Baked Halibut Lemon Butter (Printable)

Tender halibut fillets baked and topped with a zesty lemon butter sauce for a flavorful dish.

# What You Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 (6-ounce) halibut fillets
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Lemon Butter Sauce

04 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
06 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

→ Garnish

09 - Lemon slices (optional)
10 - Additional parsley, chopped (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to hold the halibut fillets in a single layer.
02 - Pat the halibut fillets dry with paper towels. Brush both sides with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper.
03 - Arrange the seasoned fillets in the prepared baking dish, ensuring they are not overcrowded.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, and chopped parsley until well combined.
05 - Pour the lemon butter sauce evenly over the halibut fillets, ensuring each piece is well coated.
06 - Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork and is opaque throughout. Adjust time based on fillet thickness.
07 - Transfer the baked halibut to serving plates. Spoon any remaining sauce from the baking dish over the top. Garnish with lemon slices and additional parsley if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The lemon butter sauce creates this incredible silky finish that makes restaurant-quality fish completely approachable for home cooks
  • It's one of those rare recipes that feels elegant but comes together in under 30 minutes with virtually no cleanup
02 -
  • Overcooked halibut becomes dry and chalky almost instantly, so start checking at the 15-minute mark even if the fillets seem thick
  • The sauce will separate slightly in the oven, but that's completely normal—just give it a gentle stir before spooning it over the fish
03 -
  • Let the fish rest at room temperature for 15 minutes before cooking—it helps the fillets cook more evenly and prevents that shock of cold fish hitting hot butter
  • If you're making this for a dinner party, you can prep everything up to the baking step and refrigerate, just add a couple of minutes to the cooking time

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