Baked Flounder
Our Baked Flounder Recipe is an easy dinner that goes from prep to table in under 30 minutes. The fish is buttery, flaky, and full of fresh citrus and garlic flavors.
Who doesn’t love an easy meal that’s big on flavor? John and I are big fans of quick and easy dishes that use fresh herbs, citrus, and spices to add flavor without a lot of fuss.
Baked flounder with lemon garlic and butter is one of those meals. The flounder is baked in a lemon butter sauce filled with fresh garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Then the fish gets sprinkled with smoked paprika for an extra touch. Flounder is a light, white fish that flakes beautifully and pairs well with vegetables or salad for an easy dinner.
Much like our oven baked Mahi Mahi, Chilean Sea Bass, lemon pepper flounder and baked cod with Panko, this recipe comes together quickly and bakes up in no time! I love that it bakes in one pan, so cleanup is super easy.
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
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.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons garlic cloves, minced or pressed (about 3 small cloves)
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 pound flounder fillets, patted dry with paper towels
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F, and butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, lemon juice, garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Set aside.4 tablespoons unsalted butter2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice2 teaspoons garlic cloves½ teaspoon salt¼ teaspoon ground black pepper¼ teaspoon onion powder
- Pat the fillets dry with a paper towel, then place them in the prepared baking dish. Pour the butter mixture over the fillets. Sprinkle smoked paprika over the top.1 pound flounder fillets½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes (may need a few more minutes for thick fillets), or until the flounder flakes easily with a fork.
- Remove from the oven, garnish with fresh parsley and lemon. Serve hot with a salad or steamed veggies.
- Scroll up and see the post for tips, FAQs, and storage information.
Notes
- The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients in the recipe card and a serving size of ¼ pound of flounder. Actual calories will vary.
Made recipe exact. For me it was too much garlic, butter and salt. I felt the seasonings overpowered this delicate fish.
Thank you for letting us know Marcia. We understand that not everyone enjoys seasonings as much as we do. Have a nice day 🙂
This is a truly delicious and easy recipe. I used frozen flounder filets fully defrosted that I brined for 10 minutes then dried thoroughly with paper towels. I served with cherry tomatoes that baked along with the fish, fresh avocado slices and boiled mini Yukon gold potatoes. The lemon butter pan sauce is delicious drizzled over the fish and the boiled potatoes when served. This is a genius, easy and delicious recipe after a busy day. We love fish so I use more than a pound of flounder for 4 people.
Thank you Glenna! That sounds like a wonderful dinner. Thank you again for commenting and rating the recipe. Have a lovely day!
Trying this tonight! Just wanted to thank you for including the ingredients with each instruction step. I don’t know why more folks don’t do this. I hate having to continuously scroll up for ingredient amounts! Smart move what you’ve done!
Thank you Jane! Kim and I hope you enjoy the flounder. We try to make things as easy as possible for our readers. Thank you again for commenting and rating the recipe. Have a lovely day 🙂
Thanks for sharing this. It had been so long since I cooked. It was honestly so good that I cried.
Thank you for commenting and rating the recipe! Kim and I are glad you enjoyed the baked flounder. Have an awesome day 🙂
Great basic recipe for baked flounder. Served with spinach and baked sweet potatoes.
Thanks so much, Carrie! Spinach and sweet potatoes are great sides for this dish. We’re happy you enjoyed it. Have a wonderful evening! 🙂
Made it tonight and my husband loved it.
Glad to hear it, thank you Brenda!
Had this tonight! I added a light layer of Panko to the top. My husband likes a little crunch. Was delicious! Served with garlicky couscous, sauted vegetables and a nice mixed salad. Spooned the pan juices over the couscous. Yum! Nothing but a delicious memory now. Thank you for sharing
Thank you Cathy, Kim and I are thrilled you and your husband enjoyed the flounder. That sounds like a wonderful meal! Have a lovely day 🙂
My husband and I had this for dinner tonight and we were not impressed with the flavors. I think we will stay with the bolder flavors of blackened seasoning.
Hi Gebbie!
Blackened seasoning would taste great. Hope that works out better for you. Have a wonderful week! 🙂
This was great! Made it, ate some and added the rest to a seafood casserole with
other seafood!
In the oven now! I never bake fish for my hubby of 35 years and he is so excited!
Hi Debbie!
We hope you and your husband enjoy it! It’s one of our favorites. Have a wonderful evening! 🙂
Delicious! We just had this for a late lunch/early supper and loved it. Definitely a “keeper” recipe!
Hi Edee!
That’s fantastic! We’re so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for giving it a try and coming back to comment. Have a wonderful weekend! 🙂
Made this for my husband, and he enjoyed it so much that he wants me to cook it twice a week. It was delicious!
Thank you Ann! We’re glad you and your husband enjoyed the flounder. Have a lovely day 🙂