Can I use frozen tilapia?

Yes, but you must thaw it completely first. Thaw it in the fridge overnight or in a bowl of cold water. Do not bake frozen tilapia with this crust, as the excess water released during cooking will make the breadcrumbs soggy.

Is this recipe healthy?

Tilapia is a lean source of protein, low in calories and fat. While we add some fat with the mayo and cheese, it is still a nutrient-dense meal compared to deep-fried fish.

The crust fell off! What happened?

This usually happens for two reasons: 1. The fish was too wet before you applied the topping. 2. You tried to move the fish immediately after taking it out of the oven. Let it rest for 2 minutes!

Can I make this ahead of time?

You can mix the dry breadcrumb topping in advance and store it in a jar. However, I do not recommend assembling the fish and letting it sit in the fridge, as the breadcrumbs will absorb the moisture from the mayo and get soggy before baking. Assemble right before cooking.

Crispy Parmesan Crusted Tilapia: Easy 20-Minute Recipe

Description

A quick and easy 20-minute dinner featuring tender tilapia fillets topped with a savory, crunchy mixture of Parmesan cheese, Panko breadcrumbs, garlic, and lemon.

Ingredients

Scale

4 Tilapia fillets (approx 1.5 lbs)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
3 tbsp Mayonnaise
1 tbsp Butter (softened)
1 tbsp Fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp Garlic powder
1/2 tsp Dried parsley
1/4 tsp Paprika
1/4 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Black pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Pat tilapia fillets completely dry and place on baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper.
In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, softened butter, and lemon juice.
In another bowl, mix Parmesan, Panko, garlic powder, parsley, and paprika.
Spread the mayo mixture over each fillet, then top generously with the breadcrumb mixture.
Bake for 10-12 minutes until fish flakes easily.
Broil for 1-2 minutes to brown the crust.
Let rest for 2 minutes before serving.

Notes

Fish: Make sure the fish is very dry before topping to prevent sogginess.
Mayo: The mayonnaise keeps the fish moist; you can substitute with Greek yogurt but mayo yields the best crust.
Storage: Best eaten fresh. Reheat in air fryer to restore crunch.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Bake
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 Fillet
Calories: 310 kcal
Sugar: 1g
Sodium: 420mg
Fat: 16g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Unsaturated Fat: 8g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 8g
Fiber: 0g
Protein: 32g
Cholesterol: 85mg

Keywords: Crispy Parmesan Crusted Tilapia, Baked Tilapia Recipe, Easy Fish Dinner, Panko Crusted Fish, 20 Minute Meal, Healthy Seafood Recipe