My Parmesan Crusted Tilapia recipe is coated in a cheesy lemon pepper mixture then oven-baked until crispy. This is a simple, healthy fish recipe my family is always excited to eat. It is so flavorful, made with just a few ingredients in under 20 minutes.
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What’s in Lemon Pepper Tilapia?
Sweet and mild tilapia filets are seasoned with tangy lemon pepper and Parmesan cheese then baked to crispy perfection in the oven. This is a quick and simple dinner recipe that I always keep in my back pocket. I know my family will love it, and it’s super quick to throw together.
- Tilapia Filets: Use 4 oz filets. You can use fresh or frozen fish, but I do recommend thawing it if you use frozen. The better quality the fish, the better it’s going to taste!
- Parmesan: Use grated Parmesan cheese in the seasoning mixture–this will be pressed into the surface of the fish. Then use shredded Parmesan on top of each filet to create that crispy crust in the oven.
- Seasonings: Lemon pepper adds the perfect balance of bright and spicy, without overwhelming the tilapia. There’s also chopped Parsley in the mix, and you can add salt, but it’s fine to skip.
- Olive Oil: Your regular olive oil will work great for this recipe, but don’t use EVOO.
Pro Tip: Tilapia doesn’t have much of “fishy” odor or flavor, but if that bothers you, you can soak it in milk before cooking– 15 minutes should do the trick!
Variations on Parmesan Tilapia
It’s really easy to change up the flavor of this lemon pepper tilapia by mixing in different seasonings, spices, and herbs to the cheese mixture.
- Instead of lemon pepper, you could use Italian seasoning, Creole seasoning, or Blackened seasoning.
- Add garlic powder or garlic salt.
- Use cilantro, Tarragon, or another herb in place of the Parsley.
- Mixing in some red pepper flakes will add some heat.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover Parmesan crusted tilapia in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 275°F oven until warmed through.
How to Freeze
To freeze, wrap individual tilapia filets in aluminum foil, place them in a Ziplock bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
These Parmesan crusted tilapia filets are so simple but still flavorful, and they make a great main dish if you want a healthy dinner. I like to garnish tilapia with diced green onion and lemon slices to finish off the flavor nicely.
Serve it over a bed of salad greens (pictured) or with a side of white rice, Parmesan polenta, or Parmesan roasted potatoes. This lemon Parmesan roasted broccoli complements the flavor perfectly.
5-Star Review
“This is one of the best and easiest recipes I have made. The family loved it, including the 6 & 7 year old grandchildren. I’ve made it several times and it is always a hit. ” – Jill
Parmesan Crusted Tilapia
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 (4-ounce) tilapia filets
- ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt (see note)
- 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
For Garnish
- ¼ cup diced green onions optional
- 1 lemon cut into wedges
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with foil.
- Mix the grated Parmesan, lemon pepper, parsley, and salt together.4 (4-ounce) tilapia filets, ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt, 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- Drizzle the tilapia with olive oil, then coat with the cheese mixture, pressing it in lightly with your fingers to make sure it sticks. Sprinkle lightly with the shredded Parmesan, then transfer to the prepared baking sheet.1 tablespoon olive oil, ¼ cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
- Bake in the preheated oven until the fish is opaque in the thickest part, about 10 minutes.
- To brown further, broil for about 5 more minutes until cheese crust is slightly crispy (watch carefully to make sure fish doesn’t burn)
- Top with green onions and serve and serve with lemon wedges, optional.¼ cup diced green onions, 1 lemon
Video
Becky’s Tips
- Note: If you don’t like salty recipes, you can skip the salt altogether on this recipe. The parmesan cheese is pretty salty already, so you should be fine!
- If you’re worried about a fishy taste, soak the raw tilapia filets in milk for about 15 minutes, then pat dry and press the mixture into the fish.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
As with many fish and seafoods, tilapia is a low-calorie source of protein, filled with plenty of other nutrients. It includes significant amounts of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, vitamin B12, niacin, and vitamin B6.
There’s no need to marinate this tender, flaky fish, as it is quite mild and takes on flavoring well. Plus, acidic ingredients often found in marinades can make tilapia turn mushy.
When cooked through, tilapia will be opaque with a white color. It should also flake easily when you test it with a fork. Check it at the thickest part of the filet, and it should read 145°F on an instant-read thermometer.
Although it is a low-moisture fish, tilapia can still turn mushy. Be sure to pat it dry before baking, and don’t marinate it in acidic ingredients, as they can break down the meat too much.
Most seafood contains a compound called trimethylamine oxide which is responsible for that “fishy” taste and odor. Tilapia tends not to taste fishy, but if you’re concerned about it, you can soak the raw fish in milk for a bit before breading it to neutralize the flavor.
Fantastic. The fish was perfectly done, a little crispy, and packed with flavor. I combined this with a Lemon garlic sauce and put it over rice. Then sprinkled fresh cut green onion on top. The onion provided a great crunch in each bight. The fish in this is fantastic. Don’t hesitate to make.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing with us!
So… I’m confused. Why are there two different amounts of Parmesan in the ingredients but not in the directions?
One is grated parmesan, the other is shredded! Different types :)
We followed the recipe exactly and the flavor was great. But after broiling the fish an extra five minutes, it turned to mush. So I recommend not broiling.
Modify to your liking!
player why you put the ingredients way below everything else
There is a button at the top of the screen where you can click it and it will take you straight to the recipe card that is printer-friendly, too!
Am I only coating one side with oil and parmesan mix?
Yes!
Oh! I did both sides, and it was great.
This is a GREAT recipe! I don’t normally feel very successful with fish, but this was a winner: it’s easy! gluten free! great flavor! genuinely crispy! No one reached for tartar sauce!
*followed suggestion in reviews to spray the foil and fish with olive oil cooking spray
*I had garlic pepper on hand so used that instead of lemon pepper
*omitted the salt due to comments
That is so great to hear!
I tried this today and served it with homemade mashed potatoes, and green beans. The fish was the hit of the meal. It was a bit salty and will use less lemon pepper next time, otherwise DELICIOUS :)
Thanks for stopping by, Mully!
I haven’t made this yet but I will. I use a salt free lemon pepper and will bake in my air fryer. I know it will equal the 5 stars.
Thanks for sharing, Phyllis!
Love this recipe. Had to go back at 1st taste just to see if it said teaspoon of lemon pepper and not table bc it was salty salty salty. Whew, salty! That was the only seasoning i used, but it was still good. I will tone down the lemon pepper and I’m sure this will be perfect!
Thanks for stopping by, Latoya!
I am sorry it wasn’t up to your taste!
We are not fish eaters but know we have to eat healthier so decided to try to get on the fish wagon.. omg it was such a great recipe ty
Happy to hear this helped!