This spicy blackened tilapia recipe is ready in minutes! The seasoning and sautéing of this dish combine to make a delicious, tender fish.
Any white fish will work for this recipe - it's incredibly easy to make and has loads of flavor.
You can make your own blackening seasoning blend or purchase a ready-made one.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Tilapia is a super mild fish that even people who don't like fish will enjoy. It's easy to cook, hard to mess up, and has a wonderful flaky texture.
The blackened tilapia saves well in the refrigerator for several days and reheats easily in the oven or on the stovetop, making it a great meal prep option.
What You'll Need to Make Blackened Tilapia
Tilapia - You'll need 4 (6-ounce) tilapia fillets. Tilapia is a mild, white, freshwater fish that's easy to cook and pairs well with many kinds of flavors. It cooks quickly, making it a great option for weeknight cooking.
Blackening Seasoning - You'll need 2 tablespoons of blackening seasoning to coat the fish.
Vegetable Oil - You can use any vegetable oil to cook the fish - you'll need 2 tablespoons of corn, canola, or safflower oil.
Optional Topping - I recommend making the avocado-tomato mixture, but you certainly don't have to if you've got another side dish or topping you'd like to use! You'll need 1 avocado, 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, 1 lime, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and ½ teaspoon of sea salt.
What is Blackening Seasoning?
Blackening seasoning, or blackened seasoning, is similar to Cajun or Creole seasoning and has a little spicy kick to it (although you can change this according to your tastes).
Blackening seasoning is a blend of spices and herbs used to blacken fish or meat in a preparation method that involves a hot pan, some oil or butter, and cooking the protein until it develops a blackened crust. It's a popular style of cooking in Cajun cuisine.
It's got a base of paprika, onion, garlic and usually has cayenne or chili powder.
More Fish Recipes to Try
If you like fish and seafood recipes, try our other favorites!
- Crispy Baked Haddock - a parmesan and panko-topped white fish
- Barramundi with Mango Slaw - a tender white fish with a tropical slaw
- Coconut Crusted Tilapia - a flavorful and tender fish with a crispy coconut topping
- Baked Salmon with Lemon - Easy baked salmon in aluminum foil
Tips for Making this Recipe
Cooking Tips - Don't overcrowd your pan; depending on the size of your tilapia fillets, you may need to cook fish in two batches. You can make your own blackening seasoning blend as well!
Recommended Side Dishes - Serve this fish alongside some delicious vegetable side dishes - like Roasted Broccolini, Crispy Roasted Sunchokes, Grilled Asparagus Recipe, or The Easiest Green Salad.
Storing Tips - This recipe will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or on the stovetop.
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Blackened Tilapia
These delicious and lightly spicy blackened tilapia fillets are a quick and easy main dish.
Ingredients
- 4 (6 ounce) tilapia fillets
- 2 tablespoons blackening seasoning
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
Avocado Tomato Topping
- 1 ripe avocado, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Rub the tilapia fillets with the blackening seasoning on both sides.
- Heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook the tilapia fillets for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, till flaky and the crust is golden brown.
- For the optional topping - combine the avocado, tomatoes, cilantro, olive oil, lime juice, and sea salt in a bowl. Then top the fillets with a few scoops of the avocado tomato topping.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 400Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 2909mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 4gSugar: 1gProtein: 46g
