tilapia Archives - Family Dinners Delicious Dinners Families Love Tue, 13 Jun 2023 22:11:56 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://familydinners.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/cropped-favicon-32x32.png tilapia Archives - Family Dinners 32 32 Air Fried Fish Tacos https://familydinners.com/fried-fish-tacos/ https://familydinners.com/fried-fish-tacos/#respond Sat, 31 Dec 2022 02:26:00 +0000 https://familydinners.com/?p=8834 Make these delicious fried fish tacos topped with the perfect combination of toppings.

The post Air Fried Fish Tacos appeared first on Family Dinners.

]]>

Looking for some new inspiration to mix up your Taco Tuesday routine? We have found the perfect simple recipe in our mouth watering air fried fish tacos. You will love these crispy shells filled with flakey air fried tilapia, crisp veggies, fresh cheese and delicious salsa.

ready to eat fish tacos lined up on a plate.

Impress your whole family and guests with an amazing Mexican feast by combining some of our easy to follow recipes. Homemade Air Fryer Taco Shells, Air Fried Fish, tangy Mango Habanero Salsa and creamy cilantro lime sour cream make this air fryer fish tacos recipe absolutely irresistible.

Fish tacos lined up on a plate.

Why You’ll Love This

  • Notable: crispy fried fish, crunchy vegetables and mouth watering sauces create the perfect mix of textures and flavors
  • Main Ingredients: white fish filets, panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, oil, tortillas, cilantro, salsa, queso fresco, shredded cabbage, sour cream, black beans and spices
  • Cooking Method: air fryer
  • Cooking Time: 20 minutes prep time, 15 minutes cook time
  • Pairs well with: pico de gallo, guacamole, Mexican rice, black beans
  • Special Equipment Needed: air fryer, shallow dish, knife and cutting board
Fried fish tacos on a plate with rice and beans.
air fryer fish tacos lined up on a plate.

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this flavorful air fryer fish tacos recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this tilapia fish tacos recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Air Fryer Fried Fish Ingredients

  • 1 lb white fish fillets (cut into 1 inch strips)
  • ½ cup panko crumbs
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese (grated)
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoon oil

Taco Topping Ingredients

Variations and Substitutions

White Fish Filets: We recommend using a firm white fish that is mild in flavor such as tilapia fillet, sea bass, cod or mahi mahi filet, for example.

Bread Crumbs: Use regular panko bread crumbs or substitute Italian bread crumbs. When using Italian bread crumbs, omit the Italian seasoning.

Italian Seasoning: You can substitute plain oregano, or make your own Italian seasoning by mixing oregano, dried basil, and thyme.

Oil: We like to use oil with a high smoke point such as vegetable oil or avocado oil, for example.

Cilantro Lime Sour Cream: You can substitute your favorite lime crema. Additionally, you can simply mix some greek yogurt with lime juice, in case you prefer a healthier option.

Gluten Free Substitutions

To make your air fried fish tacos gluten free, use gluten free bread crumbs. Make sure your corn tortillas are gluten free. Some brands mix flour into corn tortillas so look for the “gluten free” label on your package.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you loved this simple recipe for yummy air fried fish tacos, then try our Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas. You’ll love them because they are an easy and delicious one-pan meal packed with veggies, protein, and smoky chipotle flavors.

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale.

Air Fryer – This recipe requires an air fryer. We have both this Cosori air fryer, which is wonderful, and this Cuisinart Air Fryer, which we also love. The Cuisinart also has convection oven and toaster oven capacity. You can buy an air fryer with a basket with high sides that food goes into or a tray type of machine. The trays are shallow but are usually longer and can accomodate more food in a single layer.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook crispy fish tacos in the air fryer, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

MAKE BREADING: Firstly, combine bread crumbs, parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika and black pepper in a shallow bowl.

Bowl of bread crumbs and spices.
Oil poured onto fish.

PREPARE FISH: After brushing the fresh fish with 2 tablespoons of oil, gently roll it in the panko mixture to cover. Afterwards, put gentle pressure on the fish to make the seasoning stick to the fish, using your hands or a rolling pin. The crispy coating will stay on the fish better this way and less will fall off while cooking.

uncooked breaded fish in an air fryer.
Cooked fish in an air fryer.

PLACE IN AIR FRYER: Then spray your air-fryer basket/tray with cooking spray to prevent fish from sticking. Place pieces of fish into the air fryer basket/tray in a single layer. Make sure there is space in between each piece of fish. Do not overcrowd the basket. You may need to cook the fish in batches. Use air fryer parchment paper to keep the fish from sticking.

AIR FRY: Cook at 400°F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cook time depends on the thickness and width of your fish pieces. Therefore check on the fish intermittently. Internal temperature should be 145°F.

Fish tacos lined up on a plate.
Plate of fish tacos

SERVE: Warm the tortillas in the microwave or a skillet, or air fry them to make crispy tacos. Then place a piece of fish into your tortilla. Top with chopped cabbage, crumbled cheese, salsa, cilantro and any other toppings you choose!

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love meaty tacos as much as food truck fish tacos then you’ll love our Instant Pot Carnitas. They are tender, juicy, crispy on the outside, melt in your mouth and bursting with flavor.

Stef says….

I always add my super yummy Mango Avocado Salsa to these amazing air fryer fish tacos.

Make Ahead

If you are in a time crunch, here are a couple of ways to pre-prep fried fish tacos.

You can prepare most taco toppings in advance, then store them individually in airtight containers in the fridge. Black beans and refried beans can easily be made a day ahead. Then simply reheat when you are ready to serve the tacos. Additionally you can shred the cabbage and crumble the cheese in advance.

Most Mexican condiments like salsa and guacamole are best made fresh. However, they can be prepared a couple of hours ahead of time. The added lemon and lime juice as well as storing them in the fridge will keep them fresh until ready to serve.

Air fried fish is ready in only 16 minutes, so there is no real need to make the tilapia ahead of time. Fried fish is definitely best when eaten fresh.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best air fried fish tacos.

  • Tip: Cut your fish into thin strips. Wide pieces of fried fish don’t work well in fish tacos because corn tortillas are small.
  • Tip: Press the bread crumb mixture into the fish. If the crumbs are falling off they’ll blow off in the air fryer.
  • Tip: Balance the textures in the tortilla. Fish tacos need a good mixture of crunchy, spicy and soft ingredients inside the tortilla. Cabbage works well for a crunch so don’t skip that if you’re using soft corn tortillas.

What To Serve With Air Fried Fish Tacos

We love to eat street tacos with air fried fish all by themselves. But sometimes you need to serve it as a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Fish: Not in the mood to bread fish? Air fryer tilapia is another absolutely scrumptious, quick and easy option to make fish tacos with.

Mexican Condiments: Pair these air fryer baja fish tacos with homemade Pico De Gallo, Salsa with Canned Tomatoes, Mango Habanero Salsa, Guacamole, Queso Blanco,or Cilantro Lime Sour Cream.

Sides: We love serving healthy air fryer tacos with homemade Air Fryer Taco Shells, Black Beans, Instant Pot Refried Beans, Cilantro Lime Rice or Mexican Rice.

How To Store

Refrigerate: We recommend storing all taco toppings separately in airtight containers in the fridge. Let any air fryer fried fish leftovers cool completely. Then store them in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Already assembled fish tacos need to be eaten right away.

More Taco Recipes

If you are also a big fan of everything taco related, her are some of our other easy and delicious Mexican inspired taco recipes:

How To Reheat

Reheating: Reheating air fried fish in the air fryer is super easy and beats reheating it in the microwave by miles. To bring your fried fish back to almost perfect crispiness, simply put your pre-cooked fish back into the air fryer and cook at 400ºF for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Your fish fingers should once again be crunchy on the outside and soft and flaky on the inside.

Fried fish tacos on crunchy taco shells.

Common Questions

What kind of fish can I use to make air fryer fried fish?

Any mild tasting white fish works well with this easy dinner recipe. Besides tilapia and cod, you can also try haddock, halibut, grouper, pollock, flounder or whiting.

Are air fried fish tacos healthy?

Yes, because fish cooked in the air fryer uses a lot less oil than traditional deep fried fish. Additionally, most taco toppings are fresh, cut up vegetables. Eating fish tacos therefore also provides you with a healthy serving of raw, nutritious vegetables.

Fried fish tacos on crunchy taco shells.
Print

Air Fried Fish Tacos Recipe

These crispy taco shells filled with battered and air fried tilapia, crunchy vegetables and delicious salsa will be a sure hit on your next taco night.
Course dinner, Main Dish
Cuisine American, Mexican
Keyword air fryer, air fryer tilapia, battered fish tacos, fish, fish tacos, habanero salsa, how to make fish tacos, tacos
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 8 tacos
Calories 255kcal
Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

Ingredients

Air Fryer Fried Fish

  • 1 lb white fish filets cut into 1 inch strips
  • ½ cup panko bread crumbs
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tbsps oil high heat oil like vegetable oil or avocado oil

Taco Toppings

Instructions

Air Fryer Fried Fish:

  • Combine bread crumbs, parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika and black pepper in a shallow dish.
    Bowl of bread crumbs and spices.
  • Brush fish with oil.
    Oil poured onto fish.
  • Gently roll fish in the crumb mixture to coat. Press down to prevent it from falling off while cooking.
    fish rolled in bread crumbs
  • Spray the air fryer basket/tray with cooking spray or use air fryer parchment sheets. Place fish into the basket.
    Breaded fish in an air fryer.
  • Cook at 400°F for 10-12 minute. Cook time depends on the thickness and width of your fish. Internal temperature should be 145°F.
  • Remove from the air fryer.
    Cooked fish in an air fryer.

Make Tacos:

  • Warm the tortillas in the microwave or a skillet, or air fry them to make crispy tacos.
    air fryer taco shells.
  • Place a piece of fish into your tortilla. Top with chopped cabbage, crumbled cheese, salsa, cilantro and any other toppings you choose!
    Plate of fish tacos

Notes

  1. Use your favorite type of fish. We love using our Air Fryer Fried Fish recipe.
  2. Substitute the mango habanero salsa for pico de gallo or your favorite salsa.

Nutrition

Calories: 255kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 412mg | Potassium: 362mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 362IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 180mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Air Fried Fish Tacos appeared first on Family Dinners.

]]> https://familydinners.com/fried-fish-tacos/feed/ 0 Air Fryer Tilapia https://familydinners.com/air-fryer-tilapia/ https://familydinners.com/air-fryer-tilapia/#comments Tue, 03 May 2022 23:59:23 +0000 https://familydinners.com/?p=9553 Perfectly seasoned tilapia cooked in the air fryer.

The post Air Fryer Tilapia appeared first on Family Dinners.

]]> Craving fish? You have to try our tender and flakey air fryer tilapia. This quick and flavorful way of cooking white fish makes a slightly crispy and scrumptious meal that will become a staple in your dinner rotation.

To perfectly flavor this mild tasting fish, we seasoned the tilapia with a delicious spice rub before cooking it and then topped it with a splash of fresh lemon juice.

Air fryer tilapia on a plate with green beans and lemon slices.
Air fryer tilapia in an air fryer basket.
cooked tilapia filet on a plate with green beans and lemon slices

Air fryer tilapia is very versatile and goes well with most side dishes. We love serving it with rice, tartar sauce, garlic bread, steamed or roasted vegetables and a salad. This dairy free, keto friendly and gluten free fish recipe can also be cooked in a pan, in case you don’t own an air fryer.

WHAT IS TILAPIA?

Tilapia is a mild tasting white fish that is low in calories but a great source of protein and nutrients. It is especially popular because of its mild fish flavor. Tilapia works well in combination with bold flavors such as lemon, garlic or fresh herbs. It pairs well with most side dishes and also tastes delicious in fish tacos.

❤️ WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS AIR FRYER TILAPIA RECIPE

✔️ You only need a few household staples for this recipe.

✔️ Seasoned tilapia is ready to eat in less than 15 minutes.

✔️ Air fried tilapia is a healthy, low-calorie meal that pairs well with vegetables.

✔️ This easy fish recipe works great in fish tacos.

Air fryer tilapia on a plate.

INGREDIENTS

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

You may have all of these air fryer tilapia ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store. See recipe card below for ingredient amounts.

  • Tilapia: Tilapia is a flaky white fish that is very mild in taste. Since it has no overwhelming fishy taste it works great in combination with bold flavors like lemon, herbs or garlic.
  • Oil: We like using avocado oil or olive oil for this recipe.
  • Paprika: We used regular paprika, but if you are a big fan of smoky flavor you can also try smoked paprika.
  • Garlic Powder
  • Onion Powder
  • Dired Parsley
  • Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Fresh Parsley
  • Lemon Wedges

VARIATIONS: Try Tilapia with Different Compound Butters!

You can vary the flavor of your air fried tilapia by topping it with different compound butters. Our favorite choices are:

CILANTRO LIME BUTTER – With just three simple ingredients, this flavorful herb butter adds a fresh and zesty flavor to meat, fish and shrimp.

LEMON PARSLEY BUTTER – Bursting with citrus flavor and parsley, this flavorsome butter can be used to top meat, fish, shrimp, pasta, or bread.

ingredients for air fryer tilapia

INSTRUCTIONS

This section shows how to cook seasoned tilapia in the air fryer, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full instructions, nutritional information, to print the recipe or to have the recipe scaled to double or triple, see the recipe card below.

Oil rubbed on raw fish.
Spices rubbed on raw fish.

SEASON: Drizzle oil on tilapia and rub it in. Mix the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, salt and black pepper together then rub into both sides of the tilapia filets.

🔴 TIP: Make it spicy, for spicier tilapia, add a pinch or two of chili pepper or cayenne pepper to the rub.

Raw, seasoned tilapia in an air fryer basket.
Cooked air fryer tilapia in the air fryer basket.

COOK: Spray the air fryer basket to prevent sticking. Lay tilapia filets in air fryer basket without overcrowding. Your basket should fit one or two filets at a time depending on the size of the filets and your basket. Cook at 350°F for 8 minutes or until the fish flakes easily and is cooked through.

🔴 TIP: For easier cleanup, line air fryer basket/tray with aerated parchment paper made for air fryers. You can also easily make your own. Just make sure you cut the paper slightly smaller than your air fryer basket. Then punch a bunch of holes into the paper.

SERVE: Remove from the air fryer and sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

🔴 TIP: Great side dishes for tilapia are rice, broccoli, asparagus, salad, garlic bread and tartar sauce.

flaked filet of tilapia on a plate with green beans

RECOMMENDED TOOLS

Air Fryer – The air fryer works great with this recipe as it makes the tilapia slightly crispy and flakey without adding a lot of oil.

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD

You can make the seasoning blend and rub it into the tilapia filets up to 24 hours ahead of time. Store the seasoned fish filets in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the fridge until you are ready to cook them.

HOW TO MAKE TILAPIA ON THE STOVE

This tasty tilapia recipe can also be cooked on the stove, similar to our Pan Seared Tilapia with Lemon Butter:

  • SEASON: Drizzle oil on tilapia and rub it in. Mix the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, salt and black pepper together then rub into both sides of the tilapia filets.
  • HEAT SKILLET: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Spray with non-stick cooking spary.
  • COOK FISH: Add the tilapia filets. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the edges turn white (opaque). Turn your filets over and finish cooking the other side for 2-3 minutes until the fish is cooked through and flakes easily. It should reach an internal temperature of 140ºF.
  • SERVE: Remove from the pan and serve with lemon slices and fresh parsley.

⚠️ TIPS FOR THE BEST AIR FRYER TILAPIA

Follow these tips to make the best seasoned tilapia.

✔️ Make sure your fish is fresh. For best flavor only use fresh tilapia.

✔️ Rub seasoning in well. Rub the oil and seasoning in really well with your hands. This helps the seasoning both stay on and to penetrate the fish and give it a more robust flavor.

✔️ Don’t move the fish while cooking. You do not need to flip the tilapia while cooking. Tilapia is very delicate and may break into pieces if you try to flip.

✔️ Serve immediately. Tilapia tastes best when eaten hot.

STORAGE TIPS

Storing your food properly is important to prevent spoiling or food poisoning.

Refrigerate: Let the air fryer tilapia cool completely. Then store in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze: Seasoned tilapia is best eaten fresh. However, you can freeze leftovers in an airtight and freezer safe container or ziploc freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Defrosting: A great way to defrost is in the refrigerator overnight.

cooked tilapia in the air fryer

WHAT TO SERVE WITH SEASONED TILAPIA

We love serving fried tilapia with cilantro lime rice, air fryer broccoli, air fryer green beans and tartar sauce. Another great side dish is our crispy and nutritious Italian salad. We also recommend serving some delicious bread with tilapia, like our garlic French bread, homemade dinner rolls or copycat Lion House rolls.

This quick and flavorful fish recipe also tastes great in fish tacos.

MORE AIR FRYER RECIPES

If you love love air fried tilapia you’ll also enjoy our other air fryer recipes:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For perfect results every time, here are answers to the most common questions about cooking air fryer tilapia.

How can I tell if tilapia is done without a meat thermometer?

It is recommended to cook fish until it reaches an internal temperature of 145ºF. However, fish is also considered done when it flakes easily and is opaque in color.

Can I use frozen fish for this recipe?

You can definitely cook frozen fish in the air fryer, but we do recommend thawing the fish for this recipe. Unfortunately frozen tilapia fillets don’t absorb as much seasoning and therefore might not taste as good as fresh ones. If you do cook frozen filets, reduce cooking time by a couple of minutes.

Air fryer tilapia flaked on a plate with green beans.
Print

Air Fryer Tilapia

Perfectly seasoned tilapia filets cooked up tender and flakey in the air fryer.
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword air fryer fish, air fryer tilapia, how to cook tilapia, how to serve tilapia, seasoned tilapia
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 13 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 228kcal
Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4 tilapia filets
  • 2 tbsps avocado oil or olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried parsley
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Garnish:

  • fresh parsley
  • lemon wedges

Instructions

  • Drizzle oil on tilapia. Rub it into the filets to coat in oil.
    Oil rubbed on raw fish.
  • In a small bowl, mix paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, salt and black pepper together.
    spices mixed in a bowl
  • Sprinkle spice mix evenly over tilapia, then rub it into the filets.
    Spices rubbed on raw fish.
  • Spray the air fryer basket to prevent sticking. Cook in the air fryer in a single layer for 8 minutes at 350°F. Depending on your air fryer size you may have to cook these in two shifts.
    Raw, seasoned tilapia in an air fryer basket.
  • Remove from the air fryer when the fish flakes easily and is cooked through.
    Air fryer tilapia in an air fryer basket.
  • Serve with fresh parsley and lemon wedges (optional).
    cooked tilapia on a plate

Notes

Air Fryer Notes:
  • Some air fryers have a pre-heat option. Preheating may reduce the cooking time a little bit.
  • Air fryers need space between the food items to circulate and cook properly. Do not overcrowd your air fryer. 
 
Recipe Notes:
  • For spicy fish, add ¼-½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper. 
  • For easier cleanup, line air fryer basket/tray with aerated parchment paper made for air fryers (or make your own and punch some holes into it).

Nutrition

Calories: 228kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 234mg | Potassium: 525mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 21IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Air Fryer Tilapia appeared first on Family Dinners.

]]> https://familydinners.com/air-fryer-tilapia/feed/ 6 Pan Seared Tilapia with Lemon Butter https://familydinners.com/pan-seared-tilapia-with-lemon-butter/ https://familydinners.com/pan-seared-tilapia-with-lemon-butter/#respond Wed, 23 Mar 2022 16:50:16 +0000 https://familydinners.com/?p=8405 Super quick and easy pan seared tilapia with lemon butter. This 15 minute meal is perfect for weeknight dinners.

The post Pan Seared Tilapia with Lemon Butter appeared first on Family Dinners.

]]> Our pan seared tilapia with lemon butter is super easy to make and comes together in only 15 minutes. This great weeknight dinner is most likely the best white fish recipe you have ever tasted. Slightly crispy on the outside and tender and flaky on the inside this mouthwatering dish will soon become a staple on your dinner menu.

To perfectly flavor this mild tasting fish, we seasoned the tilapia with a delicious spice rub before cooking it and then topped it with a piece of scrumptious lemon parsley butter.

pan seared tilapia with lemon butter in a pan.
pan seared tilapia with lemon butter on a plate.
pan seared tilapia with lemon butter.

Pan seared tilapia is very versatile and goes well with most side dishes. We love serving it with butter noodles, rice, baked potatoes, steamed or roasted vegetables and a salad.

❤️ WHY YOU’LL LOVE PAN SEARED TILAPIA

✔️ Quick and easy! This recipe only takes 15 minutes from start to finish.

✔️ Keto friendly and gluten free!

✔️ 35 grams of of protein for each serving.

✔️ Pan seared tilapia can be paired with so many meals and side dishes.

tilapia filets in a pan with lemon butter and lemons

PAN SEARED TILAPIA WITH LEMON BUTTER INGREDIENTS

You may have all of these lemon butter white fish ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store. See recipe card below for ingredient amounts.

Jump to Recipe
  • Tilapia Filets: Tilapia is a flaky white fish that is very mild in taste. Since it has no overwhelming fishy taste it works great in combination with bold flavors like lemon, herbs or garlic.
  • Garlic Powder
  • Coarse Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Paprika: We used regular paprika, but if you are a big fan of smoky flavor you can also try smoked paprika.
  • Lemon Zest: For best results use fresh and bright yellow lemons. Make sure you only use the yellow part of the lemon peel and not the white one. The white part, also called pith, tastes bitter and might ruin the flavor of your lemon chicken.
  • Olive oil: You can also use avocado oil.
  • Salted Butter
  • Lemon Juice: For best flavor use fresh lemon juice.
  • Fresh Parsley

POSSIBLE VARIATIONS

Tilapia works great with this recipe, but in case you don’t have any at hand you can also try other kinds of fish like: SALMON, HALIBUT or TROUT.

Instead of lemon parsley butter you can top your pan seared tilapia with any compound butter you prefer. We also love these flavored butter ideas:

  • CILANTRO LIME BUTTER – With just three simple ingredients, this flavorful herb butter adds a fresh and zesty flavor to meat, fish and shrimp.
  • GARLIC BUTTER – If you are a big fan of garlic, you can add some finely minced garlic to our recipe or make your own version of garlic butter.
  • OTHER HERBS – You can add your favorite herbs instead of parsley to create your own compound butter flavor. Try a mixture of different kinds of herbs.
ingredients for pan seared lemon butter tilapia

INSTRUCTIONS

If you’d like to print this recipe, scroll down to the recipe card where you can print the recipe or have it scaled to double or triple. You’ll also find nutrition information.

PREPARE LEMON PARSLEY BUTTER: Mix all the ingredients in a food processor. Spoon onto plastic wrap and shape into a cylinder. Wrap in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to harden. For more detailed instructions on how to prepare the lemon parsley butter, how to best store leftovers and lots of suggestions on how to use compound butter, check out our recipe for Lemon Butter.

DRY FISH: Pat tilapia dry with a paper towel.

seasonings in a bowl.
Seasonings mixed with a fork in a bowl.

BLEND SPICES: Mix garlic powder, salt, pepper, paprika, and lemon zest in a bowl. For spicier tilapia, add a pinch or two of chili pepper to the rub.

🔴 TIP: If you don’t own a lemon zester you can also use the fine side of a box grater to rub off the lemon zest or a vegetable peeler. First, peel off very thin slices of lemon peel (avoid the white part) and then chop the lemon peel finely on a cutting board with a knife.

Seasoning poured onto fish.
Seasonings on fish.

RUB WITH OIL: Rub tilapia filets with oil.

Hand rubbing seasonings onto tilapia.
Season rubbed tilapia.

RUB IN SPICES: Rub seasoning mix onto all sides of tilapia.

Raw fish in a pan.
Pan seared tilapia in a pan with lemon garlic butter on top.

HEAT SKILLET: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Spray with non-stick cooking spary.

COOK FISH: Add the tilapia filets. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the edges turn white (opaque). Turn your filets over and finish cooking the other side for 2-3 minutes until the fish is cooked through and flakes easily. It should reach an internal temperature of 140ºF.

🔴 TIP: Cooking time may vary depending on the temperature of the pan, the thickness of the fish and the internal temperature of the fish when you started cooking it.

TOP WITH LEMON BUTTER: Turn off the heat. Add 1 tablespoon of parsley lemon butter to the top of each filet. Save the rest of the lemon butter for another meal. You can store the rest of the lemon parsley butter in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to a month.

Melting lemon garlic butter on tilapia.

SERVE: Remove from the pan and serve with lemon slices and fresh parsley.

AIR FRYER INSTRUCTIONS

  • Prepare tilapia according to skillet instructions. 
  • Cook at 400ºF for 4 minutes on each side in the air fryer. 
  • Use an instant read thermometer to make sure the fish reached an internal temperature of 140ºF. 
  • Remove from the air fryer. Add 1 tablespoon of lemon parsley butter to the top of each filet. Serve. 

⚠️ TIPS FOR THE BEST PAN SEARED FISH

✔️ Make sure your fish is firm and fresh. Mushy or smelly fish will not taste good.

✔️ Mix your seasonings before coating the fish. This will help ensure your fish gets evenly coated with the seasonings.

✔️ Use fresh lemon. While you can use a bottle of lemon juice and skip the lemon zest, the fish will taste a lot better if you use fresh lemon. When zesting the lemon, make sure to only zest the outer yellow part of the rind, not the white part.

✔️ Do not overcook. Thin fish like tilapia cooks quickly so check the internal temperature or try to flake it with a fork then remove from the heat as soon as it’s cooked through.

STORAGE TIPS

Storing your food properly is important to prevent spoiling or food poisoning.

Refrigerate: Let the pan seared tilapia cool completely. Then store in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze: Lemon butter tilapia is best eaten fresh. However, you can freeze leftovers in an airtight and freezer safe container or ziploc freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Defrosting: A great way to defrost is in the refrigerator overnight.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH TILAPIA

We enjoy this tilapia recipe with roasted vegetables, over rice or noodles or with some Homemade Dinner Rolls or Lion House Rolls Copycat.

MORE TILAPIA RECIPES

While we love tilapia with lemon butter we also love some of these other recipes and think you will as well.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is compound butter?

Compound butter is softened butter that is creamed together with other ingredients such as herbs, spices, lemon, lime, or garlic.

Can I make compound butter without a food processor?

Of course! Make sure your butter is softened before you start making the flavored butter. Add butter to a mixing bowl and beat with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. Add your seasonings and mix until well combined. Then shape and chill your compound butter.
You can even whip up your butter by hand using a spatula or whisk, then stir in the flavorings. Shape and chill.

Can I make this lemon butter white fish recipe is cooking?

Yes, you can!
Prepare tilapia according to skillet instructions. Then cook at 400ºF for 4 minutes on each side in the air fryer. Use an instant read thermometer to make sure the fish reached an internal temperature of 140ºF. Remove from the air fryer and top each filet with 1 tablespoon of lemon parsley butter. Serve.

pan seared tilapia with lemon butter.
Print

Pan Seared Tilapia with Lemon Butter

This perfectly seasoned flaky tilapia is topped with fresh lemon and parsley butter and simply tastes amazing.
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword easy tilapia recipe, lemon butter tilapia, pan seared tilapia, tilapia with lemon butter
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Servings 4 filets
Calories 402kcal
Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

  • Food Processor
  • spoon or spatula
  • plastic wrap or parchment paper
  • mixing bowl
  • large skillet
  • cooking spatula

Ingredients

Tilapia Ingredients:

  • 4 tilapia filets 6 ounce
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon coarse salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil

Parsley Lemon Butter:

  • ½ cup salted butter
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped

Garnish:

  • lemon slices
  • fresh chopped parsley

Instructions

Prepare Parsley Lemon Butter:

  • Mix all the ingredients in a food processor. Spoon onto plastic wrap and shape into a cylinder. Wrap in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to harden.
    sliced compound butter on a wooden board

Prepare Tilapia:

  • Pat tilapia dry with a paper towel.
  • Mix garlic powder, salt, pepper, paprika, and lemon zest in a bowl.
    seasonings in a bowl.
  • Rub tilapia filets with oil.
    Oil poured onto fish.
  • Then rub seasoning mix onto all sides of the tilapia.
    Seasonings on fish.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Spray with non-stick cooking spary.
  • Add the tilapia filets. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the edges turn white (opaque). Turn your filets over and finish cooking the other side for 2-3 minutes until the fish is cooked through and flakes easily. It should reach an internal temperature of 140ºF.
    Raw fish in a pan.
  • Turn off the heat. Add 1 tablespoon of parsley lemon butter to the top of each filet. Save the rest of the lemon butter for another meal.
    Pan seared tilapia in a pan with lemon garlic butter on top.
  • Remove from the pan and serve with lemon slices and fresh parsley.
    tilapia on a plate with lemon butter and lemon slices

Notes

You can store the rest of the lemon parsley butter in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to a month. 
 
Cooking time may vary depending on the temperature of the pan, the thickness of the fish and the internal temperature of the fish when you started cooking it. 
 
For spicier tilapia, add a pinch or two of chili pepper to the rub. 
 
AIR FRYER INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Prepare tilapia according to skillet instructions. 
  2. Cook at 400ºF for 4 minutes on each side in the air fryer. 
  3. Use an instant read thermometer to make sure the fish reached an internal temperature of 140ºF. 
  4. Remove from the air fryer. Add 1 tablespoon of lemon parsley butter to the top of each filet. Serve. 
 
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
Serve with butter noodles, rice, baked potatoes, steamed veggies or a salad. 

Nutrition

Calories: 402kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 146mg | Sodium: 854mg | Potassium: 545mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 899IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Pan Seared Tilapia with Lemon Butter appeared first on Family Dinners.

]]> https://familydinners.com/pan-seared-tilapia-with-lemon-butter/feed/ 0