Name: Oven-Baked Fish (with Lemon)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1½ lb fish fillets; ½ tsp seasoned salt; ½ tsp garlic powder; ½ tsp onion powder; 1 tsp lemon zest; ¼ tsp black pepper (to taste); 3 Tbs butter (melted); ¼ cup parmesan cheese (shredded)

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission. Full Disclosure Policy.

A delicious weeknight winner that is as delicious as it is easy, this Oven Baked Fish Recipe gets dinner on the table fast!

Combining simple flavors that pack a punch, this one will be your go-to forever!

Step by step photos and instructions below!

Pin this recipe for later!

Making dinner during the week can be such a hassle when we have so much else going on. I love walking in the door, heating the oven, seasoning up some white fish and baking it while I get on with other things.

Simple seasonings and classic additions like lemon and butter to make this dish super flavorful. You should of course feel free to change it up to use whatever you have on hand, no need for a special trip to the store!

With such a short cooking time that is mostly hands-off, I can then spend time whipping up some sides, grabbing a glass of wine, or doing some other task outside the kitchen.

But mainly, grabbing a glass of wine. White wine goes well with fish, in case you were wondering!

This is my go-to method for cooking fish because it’s foolproof, and I can get dinner on the table within 15 to 20 minutes, which is crucial on busy nights where we just need dinner, and it needs to be fast! This definitely helps us stay healthier because it means we can avoid the drive-through or ordering take-out or delivery.

Fish is such a healthy protein that we try to incorporate into our meal plan at least once a week. Baking it with the lemon-butter mixture ensures it is tender, flaky, and full of flavor!

If you’re into fish dinners, try my Balsamic Glazed Salmon. If you are just into the lemon flavor, you’ll love my Lemon Butter Chicken, too!

Why this recipe works

Dinner on the table happens FAST!
Delicious. Baked fish with a little lemon butter sauce cannot be beaten!
Easy to make. Just season up your fish with seasoned salt and pepper (plus a little garlic and onion powder, and bake it. Done!

What kind of fish is easy to bake?

I like halibut and cod because they are nice and thick, but tilapia also tastes amazing when cooked this way. Tilapia will take less time in the oven because it is a thinner filet. You could be eating within 15 minutes with tilapia! See below for more tips and tricks.

What is the best temperature to bake fish in the oven?

I always opt for 350 degrees F to ensure the fish is cooked through, and doesn’t burn on the outside before the inside is perfect.

How do you know when your fish is cooked properly?

Cooking time will vary based on the thickness of your fish fillets, but if you can flake it with a fork and it’s opaque and not translucent, you’re good!

A good rule of thumb for this is to allow 6-8 minutes per 8oz of fish. OR, you could go with 10 minutes per inch of thickness depending on the type of fish used.

Always go for less vs more and check it. Underdone fish can be fixed, but overdone fish is ruined! We are so not into dry fish around here.

baked fish with lemon on a white plate with vegetables

I have included step by step photos and instructions, as well as tips and tricks in the post. If you’d rather skip all that, scoot right on down to the recipe card located at the bottom of the post.

Kylee’s Notes & FAQs

If you don’t have a baking dish, you can use a baking sheet (that has a rim on it) instead.

Throw your used lemons into the baking dish while the fish bakes, or slice it up and place on top of the fish.

You could combine the melted butter, lemon zest and seasonings and just pour it over the top if you prefer. I like the seasonings to kind of stick to the fish, but it’s entirely up to you.

If you do go that route, a little white wine in the mix never hurt anyone either!

What to serve with Oven Baked Fish

Aside from sprinkling with parsley and adding some lemon wedges, I like this fresh green bean recipe, as well as some kind of starch. You’ll love these honey mustard roasted potatoes or my favorite mashed potato recipe.

Substitutions/Additions

You can leave out the garlic and onion powder and simply season with salt and pepper.

Recipe Ingredients and Possible Substitutes

The full list of ingredients and quantities is found in the printable recipe card below.

How to bake fish in the oven:

Full, printable recipe below – just scroll down to the recipe card!

Get prepped

Combine the seasonings in a small bowl.

Spray a baking dish with cooking spray, or grease with olive oil (I use extra virgin, but any oil will work for this purpose).

For the Fish

Place fish in a greased baking dish and sprinkle with the seasoning mix.

Grate a little lemon zest over the top of the fish and squeeze some lemon juice over the top of each fillet.

Drizzle the fish evenly with butter.

Grate parmesan over the top.

Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. (Definitely check at 15 minutes – cook time will totally depend on the thickness of your fish).

step by step photos seasoning fish for the oven

To Serve

Serve with extra lemon butter from the baking pan.

Sprinkle with parsley and extra parmesan if desired.

Devour.

Get free recipes in your inbox!
Find me on Pinterest, Facebook & Instagram.
If you make this recipe, please comment and let me know how it turned out and leave a star rating!