Parmesan Crusted Tilapia Recipe

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.

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.

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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.

Recipe Card

Parmesan Crusted Tilapia

4.48 from 470 votes

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 15 minutes mins

Total: 20 minutes mins

Servings: 4 filets

Author: Becky Hardin

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Tilapia is coated with a lemon pepper seasoned mixture, topped with Parmesan, and baked until crispy.

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Equipment

• Baking Sheet

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 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

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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.

Storage: Store Parmesan crusted tilapia in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Serving: 1filetCalories: 255kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 31gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 571mgPotassium: 451mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 374IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 249mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

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