Easy Baked Tilapia Recipe

at a glance
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 4 servings
5 from 1 vote

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Baked alongside lime wedges and coated in olive oil + a simple seasoning blend, this oven baked tilapia recipe is as quick and easy as it is delicious and nutritious!

Because it tends to be really quick to prepare, seafood is one of my very favorite ways to get a nutritious meal on the table, especially when I’m short on time.

Some of my very favorite seafood dishes on the website: Lemon Garlic Baked Cod with Cherry Tomatoes, Blackened Salmon Bowls with Coconut Rice, Cilantro Lime Salmon Bake with Tomato Avocado Salsa, Herb Crusted Salmon & Potato Bake, and Baked Halibut Sheet Pan Dinner.

Each of these dishes, along with this baked tilapia dinner, is easy, really quick, and very nutritious!  

a pale pink plate with a cooked tilapia filet, white rice, a lime wedge, and cilantro sprigs sitting on it, on a marble surface

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

If you’re new to the world of seafood, tilapia is a GREAT place to start. It tends to be pretty mild in flavor and because of that, it really takes on the flavor of whatever you’re cooking/seasoning it with. Also, because we’re baking the tilapia here, the oven does most of the work for you, making this meal as easy as it gets!

Ingredients Needed

The ingredients here are really minimal, y’all, but that’s the really beautiful thing about a dish like this! Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Tilapia – to start, you will, of course, need tilapia! Most often, you’ll find tilapia filets in the freezer section of the grocery store in individually portioned vacuum-sealed pouches. Tilapia is almost always farm-raised.
  • Extra-Virgin Olive Oil – you’ll also need 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil here.
  • Lime Juice – the lime juice will help to give the fish some flavor, while still keeping things really fresh and bright! You’ll need 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice.
  • Sea Salt + Black Pepper – a ½ teaspoon of sea salt and a ¼ teaspoon of black pepper really go a long way in seasoning the fish!
  • Lime Wedges – you’ll want to grab an extra lime to cut into wedges. This will sit alongside the tilapia as it bakes.
a large glass baking dish coated on the bottom with olive oil with 4 raw tilapia filets and 4 lime wedges sitting in it

How To Bake Tilapia

The process is about as simple as the ingredients! Here’s how you’ll do it:

  1. Preheat the oven – to start, go ahead and preheat your oven to 375°F. 
  2. Prepare the tilapia – to get the tilapia ready to go into the oven, you’ll want to place it in a 9×13 baking dish or on a rimmed baking sheet and rub it with the olive oil + lime juice, and then season it with the salt and pepper. Once the tilapia is seasoned, arrange the lime wedges in the baking dish around it.
  3. Bake – bake the tilapia for 15 minutes, until it flakes easily with a fork.
  4. Serve – let the tilapia cool slightly, squeeze the baked lime wedges over top, serve, and enjoy! 

Serving Suggestions

Serve your baked tilapia alongside a green veggie and a starchy side. Here are our very favorite picks from each category:

Starchy Sides

Veggie Sides

Salad Sides

a large glass baking dish coated on the bottom with olive oil with 4 cooked tilapia filets and 4 lime wedges sitting in it

How to Store and Reheat

Fish is definitely best enjoyed the day you cook it, but if you have extra to save, be sure to store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Stored this way, it’ll last for up to 3 days.

To reheat, either pop it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or heat it in a skillet on the stovetop for a few minutes, until heated through.

Should I Bake Fish Covered or Uncovered?

This tilapia goes into the oven uncovered. Because the baking time is so short (15 minutes), there really isn’t any need to cover the fish to keep the top of it from burning. 

Is tilapia a good fish to eat?

It is! As mentioned above, it’s a flaky white fish that is mild in flavor, so it’s really great for those who don’t love “fishy” fish but still want the benefits of seafood.

a pale pink plate with a cooked tilapia filet, white rice, a lime wedge, and cilantro sprigs sitting on it, on a marble surface

More Favorite Fish Recipes

a pale pink plate with a cooked tilapia filet, white rice, a lime wedge, and cilantro sprigs sitting on it, on a marble surface

Oven Baked Tilapia

By: Cassy Garcia
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
This easy baked tilapia produces perfect, flaky fish every time!

Ingredients  

  • 4 tilapia filets about 1 pound total
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 lime cut into wedges

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 F.
  • Place the tilapia in a 9×13 inch baking dish or on a rimmed baking sheet and rub with the olive oil and lime juice. Season with the salt and pepper, then arrange the lime wedges around the tilapia.
  • Bake for 15 minutes, or until the tilapia flakes easily with a fork. Let cool slightly, then squeeze the baked lime wedges over top and eat!

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts
Oven Baked Tilapia
Amount per Serving
Calories
200
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
6
g
9
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
3
g
Cholesterol
 
85
mg
28
%
Sodium
 
380
mg
17
%
Potassium
 
537
mg
15
%
Carbohydrates
 
2
g
1
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
0.3
g
0
%
Protein
 
34
g
68
%
Vitamin A
 
11
IU
0
%
Vitamin C
 
6
mg
7
%
Calcium
 
24
mg
2
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Recipe Notes

  • For a different flavor profile, try seasoning the tilapia with about 1 tablespoon of your favorite spice blend. Lemon pepper, Cajun seasoning, or an herb blend like herbs de Provence are all great options!
Meet the Author
Cassy Headshot

Cassy Joy Garcia

HOWDY! I’m Cassy Joy and I am just so happy you’re here. I’m the founder, Editor-in-Chief, and Nutrition Consultant here at Fed and Fit. What started as a food blog back in 2011 has evolved now into so much more.
Get to know Cassy

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