Lemon Pepper Tilapia From Frozen
Lemon Pepper Tilapia is baked straight from frozen, no thawing required. Seasoned with butter, a lemon pepper blend, and finished with fresh dill, this easy weeknight dinner is ready in about 20 minutes with just a handful of ingredients.
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We’ve all been there. It’s 5 p.m. and we’re staring into the refrigerator realizing we forgot to take the fish out of the freezer. This Lemon Pepper Tilapia is baked from frozen, making it a great last-minute dinner.
Just place the frozen fillets in a baking dish, drizzle with melted butter, and season with a lemon pepper blend before sliding it into the oven. It comes out flaky and flavorful every time. Start to finish, you’re looking at about 25 minutes. That gives you plenty of time to put together a side dish to go with it.
Tilapia is one of my go-to frozen proteins for exactly this reason. It’s affordable, widely available, and high in protein. Plus, unlike thicker fish, it cooks from frozen without any sacrifice in texture.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here are the ingredients you need to make lemon pepper tilapia from frozen.
- Frozen tilapia fillets — No thawing needed. Look for individually vacuum-sealed fillets, which make it easy to pull just what you need from the freezer.
- Unsalted butter — Melted and drizzled over the fish before baking, it keeps the fillets moist and carries the seasoning into every bite. The melted butter will firm back up when it hits the frozen filets. Swap for ghee to keep this Whole30 compatible.
- Lemon pepper seasoning blend — I use Dash Lemon Pepper, which is salt-free and widely available. If your blend contains salt, reduce or skip the added kosher salt.
- Kosher salt — Adds control over the seasoning level, especially important if you’re using a salt-free blend like Dash.
- Fresh dill — Scattered over the fish right before serving for a bright, herby finish that pairs perfectly with lemon pepper.
- Lemon — Sliced to serve alongside. A fresh squeeze over the fish at the table brings everything together.
How to Make Lemon Pepper Tilapia
Preheat the oven. Place your oven rack on the top third of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Lightly spray a baking dish. Place the frozen tilapia fillets in a single layer. They shouldn’t be touching or overlapping.
Season the fish. Drizzle melted butter evenly over both fillets, making sure each one is well coated. Sprinkle with lemon pepper seasoning blend and kosher salt.
Bake. Bake for 20 minutes, until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. The internal temperature should reach 145 degrees F.
Broil for color. Switch the oven to broil and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Watch it closely, as broilers vary and it can go from golden to burnt quickly.
Serve with fresh herbs. Remove from the oven and scatter fresh dill over the top. Serve immediately with lemon slices on the side for squeezing over the fish.
Tips for Baking Tilapia from Frozen
- Use a salt-free seasoning blend. Lemon pepper blends vary widely in salt content. I use Dash Lemon Pepper, which is salt-free and Whole30 compatible. I add kosher salt separately so I can control the seasoning level.
- Don’t skip the broil. The 2-minute broil at the end is what gives the fish its color and a slightly crisp top. Baked from frozen, tilapia can come out looking pale without it.
- Check for doneness with a fork. The fish is done when it flakes easily and is opaque throughout. If you’re using a thermometer, you’re looking for 145 degrees F.
- Don’t crowd the pan. The fillets need space to cook evenly and crisp up in the melted butter. If you’re scaling up, use a larger baking dish or a sheet pan and make sure the fillets aren’t touching.
Serving Suggestions
The fish takes about 22 minutes, which gives you just enough time to pull together a simple side. Steamed or basmati rice is my go-to. If you want something green and Whole30 compatible, my Roasted Sugar Snap Peas and Garlicky Green Beans both cook in about the same amount of time as the fish, making this a full dinner in less than 30 minutes.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a 300 degree oven for about 10 minutes or in a skillet over low heat. Please don’t reheat leftovers in the microwave. The fish will get rubbery and everyone in the immediate area will scowl at you.
Lemon Pepper Tilapia
Ingredients
- 2 4-ounce frozen tilapia fillets
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning blend
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, roughly chopped, for serving
- 1 lemon, sliced, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking dish.
- Place the frozen tilapia fillets in a single layer in the prepared dish. Drizzle melted butter evenly over both fillets.
- Sprinkle with lemon pepper seasoning blend and salt.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Switch oven to broil and cook for an additional 2 minutes to get a little color on top. Watch closely, so it doesn’t burn.
- Remove from the oven and top with fresh dill. Serve immediately with lemon slices.
Notes
- Bake time: The fish needs to cook until an internal temperature of 145 degrees F or higher is reached. It should easily flake with a fork.
- Lemon pepper seasoning: Look for a salt-free blend like Dash. If the blend has salt, adjust accordingly.
- Make Whole30: Swap butter for ghee and be sure to read the label on your lemon pepper seasoning. Dash is compatible.
- Scaling the recipe: This recipe is built to serve 2 but easily scales. Just increase the ingredients proportionally and use a larger baking dish so the fillets aren’t touching.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
Such a great way to prepare tilapia!
It’s so simple and great for busy weeknights, too!