Easy lemon butter baked fish
Lemon butter baked fish is the perfect, easy sheet pan dinner recipe. Baked with asparagus and a delicious lemon butter sauce this is a gluten-free and keto friendly recipe the whole family will love.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
This baked fish recipe needs only a handful of ingredients. The fish is of course the star of the show. I prefer using a flaky white fish like hake or cod but tilapia, haddock, halibut, etc. will all work well.
- White fish. Use skinless, de-boned fish filets.
- Butter.
- Fresh garlic cloves.
- Fresh lemon juice. Lime juice can be substituted.
- Fresh herbs. Oregano, thyme, rosemary, parsley and dill are all delicious with fish.
- Salt and black pepper.
- Asparagus. Green beans, broccoli, sugar snap peas can all be used instead.
How to make lemon butter baked fish
- Make the lemon butter: Add butter, garlic and a few tablespoons of lemon juice to a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce is fragrant then set aside.
- Bake the fish: Line a sheet pan or baking dish with parchment paper. Place fish fillets and asparagus (green beans, sugar snap peas or broccoli can be substituted). Pour the lemon butter sauce over the fish and asparagus and season with salt and pepper. Bake in a pre-heated oven until the fish and asparagus are cooked through and fork tender, approximately 12-15 minutes.
What kind of fish can be baked?
Most fish varieties bake very well but for this recipe any white fish will work. You could use salmon or trout too.
- Hake
- Tilapia
- Cod
- Bass
- Haddock
- Halibut
- Snapper
- Kingklip
- Grouper
How long should you cook fish in the oven?
In a 200ºC/400ºF pre-heated oven, fish fillets should take no longer than 10-12 minutes to cook. Cooking time will depend on size and thickness of fillets. You know it’s cooked when the fish flakes easily and the flesh is opaque.
Fish recipes
- Crispy fish tacos with hot sauce crema
- White wine garlic salmon
- Chunky fish fingers with cheat’s lemon aioli
What to serve with baked fish
Fish is delicious with a variety of side dishes but I always love it with rice, crispy potatoes or vegetables. A simple side salad will also be delicious.
Easy lemon butter baked fish
Ingredients
- 800 g/1,7lbs White fish, boned (Approximately 200g/7oz per person)
- 3 tbsp butter
- 4 garlic cloves crushed
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tsp dried oregano/thyme
- salt and pepper to taste
- asparagus washed and trimmed
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 200ºC/400ºF and line a sheet pan with parchment/baking paper.
- Combine the butter, lemon, garlic and herbs in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant then remove from the heat and set aside to cool slightly.
- Place the fish and asparagus onto the lined sheet pan then season with salt and pepper.
- Pour the lemon butter sauce over the fish and asparagus and top the fish with lemon slices (optional).
- Place in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the fish and asparagus are cooked. Fish is cooked when it flakes easily and the flesh is opaque, white throughout.
- Remove from the oven and serve.
Video
Nutrition