Blackened Tilapia

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.

We have a post of delicious side dishes to serve with tilapia as well!

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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