This lemon butter baked white fish is incredibly easy to make, requires only a few, really simple ingredients, is done in less than 20 minutes, and is as tasty as it gets. If you’re on the fence about fish, this is an excellent recipe to try!
Table of Contents
- This recipe is…
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Lemon Butter Baked White Fish Recipe Ingredients
- Recipe Variations and Modifications
- How to Make Lemon Butter Baked White Fish
- Recipe Tips
- How to Serve
- How to Store and Reheat
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Favorite Fish Recipes
- Lemon Butter Baked White Fish Recipe
This recipe is…
Fish can be a tricky protein for everyone to get behind. Some people love it, and some people really can’t stomach the, well, fishiness of it. This lemon butter white fish changes the seafood game, though, let me tell you! It’s incredibly simple to make (so if you’re intimidated by cooking fish, this is the perfect recipe for you) and not “fishy” tasting in the slightest.
Pair your baked white fish with a simple side arugula salad to keep things really light and bright or enjoy it alongside a side of roasted asparagus and fluffy quinoa or orzo with roasted veggies to make the entire meal a little bit more filling.
Looking for more seafood recipes? We’ve got a bunch! This salmon pesto pasta is full of flavor, this seared ahi tuna is marinated in the yummiest chili lime marinade, and these teriyaki salmon bowls are incredibly quick to whip up.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s flavorful – the flavors here are so simple and SO delicious. Butter, lemon, and garlic infuse the fish and make it truly unbeatable.
- It’s easy – if cooking fish feels intimidating to you, this is the perfect easy recipe to try. There is almost no hands-on cooking involved!
Lemon Butter Baked White Fish Recipe Ingredients
You don’t need much to make this recipe! Some butter, lemon, and white fish, of course, and then a couple of seasonings. Find ingredient notes (including substitutions and swaps) below.
- Cod fillets – we went with cod here, but any flaky white fish will do. Tilapia, snapper, and halibut would all work great.
- Lemon juice – fresh lemon juice is a must here, so skip the bottled stuff and juice your own!
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Recipe Variations and Modifications
- Use a different fish – as mentioned above, any flaky white fish will work great here! We went with cod (and highly recommend it if you’re looking for an affordable, tasty, not-fishy tasting option), but tilapia, snapper, and halibut will also work.
- Make it dairy-free – skip the butter and use olive oil in its place to make this recipe dairy-free.
- Make it grain-free – this lemon butter baked white fish is grain-free as-is!
- Make it gluten-free – again, this recipe is gluten-free as written.
How to Make Lemon Butter Baked White Fish
This recipe is incredibly easy to make! Follow along below for the full how-to.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Pat the fish dry with a paper towel, then place the fish in a baking dish (or on a rimmed baking sheet), drizzle with the lemon juice, and sprinkle the fish evenly with the salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Place thin pats of butter and slices of lemon over the top of the pieces of fish.
Step 2: Bake at 375°F for 13 minutes, until the fish is cooked through and flaky. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
If you want to use an air fryer instead of your oven, air fry the seasoned, butter and lemon-topped fish fillets at 375°F for 12 minutes.
How to Serve
Serve your baked white fish alongside a simple side salad (this lemon arugula salad is always a hit), or, for a more filling meal, alongside sides of roasted asparagus and fluffy quinoa. If you want to serve the fish with a starch and veggie all in one dish, this orzo with roasted vegetables is absolutely delicious!
How to Store and Reheat
Store any leftover fish in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Know that reheating fish can be a bit tricky and often leads to compromised texture, but if you want to reheat it, a quick stint in the microwave (30-45 seconds to start, and then in 10 second increments after that, until warmed through) will work just fine. Just heat in small spurts at a time so that you can check it and pull it out of the microwave as soon as it’s warmed through.
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe does not call for covering the fish while it bakes! It’s only in the oven for 13 minutes, and the butter pats and lemon slices atop the fish help it to stay super moist.
This recipe makes the most flavorful, moist fish EVER. The key here is the pats of butter and lemon slices that sit on the fish fillets. The butter seeps through the striations of the fish and the lemons act as sort of shield from the heat of the oven.
More Favorite Fish Recipes
If you tried this Lemon Butter Baked White Fish or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below!
Lemon Butter Baked White Fish
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds fresh cod fillets, or another flaky white fish
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) butter, cut into cold squares
- 1 lemon, cut into thin rounds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Pat the fish dry with a paper towel, then place the fish in a baking dish (or on a rimmed baking sheet), drizzle with the lemon juice, and sprinkle the fish evenly with the salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Place thin pats of butter and slices of lemon over the top of the pieces of fish.
- Bake at 375°F for 13 minutes, until the fish is cooked through and flaky. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Very light & good flavor with only a few ingredients!