Broiled Tilapia Fillets With Lemon and Butter

Written by
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Diana Rattray
Updated 09/29/20
Broiled tilapia with lemon and butter

The Spruce Eats / Anfisa Strizh
Prep: 12 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Marinate: 10 mins
Total: 32 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
626 Calories
22g Fat
92g Carbs
14g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 626
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g 28%
Saturated Fat 10g 48%
Cholesterol 31mg 10%
Sodium 1758mg 76%
Total Carbohydrate 92g 34%
Dietary Fiber 4g 14%
Protein 14g
Calcium 31mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

These broiled tilapia fillets make a healthy main dish, and they are super simple to prepare and cook. 

Tilapia is a very popular fish to cook, and there are many ways to prepare it. The fillets are thin and cook quickly, and the flavor is mild. Not to mention the fact that it's easy on the budget! It pairs well with many kinds of sauces, spices, and herbs, and it is a low mercury fish. One fillet per person should be enough—the fillets average about 5 ounces each.

If you prefer to bake the fish, see the variations section for directions.

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Click Play to See This Easy Tilapia Recipe Come Together

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds tilapia (frozen, thawed)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • Garnish: paprika

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Broiled tilapia ingredients
    The Spruce Eats / Anfisa Strizh 

  2. Place tilapia fillets in a shallow dish and sprinkle with garlic powder.

    Tilapia on pan
    The Spruce Eats / Anfisa Strizh

  3. Combine melted butter, lemon juice, and soy sauce in a small bowl.

    Combine melted butter
    The Spruce Eats / Anfisa Strizh

  4. Pour over the tilapia, then turn to coat. Let stand for 10 minutes.

    Pour over tilapia
    The Spruce Eats / Anfisa Strizh

  5. Heat the broiler to 500 F. Oil the rack of the broiler pan and place it in the oven about 4 inches from the heat source. Heat until the pan is hot.

    Pan
    The Spruce Eats / Anfisa Strizh

  6. Place fish on broiler pan and then broil for about 5 minutes on each side, or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

    Place fish on broiler pan
    The Spruce Eats / Anfisa Strizh

  7. Sprinkle with paprika.

    Sprinkle with paprika
    The Spruce Eats / Anfisa Strizh

  8. Serve with your choice of sides and enjoy.

    broiled tilapia plated with asparagus
    The Spruce Eats / Anfisa Strizh

Glass Bakeware Warning

Do not use glass bakeware when broiling or when a recipe calls to add liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Even if it states oven-safe or heat resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.

Recipe Variations

  • Replace the garlic powder with two cloves of fresh pressed garlic cloves.
  • Baked Tilapia With Lemon and Butter: Prepare the tilapia with the garlic powder, lemon juice, butter, and soy sauce as directed above. Heat the oven to 425 F/220 C/Gas 7 and line a rimmed baking sheet or large baking pan with foil. Grease the foil and arrange the prepared tilapia fillets in the pan. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.

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