Learn how to cook tilapia in just 15 minutes! This 5-ingredient garlic parmesan crusted tilapia recipe is a delicious and easy dinner that the whole family will love. Serve the fish with rice, a loaf of crusty bread, or a simple green salad.
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If you love baked tilapia recipes, be sure to try this baked tilapia with lemon and garlic and this 5-ingredient almond-crusted baked tilapia, too!
How to Make this Easy Tilapia Recipe | 1-Minute Video
Best fish recipe I’ve used in a long time. Also the easiest. Can’t wait to use again. Actually tasted the flavor and it was the perfect crispness. Thank you!!
– Billy
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
Put an end to the crazy rush of mealtime with an easy tilapia recipe that the whole family can agree on! Here are three reasons that you’ll love this meal:
- You only need 5 ingredients — most of which are pantry staples. You can also keep the fish in the freezer until you’re ready to use it, so this is one option that will save you a last-minute trip to the grocery store.
- The dinner is a lighter, healthier, protein-packed option, yet it’s still made with delicious, familiar ingredients that your children will love. We’re talking butter, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and a very mild, tender white fish. Who wouldn’t devour that?!
- And finally (but perhaps most important), this baked tilapia recipe only requires about 5 minutes of prep. We all have time for that!
How to Cook Tilapia
Learn how to cook tilapia fillets with an easy, gluten free, 5-ingredient recipe that’s ready from start to finish in about 15 minutes! For this dish, you’ll cook the fish under the broiler. The high heat of the broiler gives the tilapia a nice golden brown, crusty exterior, while the inside of the fish stays moist and tender.
- Combine melted butter, lemon juice, and garlic powder in a small bowl.
- Brush the tilapia filets with the butter sauce and place on a broiling pan, rimmed baking tray lined with aluminum foil, or even a large baking dish (if they fit).
- Broil the tilapia for 5 minutes.
- Flip the fillets, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and broil for 5-6 more minutes. Cooking times will vary depending on the size and thickness of your fish, the temperature of the fish when it goes under the broiler, and the proximity to the broiler itself. Keep a close eye on the fish while it’s cooking — don’t walk away — as food can burn very quickly under a broiler.
- Taste and season tilapia with additional salt and pepper, if necessary.
- Garnish each serving with fresh herbs, such as parsley, basil, thyme, oregano, or chives, a lemon wedge, lemon slices, or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. You can also sprinkle with red pepper flakes for some heat!
Serving Suggestions
Garnish the fish with a lemon wedge and some chopped fresh parsley. Pair the really simple tilapia recipe with almost any side dish, such as no-knead cast iron focaccia, pesto pasta, tomato, cucumber and onion salad, cherry tomatoes with basil and balsamic, sauteed spinach, roasted yellow squash, green beans and mushrooms, or sauteed zucchini.
Storage
- How to cook frozen tilapia: If you’re starting with frozen tilapia, thaw the fish in the refrigerator overnight. Pat dry with paper towels and use in the recipe as instructed.
- How to store: The cooked fish will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 2 days. If you need to store the tilapia longer, you can freeze the leftovers for up to 1 month. It’s important to note, though — this tilapia is best when served warm from the oven.
- How to reheat: While it’s not ideal, you can carefully reheat the tilapia. You just need to be sure that you don’t overcook the fish in the reheating process. Either warm in the microwave for just a few seconds, or warm in a 275°F oven (loosely covered with foil) for about 7-10 minutes (or until the fish reaches an internal temperature of 130-135°F).
Went looking for a recipe on the fly, and found this one. I cannot say enough about it! The garlic and parmesan were perfectly proportioned, and not overwhelming, just perfectly flavored! I HIGHLY recommend this. Just wonderfully refreshing anytime of the year!
– Wendy L.
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Watch How to Make It
5-Ingredient Garlic Parmesan Tilapia Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 tilapia fillets (about 8 ounces each)
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- Juice from 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
- Optional, for serving: lemon wedges; chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to BROIL on HIGH and place a rack about 5-6 inches from the broiler unit. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Pat tilapia dry and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Combine melted butter, lemon juice, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Brush the butter mixture on both sides of the fish.
- Place the fish on the prepared baking sheet, bottom side UP, and broil for 5 minutes. Flip the fish over, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and return to the broiler for 5-6 more minutes. The fish will flake easily with a fork when it’s done.
- Garnish with lemon wedges and parsley.
Notes
- Always keep a close eye on food when it’s under the broiler, as it can burn very quickly.
- To know when the fish is done, gently insert the tines of a fork into the thickest part of a fillet. Twist the fork at a 45 degree angle. If the flesh of the fish is fork-tender and flakes easily, it’s done! If you prefer to use an instant read thermometer, the fish is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.
- If you like the flavor of Old Bay seasoning, you can add a dash of Old Bay to the melted butter mixture and then brush it on the fish. Paprika, garlic salt, onion powder, or lemon pepper would also be great additions to the butter mixture.
Nutrition
Recipe Variations
- If you like the flavor of Old Bay seasoning, you can add a dash of Old Bay to the melted butter mixture and then brush it on the fish. Paprika, garlic salt, onion powder, or lemon pepper seasoning would also be great additions to the butter mixture.
- We love the flavor of the butter, but you can swap it out and use olive oil instead if you prefer.
- For even stronger lemon flavor, add some grated lemon zest to the butter mixture.
- Swap out the lemons and use lime juice instead. The cooked tilapia would be great in fish tacos!
- Make it spicy by garnishing with crushed red pepper flakes or by adding cayenne pepper to the butter mixture.
- Serving sizes: This recipe yields four very large servings. If you’re cooking for two, or if you have smaller appetites to feed, I would suggest using only two or three tilapia fillets.
This recipe was originally published in January, 2017. It was updated in July, 2024.
I made this recipe but did cooked it in foil pouches turned out amazing.
Great idea! Thanks, Miles!
With 2 family members having problems with fat and dairy, the butter is a challenge for us. Has this ever been tried with olive oil instead? I worry that the heat of broiling would make it smoke.
Hi, Linda! Butter has a smoke point of 350 degrees F, which isn’t very high compared to a lot of oils. While I prefer the flavor of the butter, you should be fine replacing it with an oil instead. A high quality (low acidity) extra virgin olive oil has a smoke point of 400 degrees F, so that would be a good option. Another great oil that stands up to high heat is avocado oil, which has a smoke point of 520 degrees F. Hope that helps!
Is there a way to cook this in a frying pan as my oven doesn’t work.
Hi, Sarah! I would suggest looking at this recipe for general pan-frying instructions. You can do the same thing with the tilapia. 🙂 https://www.theseasonedmom.com/southern-fried-catfish/
I found this recipe through google while trying to look for some way different to make tilapia well all I have to say is wow it came out awesome and so simple will check out your other recipes ????
Thanks for your kind note, Belinda! I hope that you find plenty of other easy recipes on the blog! 🙂
Thanks, Mary!
I love most seafood, with that being said, I’ve never cared for the different recipes that I’ve used in the past!! HOWEVER, I made this today and this was soooooo yummy. The flavors marry together so well. I baked 2 fillets (even frozen, mind you). Ate one for lunch and while running errands – my mouth kept watering thinking about the absolute luscious ness. I paired my fish with some raw peppers, riced cauliflower and fresh beans !!!! Thank you somuchfor sharing your recipe. I’ll try and upload a pic of it!!
Didn’t work -but know that it looked and tasted amazonh
I left out that I’ve prepated tilapia from other recipes and it was lacking the tasteyness of this. Also at the bottom I mentioned amazon ( lol – you can certainly tell what I’ve been surfing on the net – I meant to say ‘AMAZING’
I love that, Michelle! Thank you so much for your kind note. I had to laugh, because I was scrolling through Amazon when I saw your comment pop up. 🙂 Glad that you enjoyed the fish!
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I followed your exact recipe and added a little extra Parmesan. Delish!!
Hubby make this. We only had two tilapia fillets and so added shrimp to fill in. He said it was super easy and all of us said it was super yummy!!!
Thank you!????????
Perfect! I’m so glad that everyone enjoyed it! 🙂
This was delicious and so easy!
Thanks, Kathy!
Went looking for a recipe on the fly, and found this one. I cannot say enough about it! The garlic and parmesan were perfectly proportioned, and not overwhelming, just perfectly flavored! I HIGHLY recommend this. Just wonderfully refreshing anytime of the year!
Thank you so much, Wendy! I’m thrilled that you enjoyed it and I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment!
I followed the instructions to this recipe exactly, and I ended up with an oven fire. Wish I would’ve been able to try it!
This was delicious! The whole family loved it.
Thanks, Cheryl!
This was delicious! I used a different white fish.
Thanks, Roberta!
I have made this many times. It is a family favorite. Tonight I am out of tilapia, but I have salmon. I wonder, would all steps be the same with a different fish?
Hi, Laura! Thanks for your kind note! Salmon is typically quite a bit thicker than tilapia and it’s often sold with the skin-on, so it won’t cook in quite the same way as the tilapia. Here’s a similar Parmesan-crusted baked salmon recipe that you might like to try, or you can use those cooking instructions with the tilapia ingredients. Up to you! https://www.theseasonedmom.com/baked-salmon-fillet/ You can transfer the salmon to the broiler for the final few minutes of cooking time, if you like, to get the topping even more crispy. Hope that helps!
Thank you. I’ll try that!
Oh my, this was WONDERFUL! I used Walleye fillets (Married to an avid Minnesota fisherman). My only changes were I added 1 tsp Italian seasoning and I used shredded instead of grated Parmesan. This is now my go-to recipe for any light flaky white fish filet! Goodbye cracker crumbs! Thank you for a terrific recipe!
That’s awesome, Tracee! I’m so glad to know that it works with the Walleye as well. Thanks for your note!
My 6yo was SCREAMING at me for daring to make fish. I ended up adding some breadcrumbs with the parmesan and then spraying some cooking spray over the top. He ended up LOVING it! I really enjoyed it too. I thought it was going to taste like butter and lemon, but those flavors were both subtle. I also added paprika per the suggestion.
We’re so happy to hear this and are glad you all enjoyed it!
I don’t like using the broiler. I do this recipe in a 350 degree oven for about 25-30 minutes. For this recipe it’s worth the wait.
We’re so glad you’re able to make it work for you, Andrea!
This was delicious, so easy, and only five ingredients!
Thank you, Jen! We’re glad you enjoyed it.
Wow. I was not expecting it to be this good. A simple tilapia. Wow
Thank you, Iris! We’re so glad you enjoyed it.