Lemon Garlic Tilapia

Broiled Tilapia with a lemon garlic marinade is quite frankly the easiest and some of the best fish I have ever made.

Broiled Tilapia

The garlicky lemon marinade was absolutely perfect for the tilapia. I can imagine using this marinade again and again with all kinds of different meats.

I was inspired to try broiling tilapia after I saw this recipe over at Mel’s Kitchen Cafe. I’m so glad I tried the broiler because it turned out perfectly. This recipe is a keeper for sure.

How To Broil Tilapia

Tilapia is finished cooking when it flakes apart with a fork and is opaque or white all the way through. Remember that fish will keep cooking once you remove it from the oven, so be sure to remove it a minute or two early.

For those of us in the midwest, Tilapia is a great way to change up meal time and enjoy seafood in a rather budget-friendly way. Tilapia is a freshwater farm-raised fish that is high in protein and considered low in saturated fat.

I have found it to be super simple to prepare and it tastes fantastic with a simple marinade and cooks in less than 10 minutes, sometimes less than 5 minutes. Fast and flavorful, I think we can all agree on the awesomeness of that combination.

How Long to Broil Tilapia

Broiling has become my favorite way to prepare fish. It takes just minutes and (as long as I watch it closely!) it almost always turns out well. If the broiler intimidates you, did you know that you can broil with the oven door open? You may need to add a minute, but it still works beautifully.

Depending on the size of your Tilapia filets broiling for this recipe takes very little time. I have found the sweet spot to be about 4-7 minutes depending on the size and thickness of the filets.

Tilapia Marinade

Ingredients 

• lemon 
• olive oil
• garlic
• kosher salt
• pepper
• oregano
• Tilapia 

Seafood Dishes

I really should create more seafood dishes as it is one of my favorite ingredients. I love how much flavor you can impart to a dish and the fact that seafood cooks quickly.

Glazed Salmon with Spicy Broccoli is one of my new favorite ways to cook and serve fish. Salmon topped with a spicy, sweet, and slightly tangy glaze is a great match for the fresh broccoli.

This creamy Smoked Salmon Chowder with carrots, onions, celery, garlic, wine, and a hint of bacon. Thyme and dill along with the smoked salmon create a memorably rich and flavorful chowder. If you enjoy smoked salmon, you will love this chowder.

Elegant enough for a fancy occasion and fast enough to serve any night of the week, this recipe for Pan-Seared Scallops might become your new favorite way to eat seafood.

Shrimp, peppers, and pineapple in your favorite barbecue sauce over rice is a sweet, spicy delicious shrimp bell pepper stir fry.

Lemon and Garlic Broiled Tilapia

Broiled tilapia with a lemon garlic marinade is quite frankly the easiest and some of the best fish I have ever made.

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Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 7 minutes mins

12 hours hrs

Total Time: 12 hours hrs 12 minutes mins

Servings: 4

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Ingredients 

• ▢ 1 pound tilapia filets *
• ▢ 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice about 1 lemon
• ▢ 3 tablespoons olive oil
• ▢ 1 teaspoon minced garlic about 2 medium cloves
• ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ▢ ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• ▢ chopped fresh Italian parsley for serving
• ▢ lemon wedges for serving

Instructions

• Place the tilapia in a ziploc bag or airtight container. Add the lemon juice, oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and oregano. Turn the fish a few times to coat all of the pieces. Close tightly and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• When ready to cook the fish, turn the oven on to broil (high setting, if you have that option) and place the fish on a foil lined baking sheet.
• Broil for 3-7 minutes* depending on the size and thickness of your fish.

Notes

* Depending on the size of the filets, 1 pound of tilapia may be as few as 2-3 pieces or as many as 8. Adjust the cooking time accordingly! 5-6 ounce filets will require 5-7 minutes under the broiler. 1-2 ounce filets will be done in about 3 minutes. Don’t walk away while they are in the oven.

Tilapia is finished cooking when it flakes apart with a fork and is opaque or white all the way through. Remember that it will keep cooking once you remove it from the oven, so be sure to remove it a minute or two early.

Nutrition

Calories: 144kcal · Carbohydrates: 1g · Protein: 23g · Fat: 5g · Saturated Fat: 1g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g · Monounsaturated Fat: 3g · Cholesterol: 57mg · Sodium: 641mg · Potassium: 362mg · Fiber: 0.2g · Sugar: 0.3g · Vitamin A: 6IU · Vitamin C: 5mg · Calcium: 18mg · Iron: 1mg

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{originally published 6/8/11 – recipe notes and photos updated 2/14/23}