Cooking tilapia in the oven is the most effortless and easy way to do it. With little preparation, you will end up with the most delicious and buttery dinner. Made with lemon, butter, garlic, and capers, this is a great and quick dish to put together for the whole family to enjoy. Check out the recipe video below.
Tilapia is pretty hearty and delicious on its own, but when you add some butter and lemon to it, you end up with the best fish meal ever. We love eating with some Crispy Bacon Wrapped Asparagus, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, or Crispy Roasted Baked Potatoes.
Bonus points that this easy recipe is low in carbs and high in protein, with a good amount of fat, which makes it Keto friendly.
Over the past years, we have discovered the best way to cook tilapia, and that is with some lemon, butter, and capers. We enjoy cooking tilapia because it is a budget-friendly fish, and it is easy to prepare. Simply, drizzle with some butter sauce and some seasoning, then bake it, and have a hearty and delicious meal in less than 15 minutes.
If you have never tried tilapia before you really should. Especially making it at home tastes so much better. You can go with frozen tilapia, and simply thaw it before baking, or buy it fresh. Both versions work fine, but usually, the frozen version is cheaper.
This is one of our favorite fish recipes to make. Not only is it easy and quick to prepare, but it is a very flavorful and delicious dinner. If you are looking for a lighter version, that does not require butter we highly recommend you try our Oven Roasted version with olive oil.
The internal temperature of fish should reach 145°F for food safety, according to USDA guidelines. If you don’t have an instant-read thermometer, check to see that your fish has turned opaque and that it’s easily flaked with a fork.
CAN YOU STORE BAKED LEMON GARLIC TILAPIA?
You can definitely store this dish in the fridge for a couple of days, it actually makes great leftovers that can be packed with some rice for lunch. Simply, let the fish cool down before refrigerating.
Then, transfer into an airtight container and store for 2-3 days. However, keep in mind that the longer you store it, the tougher and dried the fish will get.
What is the best way to cook tilapia?
We love to prepare it two ways, either in the oven or pan-searing it.
- Start by washing and pat drying the fillets.
- Grease a baking pan with some olive oil.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together some butter, garlic, lemon juice, and lemon zest, and set aside.
- Sprinkle the fish with some salt and pepper, and place it onto the baking pan.
- Next, pour the butter mixture over it and bake for about 15 minutes until the fish flakes easily.
- Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper set aside.
- Next, place a large skillet over medium heat and add some olive oil. Then add the tilapia filets and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side, or until flaky with a fork.
- While cooking, prepare the butter mixture in a separate bowl.
- Once the fish has cooked and is flaky, pour the butter mixture over it and cook for additional 1-2 minutes.
- Squeeze some additional lemon juice before serving.
Whichever way you choose, it is guaranteed to result in a moist and tender meal. This is a super easy dinner to prepare, which has a delicate taste, buttery and flavorful.
Just 3 Ingredients Tasty Oven Baked Tilapia Fillets in 10 minutes I Easy and Quick Recipe.
FAQ
What temperature should tilapia be cooked to?
What is the target temperature for tilapia?
How can you tell if tilapia is safe to eat?
Is it bad to overcook tilapia?
Can you cook tilapia at 125 degrees?
You can. Because tilapia is so thin and cooks fast you might want to pull it off the heat when it reaches an internal temperature between 120°F and 125°F. It will continue going up in temperature after removing it from the oven or stove due to carryover cooking. This temperature range is similar to the internal temperature recommended for salmon.
Is it safe to eat talapia fish?
Tilapia fish is a low-calorie source of protein. In addition, tilapia fish contains vitamins and minerals such as folic acid and phosphorus. However, tilapia fish contains omega 6, which is relatively high, higher than omega 3. Ideally, omega 3 and 6 have a ratio close to 1:1. Excessive consumption of foods high in omega 6 is at risk of increasing inflammation. In addition, it is also essential to know the process of cultivating tilapia fish to avoid harmful bacteria such as Salmonella or other harmful substances that may arise during cultivation.
How to cook tilapia in oven?
Brush the tilapia evenly with the butter mixture until fully coated. Bake uncovered for about 10 minutes. After 8 minutes, check the internal temp of tilapia by inserting an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the fish. You can remove it from oven with a reading of 140°F (60°C) for a final temp of 145°F upon serving.
How do you measure tilapia temperature?
To measure the internal temp for tilapia, insert the probe of an instant-read thermometer into the middle of the thickest section of the fish. Wait a few seconds for the reading to stabilize. If it’s below 140°F (60°C), keep cooking the fish. If it’s above that level, remove immediately from the heat.