Baked Flounder

Lemon Garlic Flounder:

We love to add seafood recipes to our weekly rotation of easy dinner dishes. They’re light, simple to prepare, full of flavor, and the possibilities are endless.

This easy flounder recipes checks off all those boxes. It comes together and is on the table in about 30 minutes.

We chose to season the flounder with a savory lemon garlic butter and a sprinkle of smoked paprika. The light flavors pair well with flaky white fish without being heavy or overwhelming.

Serve this flounder recipe with your favorite sides for an amazing dinner recipe that the whole family will love!

How to Make Baked Flounder with Lemon Garlic and Butter:

1. Start by preheating the oven, and buttering a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Set aside. Since the fish is usually on the thinner side and it’s delicate, we bake it on a lower temperature of 325°F.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, lemon juice, garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Please use freshly squeezed lemon juice and not imitation.
3. Pat the fish fillets dry with a paper towel, and check for any small bones. Lay the fillets in the prepared baking dish. It’s okay to overlap the fish if it doesn’t fit in an even layer as long as all the fillets are in an even layer.

4. Pour the lemon butter mixture over the fish. Sprinkle the flounder with smoked paprika, and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the fillets flake easily with a fork. Depending on the thickness of the fish, it may need to bake it for a couple extra minutes.
5. Serve the baked flounder immediately with a drizzle of the lemon butter and garlic, extra lemon wedges, fresh vegetables, or a side salad.

What goes with baked flounder?

Baked flounder goes great with lighter side dishes. Here are some favorites:

• Roasted Potatoes
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes

The side dishes for flounder are endless with plenty of flavorful options.

How do you bake fish without drying it out?

Make sure to cook the fish at the correct time and temperature for the variety that you’re baking.

Although, most fish varieties cook at similar oven temperatures, they can vary slightly.

The thickness and texture of the fish is also important. Less oily fish tend to dry out more easily than fattier fish like salmon or sea bass.

How do you know when flounder is cooked?

Baked flounder will be white and flake easily with a fork when it’s finished baking.

Additionally, the internal temperature should range between 140°F to 145°F on an instant read thermometer.

Can you use frozen fillets for baked flounder with lemon garlic and butter?

We used frozen fillets that had been thawed and patted dry, and don’t recommend using completely frozen fillets.

Fresh fillets are the best bet if you’re able to locate them.

Why is the flounder so watery?

If you used frozen flounder fillets, it is likely due to the solution in fish. Another possibility is if the fish wasn’t properly thawed, it will release water as it cooks.

Either one of these can cause the finished dish to have a watery or soupy consistency and will dilute the flavor of the butter sauce.

Do you have to use a lemon garlic and butter sauce?

No, there are a ton of ways to flavor flounder.

You can also use olive oil, salt, and pepper with some fresh lemon juice at the end. Anything that’s light and flavorful will work well without overpowering the fish.

If you want a spicy fish recipe, try our blackening seasoning and make oven baked blackened flounder.

How to Store Leftover Flounder:

Flounder stores well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. Reheat in the oven on the lowest temperature setting just until warmed through. This helps to prevent drying out.

Another option is to reheat over low heat on the stove top.

Other Seafood Recipes to Add to the Menu

• Shrimp Curry
• Mushroom Shrimp Pasta
• Shrimp Scampi
• Blackened Mahi Mahi
• Sheet Pan Salmon

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