Healthy dinner in under 10 minutes! This blackened tilapia recipe is baked, not fried, and is a great lean protein option to add to your dinner menu. Add a side of vegetables, rice, or potatoes, and enjoy loads of flavor with minimal effort.
Easy Oven Baked Blackened Tilapia Recipe
No joke, this is my son’s favorite food right now. He requests it whenever I ask what I should make for dinner, and also for his birthday!
I can’t blame him, the spice rub and tender fish work so well together!
The homemade blackened seasoning takes a mild-tasting fish and transforms it into a dish with great flavor. Serve with your favorite sides and enjoy the simplicity of this recipe.
Here’s why you’ll love this recipe
Uses fresh or frozen tilapia – Enjoy the convenience of being able to use fresh or frozen tilapia. Frozen tilapia defrosts quickly, making this recipe accessible for your busiest of nights!
Super quick to make – Tilapia is a quick-cooking fish, and great for nights when you don’t have much time to make dinner.
Healthy protein – Whitefish is a source of lean protein, and also healthy fatty acids!
Kid-approved recipe – The recipe had just the right amount of heat to still be enjoyed by kids. My oldest child asks for this meal over and over again!
Great for a dinner party – This is the kind of recipe that wows dinner guests, but it’s incredibly easy to make! You can prep the pan in advance so it’s ready to go in the oven, which leaves you having less work to do while guests are there.
What should you serve with blackened crust tilapia
Sides and sauces round out this blackened tilapia meal. Try these favorites to create the best dinner!
- Avocado mango salad
- Broccoli salad without bacon
- Tomato, avocado, and grilled corn salad
- Sweet skillet cornbread
- Traeger asparagus recipe
- Instant pot cilantro lime brown rice
- Crispy sweet potato fries with chipotle mayo
Want even more ideas? Check out this list of 50+ Sides to Serve with Baked Tilapia!
What you need for this quick dinner recipe
Scroll down to view the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, nutritional information, and step-by-step instructions.
- paprika
- thyme
- dried onion powder
- dried garlic powder
- oregano
- black pepper
- sea salt
- cayenne pepper
- extra virgin olive oil
- tilapia
How to make oven baked tilapia with homemade blackened seasoning
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2: Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and add the sides of the tilapia with a little space between each piece. If your fish has extra liquid on it, dab it with a paper towel. Spread the olive oil on each fillet with a basting brush.
Step 3: In a small bowl combine the blackened seasoning mix.
Step 4: Sprinkle the homemade blackening seasoning evenly on the fish fillets. Bake for 9-11 minutes, until the fish easily flakes. Serve with lemon slices and chives.
Watch me make this recipe
The full how to video can be watched below, or on my YouTube channel!
How to make this on the stovetop
Instead of baking tilapia, you can also cook it on the stove top! Over medium-high heat on a large cast iron skillet add a little oil.
Season the mild white fish as the recipe calls to, and sear for 2-3 minutes on one side, flip, and cook for 2-3 more minutes until the fish flakes. You can add a little melted butter or extra spice mixture if you’d like!
How to store leftovers
Leftover tilapia can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Once the fish is cooled to room temperature you can store it covered in the fridge.
Reheat cooked tilapia in the oven, an air fryer, a toaster oven, or on a skillet! Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or lime juice to the fish to add a burst of brightness.
While you can definitely freeze fish, cooked fish does not keep as well as frozen uncooked fish.
Turn this easy recipe into fish tacos!
Cajun seasoning adds the best flavor to this fish, and it would turn into awesome fish tacos!
Tuck the flaky tilapia fillets between tortillas with coleslaw and cilantro.
Substitutions
Below you’ll find a list of substitutions that will work well in this blackened tilapia recipe.
If you try something different out, please leave a comment below letting us all know how it turned out!
Tilapia – You can substitute any other mild-tasting fish for tilapia. Cod, halibut, sole, and mahi mahi are all great choices. You could also make salmon or steelhead with this great seasoning mix!
More delicious fish recipes you’ll love
- Easy baked salmon with mayonnaise
- Parmesan panko baked cod recipe
- Salmon tacos with slaw
- Jerk salmon salad
- Baked salmon with mango salsa
Blackened Tilapia Recipe Baked
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp paprika
- ½ tbsp thyme
- ½ tsp dried onion powder
- ½ tsp dried garlic powder
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lb tilapia if using frozen, defrost
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and add the sides of the tilapia with a little space between each piece. If your fish has extra liquid on it, dab it with a paper towel. Spread the olive oil on each fillet with a basting brush.
- In a small bowl combine the blackened seasoning mix.
- Sprinkle the homemade blackening seasoning evenly on the fish fillets. Bake for 9-11 minutes, until the fish easily flakes. Serve with lemon slices and chives.
Nutrition
If you try this recipe, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it turned out!
XO
Heather
