Think of these herb crusted tilapia as fish sticks taken to the next level! Tilapia fillets are topped with a fragrant and flavorful herbed bread crumb crust and drizzled with melted butter. A quick roast in the oven and you have the easiest baked tilapia that kids and adults will both love!
When I was in college, my go to meal was a simple baked fish. I topped it with parmesan cheese and baked it in the oven. Served with my favorite blue box mac and cheese.
I was thinking about that fish the other day and thought I needed to revisit it. Maybe kick it up a notch.
Plus I was looking for something crazy easy and ready in easily under 30 minutes. It doesn't get much easier than this herb crusted baked tilapia.
Ingredients for Easy Baked Tilapia
Tilapia - you can use other fish for this recipe. I like how affordable tilapia is. It's a mild fish that doesn't taste too fishy. You could substitute catfish, trout, red snapper or orange roughy.
If you buy a big bag of tilapia from Costco, like I do, then here are a few tilapia recipes you need to try our Broiled Tilapia with Mustard Chive Sauce or our Miso-Glazed Tilapia with Roasted Baby Bok Choy!
Olive oil - or melted butter. You can see that I used melted butter, but accidentally typed in olive oil on the photo. Either one will work.
Bread Crumbs - I used this recipe: Herbed Bread Crumbs.
Parmesan Cheese - optional, but you can mix the parmesan cheese and the bread crumbs at a ½ and ½ ratio.
Directions for Herb Crusted Tilapia
Preheat oven to 425.
Prepare Herbed Bread Crumbs. I made the decision to make the bread crumbs their own recipe after I made them and realized how versatile they were! I have already used them to top this Baked Cauliflower Risotto and to make a Crispy Roasted Asparagus (coming soon.)
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay the tilapia flays on the parchment and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Spoon the herbed bread crumbs over the fish and lightly pat to help them stick.
Drizzle the tilapia with melted butter (or olive oil.)
Bake for 10 minutes.
Optional - serve with a lemon wedge for squeezing over the fish.
This was so good and so easy! The fish comes out perfectly cooked, soft and flaky on the inside and crispy on the outside! It gets so much flavor from the herbed bread crumbs.
I've made this twice since and have added parmesan cheese for a parmesan crusted tilapia! You can either mix it with the bread crumbs or sprinkle a little on top over the bread crumbs.
What to serve with baked tilapia.
Herb Salad - for a light and healthy dinner!
Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries - roast these at the same temperature as the fish, just add about 5 minutes to the cooking time given.
Harissa Roasted Squash - roast at the same temperature as the fish and start checking for tenderness at about 30 minutes.
Honey Mustard Broccoli Salad - everyone loves this broccoli salad!
Zucchini, Green Bean and Chile Slaw - perfect if you're serving this fish in the summer!
Recipe
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Herb Crusted Baked Tilapia
Ingredients
- ½ cup Herbed Bread Crumbs
- 4 tilapia fillets
- 2 tbsp butter melted
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425
- Prepare herbed bread crumbs - recipe link in notes.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay out filets.
- Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper and top evenly with bread crumbs.
- Drizzle over melted butter.
- Bake for 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.
Jere Cassidy says
So simple but so good. I love making tilapia, and I love the crunch of the bread crumbs on top.
Capri says
The herb-bread crumbs really make the entire dish! It's so delicious and a great way to make the tilapia. Thanks for the recipe!
Dannii says
we are always looking for new ways to enjoy fish and this looks delicious!
Michelle says
Love this simple fresh recipe! So easy to make when we're having a craving for yummy fish!
Beth Pierce says
Yummy!! This looks so delicious. I'm going to make this for dinner tonight.
Belinda says
My husband loves this dish so much he requests it often. So easy to make. absolutely delicious!!