Lemon Garlic Butter Baked Fish is a fancy-feeling dinner that’s so easy to make in just 30 minutes! Flaky white fish is seasoned with cajun spices before being smothered in garlicky, lemony butter and baked to perfection.
Lemon Garlic Butter Baked Fish
Need an impressive dinner that’s secretly so easy to make? This is a great one to start with! All you have to do is season some white fish (like halibut or cod), smother it with garlic, lemon juice, and plenty of butter, then bake it until it flakes apart. It only takes roughly 10 minutes of prep (or less if you move fast) and 15-ish minutes in the oven. I like to serve it with some cheesy baked asparagus for a flavorful low-carb dinner that always hits the spot. Whether you just want to shake up your usual weeknight dinner routine or impress some Saturday evening dinner guests, this is the recipe to turn to!
Enjoy more of my favorite seafood recipes like air fryer salmon, lobster tails, and honey garlic shrimp!
Can I use frozen fish?
Yes! Frozen fish is often more budget-friendly than what you can grab at the seafood counter. Just be sure to let the frozen filets thaw completely before patting dry with paper towels. Once they’re thawed and patted dry, you can season and cook as instructed.
How to Make Lemon Garlic Butter Baked Fish
- Prepare. Preheat the oven to 400°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Mix the seasonings. Whisk the Cajun seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Pat them dry. Pat the fish dry with paper towels on a large plate and season both sides with the spice mix.
- Cover with butter. Arrange the fillets in the baking dish. Whisk together the melted butter, garlic, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Drizzle the butter mixture evenly over the fish.
- Bake. Arrange the lemon slices over the tops of the fillets. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 145°F. Be careful not to bake it too long or it’ll dry out!
Storing and Reheating
Store leftover lemon garlic butter baked fish in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When it’s time to reheat, I recommend using an air fryer or the oven. Microwaves and fish don’t typically agree well!
Ingredient Notes
- Fish – Halibut filets are my go-to for this recipe. Cod also works. Just make sure that no matter what mild white fish you use, the fillets are all around the same size so they cook evenly. And remember that if you don’t first pat the fish dry, it’ll get watery as it baked and the seasonings won’t hold on as well.
- Seasonings – No-salt cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper! If your cajun blend has salt in it, you’ll definitely want to omit the extra sprinkle of salt.
- Butter – I like to use unsalted butter so I can better control the amount of sodium. Also, when serving, spoon some of the melted butter from the pan over the fish for even more flavor.
- Garlic – Add more or less as you see fit. Keep in mind that we’re also using garlic powder, so the flavor will already be pretty potent!
- Lemon Juice and Lemon – It’s imperative to use freshly squeezed lemon juice only for the very best flavor. You’ll also need to slice up a lemon. It does wonders for presentation, and it’s such a simple final touch! The fresh lemon slices also add a nice aromatic element.
Enjoy!
~Nichole
Lemon Garlic Butter Baked Fish
Ingredients
- 4 Cod or halibut fillets about 6 ounces each
- 1 tsp No-salt Cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp Smoked paprika
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black pepper
- 4 Tbsp Unsalted butter melted
- 4 Cloves Garlic minced
- 2 Tbsp Fresh lemon juice
- 1 Lemon thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Whisk the Cajun seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Pat the fish dry with paper towels on a large plate and season both sides with the spice mix.
- Arrange the fillets in the prepared baking dish.
- Whisk together the melted butter, garlic, and lemon juice in a small bowl.
- Drizzle the butter mixture evenly over the fish.
- Arrange the lemon slices over the tops of the fillets.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving if desired.
Notes
This lemon garlic butter baked fish can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
