Broiled Tilapia Parmesan is easy and extremely flavorful! Parmesan cheese, dried herbs and spices and lemon juice are blended in a creamy topping before being spread on tilapia fillets. Broil until flaky and delicious! Serves 4.
Tilapia Parmesan is quick, easy and restaurant quality delicious.
I originally found a version of this recipe via AllRecipes.com over 13 years ago. Over time, I’ve changed only a few things and it still remains a favorite. A quick spread of butter, mayo, parmesan cheese, homemade old bay seasoning, plus a few other dried herbs and spices is spread on tilapia fillets and broiled. The entire recipe takes under 15 minutes to make and tastes incredible.
The key to success with this recipe, is using fresh tilapia fillets. Typically it is found at the seafood counter of your local grocery store. Of course you can use frozen tilapia, but fresh tilapia can be larger than the frozen fillets and the texture of the (fresh) fish is incomparable. Also, equally important, knowing where your grocery store sources their seafood.
This tilapia Parmesan recipe is flavorful and not too heavy. I think you’re gonna love it.
To Make Tilapia Parmesan You Will Need:
- butter (unsalted) – Adds delicious flavor.
- mayonnaise – Lends creaminess and flavor.
- parmesan cheese – Use freshly grated without any anti-caking additives.
- old bay seasoning – Store bought or homemade.
- dried basil – Lends a strong minty flavor with a hint of anise.
- garlic powder – Adds flavor that’s sweeter yet milder than fresh garlic.
- celery salt – Lends subtle celery like flavor.
- black pepper – Adds some subtle bite and flavor.
- fresh lemon juice – Adds acidity and thins out parmesan topping.
- tilapia fillets – Try to find fresh fillets as they tend to be larger than flash frozen.
- minced parsley – Optional, for serving.
Move the oven rack to the highest position in your oven and preheat your broiler on high.
Meanwhile add 4 tablespoons softened unsalted butter, 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise, 1/2 cup of freshly grated parmesan in a medium sized bowl. Measure and add in 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning, 1/4 teaspoon of both dried basil and black pepper and then 1/8 teaspoon of both celery salt and onion powder.
Give it a stir.
Before adding in 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, stirring until smooth. Set aside.
Lightly spray a foil lined baking sheet with avocado oil or extra light olive oil. The foil will make for an easier clean up. Arrange the fish with the pretty side down and the darker side up. Slide the pan with tilapia under the broiler for about 3 minutes.
After the 3 minutes, remove the pan. The fish should be slightly opaque.
Carefully, flip the tilapia filet so now it’s pretty side is facing up. Divide and spoon the parmesan mixture on top and spread it over the fillets.
Place the fish back under the broiler for another 3 minutes or until the parmesan mixture is golden brown.
Serve your broiled tilapia parmesan next to roasted broccoli and garlicky toasted almond basmati rice with a sprinkle more of parmesan cheese and minced fresh parsley.
Enjoy! And if you give this Broiled Tilapia Parmesan recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!
Broiled Tilapia Parmesan
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter, softened at room temperature
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/8 teaspoon celery salt
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- avocado oil spray, or extra light olive oil
- 4 tilapia fillets, or around 1½ pounds total
- minced fresh parsley , for serving
Instructions
- Preheat your broiler and line a cookie sheet with foil and lightly spray with olive oil.
- In a small bowl mix together; butter, mayo, parmesan, Old Bay, basil, black pepper, onion powder and celery salt. Squeeze in the juice of half a lemon and set a side.
- Arrange the tilapia with the dark vein (bottom) side up and broil all fish together for 3 minutes.
- Remove and carefully flip the fish so they are now right side up.
- Divide the parmesan mixture over each fillet and slide back into the oven for 3 more minutes or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily and the topping is golden and bubbly.
- Serve with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and minced parsley.
Notes
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This is my favorite way to make Tilapia! Laurie's recipe is the best! My kid and husband both love it.
Just finished a dinner of tilapia and all i can say is wow! Family was very please & that is a happy thing. Thanks for posting.
So glad to hear it!! 🙂
Add about a Tablespoon of breadcrumbs to the mixture. It will thicken it up a bit so it stays on top of the tilapia and you don’t lose so much in the bottom on the pan. It browns a little quicker so you have to watch it closely. My favorite way to make tilapia!
My mom makes fish like this, and everyone that eats it and who hates fish, says this is the dish that converted them lmao. Her’s is a little different than yours though. For example, instead of basil, she uses finely chopped green onions. Mm!
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Made this for dinner tonight.
EXCELLENT