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.

If you’re looking for an easy, healthy and tasty dinner, this baked fish recipe is perfect. The fish is, of course, the star of the show but that lemon butter sauce makes it one you’ll come back to, time and time again. I love easy, one-pan recipes in general but especially with something like fish that can seem intimidating to cook, having easy, well-tested recipes that require only one dish makes dinner time a breeze. If you like this recipe, you’ll love this Thai fish curry or white wine garlic salmon.

Ingredients and Substitutions

This recipe needs only a handful of ingredients. 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. Olive oil can be used as a dairy-free substitute.
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. For a Mediterranean twist, add cherry tomatoes and olives to the pan.

How To Make Oven 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. Add the fish fillets and asparagus. Pour the lemon butter sauce over 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.

Can I make this ahead?

The fish and asparagus can be prepared and kept covered with foil in the refrigerator, overnight before baking. Any leftovers will last for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

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, like asparagus, broccoli or green beans. A simple side salad will also be delicious. If you’re serving the fish with rice or feel the need to add a sauce, creamy lemon butter sauce or easy garlic butter sauce are excellent with fish.