• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Precious Diary
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Work with Me
  • MY PEN SPEAKS
    • Love n Marriage
    • Singles
    • News n Features
    • Faith
    • Parenting
    • Beauty n Style
    • Blogging
  • Recipe Index
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • African Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Popular African Foods
    • Cameroonian Food
    • Carrribean Recipes

Precious Core logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Easter
  • Videos
  • Recipe Index
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Easter
    • Videos
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Fish Recipes

    PUBLISHED: Jan 24, 2023 · UPDATED: Feb 2, 2023 by Precious · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Garlic Butter Tilapia

    Sharing is caring!

    12 shares
    • Share
    • Yum this
    • Email
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Let's take humble tilapia and make it into a phenomenal dinner! This Garlic Butter Tilapia is incredibly tasty with a few minimal ingredients! Ready in 20 minutes from start to finish!

    This is a buttery, garlicky, flaky, baked tilapia dinner that the whole family will love!

    4 baked tilapia fillets in a pan.

    One of my goals in life is to teach you how to get dinner on the table fast! This baked garlic butter tilapia recipe helps you fulfill that goal.

    With only 10 minutes of prep time, let the oven do the rest of the work. Garlic Butter Tilapia will be ready in less than 30 minutes.

    While it bakes, make some Sauteed Vegetables or Sauteed Peppers to go with it. You could also make some Easy Roasted Potatoes or Easy Coconut Rice and Mango Avocado Salsa to go with it.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Is Tilapia Healthy?
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • How To Make Garlic Butter Tilapia
    • How To Bake Tilapia From Frozen
    • Storage
    • Expert Tip
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Fish Recipes You'll Love
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Recipe

    Ingredients

    You need simple and minimal ingredients to make this Garlic Butter Tilapia. Guaranteed, you could add a few more herbs and spices but here are the ingredients you need for really tasty tilapia;

    Ingredients for Garlic Butter Tilapia on a slab
    • Tilapia fillets: I used thawed fillets at room temperature. If you forgot to thaw your tilapia and only have frozen tilapia, see instructions for baking frozen tilapia below.
    • Onion powder and paprika: Onion powder adds flavor to the fish while paprika adds color.
    • Crushed pepper flakes: For a hint of spice.
    • Butter: Use unsalted butter so you can control the amount of salt in the dish.
    • Minced garlic: Fresh minced garlic adds lots of flavor. If you have trouble mincing garlic, you could use a Microplane zester to grate the garlic.
    • Salt and pepper: For seasoning the fish.
    • Garnishes: Garnish with fresh minced parsley. That pop of green does a lot to brighten a dish. I happened to have fresh dill at home so I added some but please don't feel obliged to use dill.

    Is Tilapia Healthy?

    It is advisable to get wild-caught fish when you can but almost all tilapia you will find is farm-raised. Food experts say farmed fish could be very healthy. Make sure you buy responsibly farmed tilapia.

    Responsibly-farmed tilapia is an excellent source of lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids.

    Tilapia fillet with garlic butter on top.

    Substitutions and Variations

    Try substituting or varying this recipe with the following ingredients:

    • Different kinds of fish: Try using cod, flounder, halibut, whiting fish, or red snapper.
    • Different seasonings: Try using different seasoning blends on the fish like all-purpose seasoning, cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, and Old Bay Seasoning.
    • Olive oil: consider substituting half the butter for olive oil.
    • Vegetables: Bake the fish together with quick-cooking vegetables like asparagus, mushrooms, or bell peppers.
    • Lemon or lime juice: Squeeze in fresh lemon or lime juice for more flavor.

    Also, check out this Lemon Butter Tilapia and Pan Seared Tilapia which are all done on the stove top.

    How To Make Garlic Butter Tilapia

    This garlic butter tilapia recipe is one of the easiest recipes ever. In 20 minutes you'll have a tasty fish meal to enjoy. Here are the easy steps involved:

    1. Pat fish dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, onion powder, paprika, and red pepper flakes.

    Seasoned tilapia fillets in a bowl.

    2. Mix together melted butter, minced garlic, salt and pepper, and pour over the fish.

    Spoon pouring garlic butter sauce over seasoned tilapia fillets.
    Raw fish fillets covered with garlic butter sauce.

    3. Bake until the fish is flaky. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve.

    Baked tilapia fillets in baking dish.

    Hint: tilapia is done when it flakes easily with a fork. To check if the fish is done using an instant-read meat thermometer, slide the thermometer into the fish. It should register an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

    How To Bake Tilapia From Frozen

    You can bake tilapia from frozen but you will have to cook it longer than thawed tilapia.

    Season the tilapia, add, to a greased baking dish, and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes until it flakes easily with a fork.

    Storage

    Leftovers: Store leftover tilapia in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Freezer: Freeze cooked tilapia for up to 3 months in an airtight container.

    Reheating: To reheat, bake the fish at 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 180 degrees Celsius until heated through. Note that it will not be as flaky after reheating. You could also reheat it in the microwave or in a skillet on the stovetop.

    Expert Tip

    Broil the tilapia for 1-2 minutes in the end to give it some color. While broiling, be sure to check the oven constantly. Don't move away so it doesn't burn! More color equals more flavor and a more appealing look.

    Flaky fish on a plate.

    Recipe FAQs

    What does tilapia go well with?

    Tilapia goes well with vegetables, rice, mashed potatoes, other potato side dishes, salads, and more.

    Should tilapia be marinated?

    Tilapia is a mild fish which means the fish tends to soak up other flavors so it could be helpful to marinate tilapia. But there is no need to marinate tilapia before cooking. You could just season the fish and cook it immediately and it will turn out tasty!

    Do you have to flip tilapia when baking?

    There is no need to flip tilapia when baking.

    How do I thaw tilapia fillets?

    Thaw tilapia fillets in the fridge overnight. Or thaw quicker in cool water, changing the water every 30 minutes until the fish is completely thawed.

    More Fish Recipes You'll Love

    Looking for other fish recipes like this? Try these:

    • Close up shot of Pan Seared Tilapia
      Pan Seared Tilapia
    • Lemon butter tilapia fillets on a plate
      Lemon Butter Tilapia
    • Cooked salmon in pan.
      Lemon Butter Salmon
    • Large salmon fillet and roasted broccoli on a sheet pan
      Salmon and Broccoli Sheet Pan

    Serving Suggestions

    These are some of my favorite side dishes to serve with garlic butter tilapia:

    • A bowl of buttermilk mashed potatoes
      Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
    • Large plate of roasted potatoes
      Roasted Baby Potatoes
    • Mango Avocado Salsa in a white bowl
      Mango Avocado Salsa
    • Sauteed vegetables in a braiser
      Sauteed Vegetables

    If you make this recipe, please consider leaving a star rating and comment below. I love hearing from you!

    Recipe

    4 baked tilapia fillets in a pan.

    Garlic Butter Tilapia

    This Garlic Butter Tilapia is incredibly tasty with a few minimal ingredients! Ready in 20 minutes from start to finish!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 319kcal
    Author: Precious

    Ingredients

    • 4 tilapia fillets 1 pound in total
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
    • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 1 tablespoon minced garlic about 3 cloves
    • Minced parsley and dill for garnish
    • Lemon wedges for serving.

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400°F or 200°C.
    • Melt butter in a skillet on the stovetop or in the microwave.
    • Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels and add them to a 9 by 13 baking dish.
    • Season both sides of the fillets with ¼ teaspoon of salt, ⅛ teaspoon of black pepper, the onion powder, paprika, and crushed pepper flakes.
    • In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, minced garlic, and remaining salt and pepper.
    • Pour the butter mixture over the seasoned tilapia ensuring that the garlic butter evenly coats the tilapia.
    • Place into the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until the fish flakes easily with a fork.
    • For a brown color on the fish, turn on the broiler and broil for 1-2 minutes.
    • Garnish with fresh minced parsley and/or dill and serve warm with lemon wedges.

    Notes

    Fish: Feel free to substitute tilapia here with other kinds of fish like flounder, red snapper, cod, halibut, or salmon.
    Seasoning: Use other seasonings like Italian Seasoning or Cajun seasoning on the fish.
    Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 319kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 130mg | Sodium: 384mg | Potassium: 538mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 686IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @preciouscore or tag #preciouscore!
    pre-signature-pro

    YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

    • WHEN YOU LOVE YOUR KIDSWHEN YOU LOVE YOUR KIDS
    • 6 THINGS I WANT THIS SUMMER6 THINGS I WANT THIS SUMMER
    • GARDEN EGG- NJAKATU STEWGARDEN EGG- NJAKATU STEW
    • FRUIT SALAD - CAMEROON STYLEFRUIT SALAD - CAMEROON STYLE

    More Fish Recipes

    • Square image of cajun salmon.
      Baked Cajun Salmon
    • Square image of Pan Fried Teriyaki Salmon.
      Pan Fried Teriyaki Salmon
    • Four grilled salmon fillets on a serving platter
      Pan Grilled Salmon
    • grilled red snapper on a platter
      Grilled Whole Red Snapper (Oven Grilled)

    Sharing is caring!

    12 shares
    • Share
    • Yum this
    • Email

    About Precious

    Welcome to my core! I am Precious Nkeih, the recipe developer and writer right here on my blog, Precious Core. My goal is to show you insanely delicious recipes you can replicate in your kitchen. And I love to tell stories too. Hope you find recipes here that will make cooking easier for you! Check me out on YouTube at YouTube.com/PreciousKitchen.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    precious

    Hi, I'm Precious!

    I am a mama with many mouths to feed. I develop recipes and share real-life stories. Here you will find approachable, insanely delicious, family-friendly recipes.

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Banana fritters on a platter with one opened up to show texture
      Banana Fritters
    • A mug of fresh ginger drink with some ginger and key limes on the side
      Ginger Drink
    • Egusi soup recipe
      EGUSI SOUP - NIGERIAN EGUSI SOUP
    • Chicken in White Sauce in a pot
      Chicken in White Sauce
    • Chicken drumsticks in creamy sauce in a cast iron skillet
      Chicken Drumsticks in Creamy Sauce

    [do_widget id=enews-ext-1]

    Easy Dinner Recipes

    • Square image of rosemary garlic mashed potatoes.
      Rosemary Garlic Mashed Potatoes
    • Square image of Nigerian Beef Stew
      Nigerian Beef Stew
    • Square image of green beans.
      Garlic Butter Green Beans
    • Square image of pan seared boneless pork chops.
      Pan Seared Boneless Pork Chops
    • Square image of a roasted turkey thigh.
      Roasted Turkey Thighs
    • Square image of lemon pepper wings.
      Lemon Pepper Turkey Wings

    Easter Recipes

    • Cinnamon rolls in a pan, some of the rolls frosted with cream cheese frosting
      Cinnamon Rolls With Cream Cheese Frosting (VIDEO)
    • Square image of roasted turkey wings
      Baked Turkey Wings
    • Pan seared lamb chops in a cast iron skillet
      Pan Seared Lamb Chops
    • Hot Cross Buns in a baking dish with one removed
      My Favorite Hot Cross Buns

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    IMPORTANT LINKS

    • Home
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Work with Me
    • Contact
    • Recipe Index
    • Accessibility Policy

    Life

    • Square image of kids at Austin Library
      Our Family Trip To Austin Texas
    • Black family picture
      Family Vacation At Lake Havasu, Arizona

    STAY CONNECTED

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    COPYRIGHT © 2022 PRECIOUS CORE