This easy and so healthy tilapia gets cooked and ready to eat all in under 30 mins from start to finish. Served with cilantro lime rice or mashed potatoes & a salad this makes up for a complete meal which is not only delicious but healthy too!
Lately I am all over Tilapia. Will you laugh at me if I tell you that I cooked my first fish ever at home a week ago? Yeah sounds kind of funny! But in my defense let me tell you that I was not much of a fish eater until this happened. I usually shy away from sea food because of that prominent fishy smell. But seriously not here at all. Last weekend I tasted a piece of parmesan crusted tilapia at Sam’s club.
If you have been to Sam’s club on weekends you might know that you might sometimes get to taste a lot of their new products. So that’s when I became bold enough and went ahead and tried a good bite sized piece of parmesan crusted tilapia and it was so GOOD. Not fishy at all, just soft, melty goodness. It felt like soft cheese in my mouth.
Days went by but I couldn’t forget about it so there I was with my first ever purchase of a pound of tilapia fillets from Trader Joes (I know a pound seriously?!). Where do you guys usually buy your fish from anyways?? This meal comes together from start to finish in under 30 minutes and while fish is baking in oven or cooking on skillet, you can quickly throw together this cilantro lime rice. First time I served this along with mashed potatoes and spinach-strawberry salad and second time over a bed of this cilantro-lime rice!
Choose your favorite way to enjoy this SUPER FLAKY, SOFT AND FLAVORFUL fish!
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- 2 Tilapia fillets
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs( I used panko breadcrumbs first time, second time I used my homemade seasoned bread crumbs) (Both taste equally delicious)
- Salt & Black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp freshly grated parmesan
- 1-2 tbsp butter, melted
- ½ cup rice, uncooked, cook as per package directions
- 3-4 tbsp freshly chopped cilantro
- Salt to taste
- 1-2 tbsp lime juice
- Pre heat oven to 400F.
- Using a pastry brush, spread melted butter all over the tilapia fillet.
- Now in a plate mix breadcrumbs and parmesan. If using panko, make sure you season them well. If using my homemade seasoned breadcrumbs, no need to season more.
- Lay the butter coated tilapia over the mix and press by hands so each side gets evenly coated with the breadcrumb-parmesan mix.
- Transfer to a lined and sprayed with oil baking sheet. Cook in oven for 7 minutes. Flip and cook for another 5-7 minutes or until cooked through. The inside will turn opaque and it will be flaky when touched with a fork.
- Serve over rice or with mashed potatoes or your choice of sides.
- Cook rice as per package directions. Once cooked, fluff it using a fork. To it add, cilantro, salt and lime juice. Mix and taste.
Looking for more easy dinner ideas?
https://www.naivecookcooks.com/chicken-fettucine-in-whiskey-gouda-sauce/
Monica says
April 2, 2015 at 8:26 AMGreat job on cooking the tilapia! I wouldn’t ever laugh at anyone. I was using pancake mix a few years ago! : ) I just made tilapia last weekend for fish taco night. I love how it’s inexpensive and easy to cook since it just holds up so well. Your dish sounds so flavorful and love the rice.
naivecookcooks says
April 3, 2015 at 11:31 AMOooh fish taco night sounds delicious!! I might do that for dinner tonight!!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
April 2, 2015 at 9:16 AM30 minute meals are the best, especially when they involve tilapia! This looks perfect, Ami! Such beautiful pictures, too!
naivecookcooks says
April 3, 2015 at 11:30 AMThanks Gayle!!
Christina @ Bake with Christina says
April 2, 2015 at 9:44 AMMmm, parmesan crusted tilapia is my favorite! And that looks SO delicious!! Pinning to make later 🙂
naivecookcooks says
April 3, 2015 at 11:29 AMThanks for pinning Christina!!
Kelsey @ Snacking Squirrel says
April 2, 2015 at 11:37 AMtilapia and parm- incredible! The flavors would be bursting and really make the tilapia come alive. Not literally cuz that would be scary haha. xo
naivecookcooks says
April 3, 2015 at 11:29 AMHaha you are so funny girl!!! But seriously it turned out amazing!!
shweta a says
April 2, 2015 at 12:33 PMso tempting 🙂
naivecookcooks says
April 3, 2015 at 11:28 AMThanks!!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
April 2, 2015 at 2:15 PMLove meals that come together in under 30 minutes! Yum, we make tilapia once a week and the parmesan crust on this looks perfect!
naivecookcooks says
April 3, 2015 at 11:28 AMGirl once a week tilapia?!! I will need to get hold of some of your awesome tilapia recipes then!! This is my new favorite dinner!
Olivia - Primavera Kitchen says
April 2, 2015 at 7:29 PMThis is right up my alley. I love any tilapia recipe and yours looks delicious 😉
naivecookcooks says
April 3, 2015 at 11:26 AMHehe thanks Olivia!!
Sarah@ Whole and Heavenly Oven says
April 3, 2015 at 7:29 AMI just love the parmesan breading on this gorgeous fish! I never get around to making fish as often as I should and this is seriously looking so amazing, I think I’m gonna have to add it to the dinner rotation! 🙂
naivecookcooks says
April 3, 2015 at 11:26 AMYes you should Sarah! It was new favorite dinner as it’s so easy, healthy and I can make it so quickly!!
Mir says
April 3, 2015 at 10:38 AMNow you know how easy it is to cook amazing fish at home, Ami! And you picked a winner for your first try. Parmesan-crusted tilapia is the best, and yours looks perfect!
naivecookcooks says
April 3, 2015 at 11:24 AMI totally agree with you Mir!! It was really fun to cook with tilapia! Thanks for stopping by!! 🙂
celyn says
April 6, 2015 at 12:58 AMoh wow thanks for sharing this recipe, I am obsessing over it now, especially the cilantro lime rice part!
styleandchocolates
naivecookcooks says
April 7, 2015 at 9:43 AMYou should try it!! Thanks for stopping by Celyn!
Savita @ ChefDeHome says
April 6, 2015 at 3:29 PMThis is total my kind a food, Ami! thanks for sharing!
naivecookcooks says
April 7, 2015 at 9:41 AMThanks Savita!! I have been eating this every other day! So good!
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
April 8, 2015 at 7:20 AMThis looks delicious and appetizing Ami! Loved the way you used pink flowers to brighten up photographs! Thanks for share! 🙂
naivecookcooks says
April 9, 2015 at 11:09 AMThanks!!
Heather @ My Overflowing Cup says
April 9, 2015 at 2:40 PMI’ve had to cut back on my purchase of fish in order to keep the grocery budget low right now, but this really makes me want some.
I love the side of the cilantro lime rice. Thanks!
Your photos are stunning, as always.
naivecookcooks says
April 10, 2015 at 1:19 PMThanks friend 🙂