Cajun Lemon Butter Baked Tilapia is a quick and easy recipe that is perfect for busy weeknights. The tilapia fillets are baked to perfection with a delicious Cajun seasoning blend. The results are perfect, tender, and flaky fillets in a luscious lemon butter sauce. A fabulous 30-minute dinner.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- Our baked Cajun tilapia recipe uses easy, affordable ingredients.
- Cajun lemon butter baked tilapia is a great recipe for any level of home cook.
- Our baked tilapia recipe is ready in under 30 minutes, so it's perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredient List
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- unsalted butter
- tilapia fillets
- kosher salt
- cracked black pepper
- homemade Cajun seasoning
- crushed red pepper flakes
- fresh parsley
- fresh garlic cloves
- large lemons
- fresh parsley
Equipment
- 9x13 inch casserole dish
- Measuring Spoons and Cups
- Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
- knife
- Cutting Board
Instructions
This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F/ 200°C. Rub the baking dish with unsalted butter.
- Add the tilapia fillets to the prepared baking dish.
- Then in a small bowl mix together the kosher salt, cracked black pepper, cajun seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, chopped parsley, minced garlic, and unsalted butter until combined.
- Spread the seasoned butter over top of the fillets. Squeeze fresh lemon juice on top.
- Bake in preheated oven for about 10 minutes or until the fish is flaky and fork-tender.
Eileen's Tips for Success
- You can use parchment paper in your baking dish instead of greasing it for easy cleanup.
- I like to leave the lemon wedges in the baking dish while the fish cooks for even more flavor.
- I like to serve these cajun tilapia fillets over a bed of rice.
- The size of your fillets will affect your cooking times, so make sure to use a meat thermometer to check them for doneness.
- If using frozen fish, be sure to defrost the fish in the refrigerator before proceeding with the recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
You want to ensure that your tilapia reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees.
You don't want the fish to steam, so it's best to bake it uncovered. Covering it would cause it to cook too slowly.
No, there is no need to flip the lemon butter tilapia fillets while they are cooking.
Variations
Do you want to change up this recipe? Here are some ways to change the flavor of this dish.
- Out of cajun seasoning? You can use Old Bay Seasoning or any favorite Cajun seasoning in this recipe.
- Lime juice is another great citrus juice to use on baked tilapia.
- Fish: This recipe will work on just about any fish especially flaky fish like flounder, dorado, halibut, cod, and seabass.
Make-ahead, storage, and freezer tips
Storage - Store leftover baked tilapia fish filets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Serving Suggestions
Check out all our side dishes here.
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Eileen xo
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
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Lemon Butter Cajun Baked Tilapia
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon unsalted butter for baking tray Note 1
Preparing the Tilapia
- 4 (6 ) ounce tilapia fillets (2.5 lb | 1 kg) Note 2
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon homemade Cajun seasoning or store bought
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 large lemons
Garnishes
- 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped optional garnish
- 1 large lemon, sliced thin optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F/ 200°C. Rub a 9 x13 inch baking dish with ½ teaspoon unsalted butter or non-stick baking spray.
- Place 4 (6 ) ounce tilapia fillets in the prepared baking dish.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper, 1 teaspoon homemade Cajun seasoning, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped, 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced, and 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature. Spread the mixture equally on each fish.
- Slice 2 large lemons in half and squeeze each half over the seasoned tilapias.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes. The fish will be flaky and fork tender.
- Ready to serve. Optional garnish, serve tilapia fillets with 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped, and 1 large lemon, sliced thin.
