This Easy Baked Fish is tender, flaky, and full of savory lemon-butter flavor. Ready in just 20 minutes from start to finish, it’s an easy go-to for busy weeknights.
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Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
You have to love a recipe that is ready in less than 30 minutes but tastes like something complicated took place in your kitchen. That’s exactly how I feel about this Easy Baked Fish.
This is one of my favorite ways to cook white fish for a quick dinner on a busy day. After some easy prep, it bakes in the oven for a nearly hands-off meal. The result is incredibly tender and flaky cooked fish with a light lemon-butter sauce brightened with fresh dill.
Fabulous for a weeknight or any night!
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Ingredient Notes
- White fish fillets: Mild, flaky white fish like haddock, cod, tilapia, or sole work perfectly. I’ve been loving the bags of frozen haddock fillets that come individually vacuum-sealed from Whole Foods.
- Butter: Melted butter adds richness and keeps the fish tender while it bakes.
- All-purpose seasoning with salt: I use my Cajun Seasoning Mix, the same incredible mix of flavorful spices that I use for my Blackened Mahi Mahi and Blackened Salmon. Any good all-purpose seasoning with salt will work.
- Fresh dill: Adds a light, fresh flavor that pairs beautifully with fish. If needed, dried dill can be used in a pinch (use about ⅓ the amount). If you’re not a fan, feel free to sub fresh thyme or parsley.
- Lemon: Fresh lemon juice brightens the finished dish. Serve with extra wedges on the side.
How to Make Easy Baked Fish
- Prepare the fish: Pat the fish dry and arrange it in a lightly greased baking dish. Combine the melted butter with the seasoning and dill and drizzle it evenly over the fish.
- Bake covered: Cover the dish with foil and bake at 400 degrees F until the fish flakes easily with a fork.
- Finish with lemon: Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the fish before serving.
Recipe Tips
Thaw frozen fish completely: If using frozen fish, thaw it overnight in the fridge and pat it dry before baking.
Baking time: Thicker fillets will need closer to the full 20 minutes. The fish is done when it flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of about 145 degrees F.
Seasoning swap: Taco seasoning or lemon pepper are great alternatives to an all-purpose seasoning.
Serving ideas: Serve with rice (or your favorite grain) or roasted potatoes and a simple green vegetable for an easy, well-rounded meal.
Leftover ideas: Flake leftover fish into salads or tuck it into tortillas for an easy lunch the next day.
Storage
- Refrigerate: Store leftover baked fish in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Reheat: Gently reheat in the microwave at reduced power or in a low oven just until warmed through to avoid drying it out.
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Easy Baked Fish
Ingredients
- 4 small white fish fillets, like haddock, cod, tilapia, or sole (about 1 ½ pounds total)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon all-purpose seasoning with salt, I use my Cajun Seasoning Mix
- 1 teaspoon fresh dill, minced
- 1 lemon, halved
Instructions
- If frozen, the fish should be fully thawed before beginning.
- Preheat oven to 400 °F. Lightly coat a medium baking dish (11- x 7-inches) with nonstick cooking spray.
- Pat the fish dry with paper towels and place it in the prepared baking dish.
- In a small bowl, melt the butter and stir in the seasoning and dill. Drizzle the mixture evenly over the fish.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake until the fish just begins to flake easily with a fork, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and squeeze the juice from ½ a lemon over the fish.
- Cut the remaining lemon half into wedges to serve with the fish.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
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