Baked Haddock Lemon Capers (Printable)

Tender haddock fillets baked with lemon, capers, and herbs for a bright, flavorful seafood dish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 skinless, boneless haddock fillets, approximately 6 oz each
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - Salt, to taste
04 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Topping

05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about half a lemon)
07 - 2 teaspoons lemon zest
08 - 2 tablespoons rinsed and drained capers
09 - 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
10 - 1 garlic clove, minced
11 - Lemon slices for garnish (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish to fit the fillets in a single layer.
02 - Pat fillets dry with paper towels. Place in the baking dish, drizzle with olive oil, season both sides with salt and pepper.
03 - In a bowl, stir together melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, capers, parsley, and minced garlic until well combined.
04 - Spoon the lemon-caper mixture evenly over each haddock fillet.
05 - Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
06 - Optionally garnish with lemon slices and extra parsley before serving immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than you can set the table, but tastes like you spent the afternoon in the kitchen.
  • The lemon and capers bring just enough brightness to make mild fish feel exciting without covering up its delicate flavor.
  • Everything bakes in one dish, so cleanup is as easy as the cooking.
02 -
  • Drying the fillets before seasoning is the difference between a nicely browned fish and a watery one.
  • Don't skip rinsing the capers, I learned this the hard way when the first batch tasted like a salt lick.
  • Check the fish a minute or two early, haddock can go from perfect to rubbery fast.
03 -
  • Use a timer and check the fish a minute early, haddock is forgiving but not invincible.
  • If you want a little heat, add a pinch of chili flakes to the butter mixture, it wakes up the whole dish.
  • Fresh lemon zest makes a bigger difference than you'd think, don't skip it if you have a lemon on hand.

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