This post may include affiliate links; see our disclosure policy.
This baked fish recipe uses simple ingredients for big Mediterranean flavor! Make up a pan with any type of white fish, garlic, tomatoes, capers, and olives for a showy dish. The big flavors makes this recipe a reader favorite!
Baked fish might sound a bit pedestrian—until you’ve tried this Mediterranean baked fish recipe! One bite and you’ll be singing its praises. Roast up any white fish with lemon, garlic and a simple mix of tomatoes, onions and olives.
It comes out perfectly fork tender with a punchy zip from the lemon and tender vegetables to flavor each bite. The minute we tried it, we knew it was destined for our regular rotation: it works as both an easy weeknight meal and for dinner parties! The big flavors has made this recipe become a reader favorite over the years.
Featured reader comments
“Just made this recipe with tilapia. It is amazing! Loved the way the flavors worked together and how easy and quick it is to make. YUM!” -Peggy
“This is excellent! I’ve made it before and I’m making it again tonight. My husband loves it.” -Carol
“Made this as a weeknight dinner and it was easy and delicious! Thank you for sharing recipes that not only taste delicious but are easy for busy nights!” -Laruen
Ingredients in this baked fish recipe
This baked fish recipe uses a simple Mediterranean preparation to bring big flavors to the dish! It’s easy to slice up the vegetables before baking, and it comes together into something that seems much greater than the sum of its parts. The genius of this recipe is this: the fish bakes on top of aromatic vegetables, which give it just the right amount of moisture and form a sauce that infuses a pop of zingy flavor into each bite.
You can use any type of white fish in this baked fish recipe: in fact, it doesn’t even need to be white fish! It works with salmon too. Here are some varieties of mild white fish that work well. Keep in mind that each type of fish has a varying level of fillet thickness:
- White fish fillets: Tilapia, halibut, cod, grouper, snapper, pollock, or bass (salmon also works)
- Cherry tomatoes, red onion, garlic
- Green olives and capers
- Fresh parsley
- Olive oil
- Dried oregano
- Lemon juice
- Salt and pepper
How to bake fish
Baking white fish is pretty straightforward: it’s all about how thick the fillet is! Here are a few simple tips for how to bake fish:
- Pat the fillet dry, then season with olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon. This is a great basic flavor profile.
- Bake the fish for approximately 20 minutes at 425°F. The exact timing depends on the thickness of the fish. A very thin fillet may take 15 minutes, and very thick may take 25 minutes or more.
- Bake fish until the internal temperature is 140°F when measured with a food thermometer. This is a more precise measurement that yields perfectly cooked fish.
About the olives
This baked fish recipe uses olives for the Mediterranean-style preparation: which can be a polarizing ingredient! You can omit the olives if you’re cooking for olive haters; the dish is still delicious. But we highly recommend using them for the best flavor here! The Italian variety Castelvetrano is a green olive with a mild, buttery flavor: you can find this variety in many grocery stores near the other canned olives.
Sides for baked fish
Once you’ve got a pan of this baked fish recipe, we think you’ll agree: it’s a winner! Our entire family loves this one. Here are a few ways to pair this Mediterranean-style dinner: both for quick weeknight meals and for dinners to impress:
- Simple salad: Try Romaine Salad, Arugula Salad, or Kale Caesar Salad
- Elegant salad: Go for Endive Salad, Frisee Salad or Fennel Orange Salad
- Vegetables: Opt for Sauteed Broccolini, Roasted Broccolini, Pan Fried Broccoli, Sauteed Green Beans or Shaved Brussels Sprouts
- Grain or pasta: Add Spinach Rice, Couscous, Lemon Orzo, Farro, Farro with Mushrooms, Quinoa, or Seasoned Quinoa
Dietary notes
This baked fish recipe is pescatarian, gluten-free and dairy free.
Easy Baked Fish
This baked fish recipe uses simple ingredients for big Mediterranean flavor! Make up a pan with any type of white fish, garlic, tomatoes, capers, and olives for a showy dish. The big flavors makes this recipe a reader favorite!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Main dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Fish
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds white fish fillets (tilapia, halibut, cod, snapper, and so forth)
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- ¼ cup green olives, sliced in half (optional*; we like Castelvetrano)
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, divided
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- Fresh ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Allow the fish to stand at room temperature while prepping the vegetables.
- Chop the tomatoes, olives, red onion and garlic, as noted above.
- Place the chopped vegetables, drained capers, and 1 tablespoon chopped parsley in the bottom of a 9 x 13″ baking dish. Mix with 1 tablespoon olive oil, ¼ teaspoon salt, and fresh ground black pepper.
- Pat the fish dry. Rub it with 1 tablespoon olive oil and ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, split between the filets. Sprinkle both with the oregano and a few grinds black pepper. Place the fillets on top of the vegetables in the pan, then gently drizzle the fillets with the lemon juice.
- Place the pan in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes (depending on the thickness of the fish; check at 15 minutes for very thin fillets), until the fish is flaky and the internal temperature is 140 degrees Fahrenheit when measured with a food thermometer. Garnish with the remaining 1 tablespoon chopped parsley and serve immediately, adding a few spoonful of vegetables to each plate (over the top or next to the fish).
Notes
*Omit the olives if you’re cooking for olive haters; the dish is still delicious. But we highly recommend using them for the best flavor here! The Italian variety Castelvetrano has a mild, buttery flavor.
More baked fish recipes
Love baked fish recipes? There are loads of ways to prepare fish in the oven. Here are a few more ideas:
- Tilapia: Try Baked Tilapia with Tomatoes & Feta or crispy Parmesan Crusted Tilapia
- Cod: Opt for Baked Cod with Lemon
- Any white fish: Go for Epic Fish Tacos
- Salmon: Try Baked Salmon, Pesto Salmon, Salmon with Capers or Pistachio Crusted Salmon
I’ve made this a few times, usually with haddock filets. It’s a favourite! Even my fish-hating husband likes it enough to ask for seconds…
Just made this recipe with tilapia. It is amazing! Loved the way the flavors worked together and how easy and quick it is to make. YUM!