Why You Will LOVE Baking Tilapia in the Oven
Table of Contents
- Fast & easy – a quick drizzle of olive oil, sprinkle of salt & pepper, & 25 minutes in the oven – doesn’t get much easier than that!
- Family-friendly – nothing better than an easy weeknight option that I know the whole family will eat! Gluten-free and packed with omega-3 fatty acids.
- Options – you can do so many things with baked tilapia – eat it by itself with sides, in tacos, in a rice bowl, get creative and let us know how you like it!
Looking for More Ways to Cook Tilapia?
Then you definitely need to fire up your grill and try our Grilled Tilapia!
Key Ingredients + Substitutions
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, & estimated nutritional information.
- fish fillets – highly recommend picking up some fresh fish at your local grocery store, but frozen fish would work too. Just be sure to fully thaw before cooking.
- olive oil – give the cooked fish a nice, golden brown color, but can easily be swapped out for a softened butter (or melted butter).
How To Make Oven Baked Tilapia
Best Ways to Season Baked Tilapia
In this recipe, we kept is simple with salt and pepper. However, there are so many great options for adding more flavor! Feel free to try some creole seasoning, Old Bay seasoning, a little lemon zest, or some lemon pepper. And if you like a kick of heat, add a sprinkling of red pepper flakes!
What Should I Serve With Baked Tilapia?
There are so many great ways to enjoyed perfectly baked tilapia! Keep is super easy with some steamed green beans, herbed potatoes, rice pilaf, brussels sprouts, or cauliflower rice. Serve with some lemon wedges for that squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Can I Use Baked Tilapia In Fish Tacos?
Absolutely! Honestly, fresh fish tacos are probably our favorite way to eat baked tilapia! There are so many different toppings you could add to these or let the whole family get creative with different combinations. They would also pair really well with a side of homemade guacamole and a mango margarita!
Recipe FAQs and Tips
- Do I have to use parchment paper? we love to use recycled parchment paper to make cleanup a breeze but feel free to use aluminum foil or generously spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
- How long does it take to bake fish at 375 degrees F? For best results, you will want to bake your fish fillets for about 20-25 minutes at that temperature. The time will vary depending on how thick the fillets are but they are done once they can easily be broken apart with a fork.
- Leftovers: you can keep leftover baked tilapia in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Made this recipe and loved it?!
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Oven Baked Tilapia Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Fish
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
An easy, straightforward and delicious Oven Baked Tilapia recipe that teaches you how to bake tilapia fillets in the oven!
Ingredients
- 4 fresh tilapia fillets
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Pat tilapia filets dry with clean paper towels.
- Season Fish: Place tilapia fillets on a baking sheet or baking dish lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil, rubbing it all over the fillets. Sprinkle with salt and pepper (feel free add other seasonings as well – creole seasoning works great).
- Bake Fish: Move the whole thing to the preheated oven to bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
- Serve: Enjoy right away – we love these with some steamed green beans and herbed potatoes OR you can cut up the fish fillets to make fish tacos!
Notes
- Storage: store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Internal temperature: tilapia is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. at the thickest part of the fillet (use an instant read thermometer to track the temp).
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6oz
- Calories: 142
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 215.3 mg
- Fat: 5.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 0.1 g
- Protein: 23.3 g
- Cholesterol: 58 mg
Sunshine Love says
I can’t wait to try it.
Kay Wolf says
Can this baked tilapia fish be made in a toaster oven?
Sally Shutt says
Of course you can use a toaster oven. I haven’t used my big oven for years. If you use the convection setting you might want to reduce the cooking time a bit. Check it with a meat thermometer 🌡 or check the instructions that are provided with your manufacturer.
I would recommend scrunching the parchment paper and dampening it it if you use the convection setting.
Emily says
Turned out perfectly!