Cajun Lemon Butter Baked Tilapia is a quick and easy recipe that is perfect for busy weeknights. The tilapia fillets are coated in a delicious Cajun seasoning blend and baked to perfection with a lemon butter sauce. This dish is bursting with flavor and can be on the table in less than 30 minutes.
For specifics on the recipe use the table of contents to click on sections of the recipe.
Jump to:
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
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
- 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
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.
Similar recipes
Do you enjoy seafood recipes? If so, next time check out these tasty recipes.
Enjoy all our seafood and fish recipes here.
I love any comments or questions, please feel free to leave them below.
Keep up to date with recipes by following me on:
FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, TWITTER
Thank you for your continued support. I am forever grateful.
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.
📖 Recipe
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
- 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 softened, room temperature
- 2 large lemons
- 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley chopped, optional garnish
- 1 large lemon thinly sliced, optional garnish
Save the Recipe?
Enter your email below and we'll send the recipe straight to your inbox to view anytime. Plus the bonus of regular recipes to you for inspiration!
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F/ 200°C. Rub a 9 x13 inch baking dish with ½ Tablespoon unsalted butter or non-stick baking spray.
- Place 4 tilapia fillets in the prepared baking dish.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper,1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, 1 Tablespoon chopped parsley, 3 cloves minced garlic, and 4 Tablespoons softened unsalted butter. Spread on each fish.
- Slice the 2 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 chopped fresh parsley and lemon slices.
