Parmesan Tilapia (Quick and Easy!)

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Parmesan Tilapia One of my favorite weeknight meals. It’s quick and easy to make and tastes absolutely amazing! With just the right combination of Parmesan cheese, spices, and herbs, this Parmesan tilapia comes together in minutes and is perfect for busy weeknights when you want a quick, tasty meal. The end result is something truly special: golden, crispy fish surrounded by an herb and cheese crust.

This dish has all the speed Fried Tilapia and Lemon Butter Baked Tilapiawith something like Parmesan Crusted Salmon. This is one of my favorite meals to cook less than 30 minutes!

Why You’ll Love This Parmesan Tilapia Recipe

Mild taste with Parmesan flavor
Flaky, tender fish with a crispy skin
Ready in 20 minutes
No need for crumbs, flour, eggs or dredging
Naturally Low Carb, Gluten Free and High in Protein
Affordable One Pot Meals

Ingredients and Substitutes

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for this easy Parmesan tilapia recipe, what each ingredient does in the recipe, and substitution options.For measurements, see recipe card below.

Parmesan Tilapia:

Tilapia Fillet – Unlike many other fish recipes, you can bake this tilapia fresh or frozen because the combination of mayonnaise and rind keeps it from drying out. If you have frozen fish, simply rinse in cold water, remove ice, pat dry, and proceed as you would fresh fish. I used a whole fillet in this recipe, but tenderloin (thicker part of the fillet without the flat part) could also be used.
spices – garlic saltChilli, black pepper, and paprika add flavor to this crusted Parmesan tilapia, but you can use other spices, too. If you don’t have garlic salt, you can use a mixture of regular garlic powder and sea salt instead.
herbs – You also season with dried fish oregano and basil. You can also use fresh herbs, but you will need to triple the amount of each.
grated Parmesan cheese – This ingredient, along with the herbs and spices, forms the fish’s “breadcrumb mix.” Do not shred or shave the Parmesan as it will just melt and will not create the same crust.I also don’t recommend freshly grated parmesan as it will melt instead of forming a crust – use Grated Parmesan in a plastic jar like this instead. Parmesan is healthier than breadcrumbs, but if you prefer, you can substitute half and half with breadcrumbs for a crunchier texture.
mayonnaise – I like to use my Homemade Avocado Oil MayonnaiseBut you can use any mayonnaise you like in this recipe.
lemon juice – I used fresh lemons, but that’s totally optional.

Optional vegetables:

You don’t have to cook tilapia parmesan with veggies, but I often make it as an easy one-pan meal. If you want to add them, you need the following:

soft vegetables – Use vegetables that don’t take long to cook, such as asparagus, green beans, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes. Firmer vegetables are not recommended as they will not be cooked through when the fish is cooked.
olive oil – Alternatively, avocado oil would work, or even melted butter, since the cooking time is so short.
sea salt and black pepper

How to Make Parmesan Tilapia

This section shows how to make baked parmesan tilapia with mayonnaise, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique to help you visualize it.For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see recipe card below.

Prepare. Preheat oven.Lightly coat with grease bakeware Use oil or cooking spray.
season. Place the tilapia fillets on the pan. Dry with paper towels, then season both sides with garlic salt and black pepper.
Spread mayonnaise. Add mayonnaise to each fillet.

Tilapia fillets seasoned with salt and pepper.

Add the crust topping. In a small bowl or plate, combine the Parmesan, oregano, basil, and paprika. Top each fillet with Parmesan cheese mixture.
Add vegetables. If you want to make a sheet pan dinner, surround the fish with a layer of soft vegetables.

A bowl of parmesan, oregano, basil and paprika.

bake. Cook until the fish flakes easily with a fork and the skin is golden brown. Squeeze fresh lemon, if desired, before serving.

Baked Parmesan Crusted Tilapia and Vegetables on a Sheet Pan.

How Long to Grill Parmesan Tilapia?

Baked Parmesan Tilapia takes 10-12 minutes to bake at 400°F, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F with a thermometer.

Tip: Bake with frozen tilapia?

Just add a few more minutes to the cooking time. You’ll know it’s ready when it flakes easily with a fork, just like fresh fish.

storage instructions

shop: The safest way to store leftovers is to separate each fillet in shallow, airtight containers or wrap tightly in plastic wrap. The container should then be stored in the coldest part of the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Reheat: For best results, reheat the tilapia in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes, until warm. Microwaves work too, but are more likely to dry out the fish.
freeze: You can also freeze Parmesan tilapia for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or in a Ziploc bag submerged in water before reheating. The fish may be a little dry after thawing.

Parmesan tilapia with asparagus and zucchini.

What to Serve with Baked Parmesan Tilapia

Easy weeknight dinners call for equally easy side dishes! Try these ideas.

More Grilled Fish Recipes

If you liked this grilled tilapia recipe, you’ll love some of my other grilled fish recipes for busy weeknights. Here are a few of my favourites: