This Parmesan Crusted Tilapia is a simple fish recipe that is done in 20 minutes and will even impress non-fish lovers!
I always feel a little fancy when we eat fish at home, so serve this with some Vanilla Bean Rice Pudding with Raspberries and Salted Caramel, and your date night in is planned!!
Before I started blogging, I don’t think I ever made fish. Thinking that it was hard. Not knowing what to do.
I was so wrong.
Once I actually tried it, I realized that it is actually really easy. And really fast.
I am now a huge fan. Especially when it comes to a recipe as easy as this Parmesan Crusted Tilapia!
What You’ll Need:
- Parmesan Cheese – freshly grated definitely works the best for this recipe, in my opinion. But others have made this with the canned Parmesan and have liked it!
- Paprika – this adds flavor and color. I will sometimes use smoked paprika for a smoky twist.
- Parsley – for color and freshness.
- Salt – I like things salty, so I like to add a little salt. Feel free to leave this out if the Parmesan is salty enough for you.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – you’ll need this so that the cheese mixture will stick to the fish.
- Tilapia – I used tilapia because it is easy for me to get, but any firm, white fish will work.
- Lemon – in my opinion, you can never go wrong with a squeeze of fresh lemon on fish. It holds true on this recipe, as well.
How to Make It
MIX: Combine the parmesan, paprika, parsley, and salt. I like to do this in a shallow bowl or on a plate.
DRIZZLE: Cover both sides of the fish with the olive oil.
COAT: Dredge each piece of fish in the parmesan mixture, coating both sides. Use your hands to pat the cheese and seasonings into the fish, if needed.
BAKE: Bake the filets until the fish is opaque in the thickest part of the fish. For a normal sized tilapia filet, this should take about 10 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions:
This is a super simple dish, so I think a couple super simple side dishes are all you need. I love this Lemon Broccoli or these Sauteed Green Beans with Cherry Tomatoes. I would just keep it simple!
I think one common misconception with this recipe is that it should be crispy. u0022Crustedu0022 in this instance just means that it is covered in Parmesan. I have had people say that they pan fry it first before baking, which will make it a little more crispy. You could also add some bread crumbs, if you want more of a crispy crust.
Yes! If you are using frozen fish, just make sure to fully thaw it before cooking. I like to thaw frozen fish in the refrigerator overnight.
I have made this with other firm, white fish (like halibut) but my guess is that as long as it is a firm fish, this would be delicious!
One thing that I love about this recipe is that it is easy to change it up. I mentioned that I like to use smoked paprika, but lemon pepper, old bay seasoning, a bit of cajun seasoning, or garlic powder would be delicious. Feel free to play around with the recipe and make it your own!
More Delicious Seafood Recipes
Take a trip back to your childhood with this classic Tuna Casserole recipe.
When I’m craving salmon, this Soy Ginger Salmon is the one that always pops into my mind.
In the mood for tacos? Try these Fried Fish Tacos for a bit of Tex-Mex at home.
This Moo Shu Shrimp is packed with flavor and are perfect any night of the week.
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Parmesan Crusted Tilapia
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon salt ,optional
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 4 tilapia filets ,about 4 oz each*
- lemon ,cut into wedges
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with foil.
- In a shallow bowl, mix together the Parmesan, paprika, parsley and salt. Drizzle the tilapia with the olive oil, then dredge in the cheese mixture, pressing it in lightly with your fingers if necessary. Transfer to the baking sheet.
- Bake until the fish is opaque in the thickest part, 10-12 minutes. Serve with the lemon slices.
Linda says
This was easy, quick and delicious. Forgot to put out lemons and think it would have added to the flavor.
Melissa Kirk says
I’m trying it now! This recipe looks amazing!
Mariah M says
Was very tasty & my 1 year old loved it!
Marcia says
Made this recipe for dinner tonight and we loved it! Favorite tilapia recipe by far! Added a 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder to Parmesan mixture. Will definitely make again in the future. Thanks Deborah
Diane says
We love tilapia but weren’t so happy with this recipe. It gets an A for ease. I grated the parmesan and it was just too overpowering. We couldn’t taste the fish. Maybe this would be better with the grated stuff you get in the spaghetti sauce aisle or using a lot less freshly grated cheese. I’m not apt to try this again to find out though since I have a different parmesan tilapia recipe.
Catherine says
I made this tonight and it was super good! I grated fresh Parmesan and used smoked paprika. I didn’t have fresh parsley So I used dried. Everyone loved it! This is a go to for a quick and delicious meal.
Michelle says
I just made this tonight for dinner, and I am amazed that all 3 of my kids like it, they ate all of it. Thanks for the easy and delish recipe.
Janet Snyder says
I was looking forward to the cheesier taste with less carbs, but I think I just like this kind of recipe better with parmesan and bread crumbs.
Tracy says
Made this at 450 at 10 minutes and it changed my life! 😍
Heather says
Made this for my family and they loved it and better yet 5 min prep…15 min in the oven…threw together a salad and cooked some broccoli dinner is done!
Areil says
So yummy! Whole family loved it!
Josh Holbrooks says
Made this tonight with some hesitation! Exceeded all my expectations and for the whole family!!!! With the exception of my daughter who doesn’t like any kind of crust or breading on her meat…. I did cook it for about 16 minutes and it was perfect! Fillets were around 1” thick
Linda says
This turned out really good. They didn’t have cod or tilapia so I had to use halibut. The timing and ingredients were perfect! Thanks!
Barbara Fee says
I loved this recipe. It was excellent and easy. A hit with my entire family!
Lisa says
Made this for dinner tonight! Super easy and delicious! My hubby loved i. Will definitely make it again. Thanks
Sabrina Harvey says
This is a delicious recipe. To be honest, I don’t like tilapia. I thought about throwing my package of frozen tilapia away. But, I saw this recipe and decided to give it a try. It is delicious, even with tilapia. I will use this recipe in this future, maybe with tilapia, but for sure with other better tasting fish.