrition