Baked Tilapia in Foil

Who doesn’t love a recipe that’s easy to make and easy to clean up? This foil-baked tilapia keeps things simple while locking in all the juicy, flaky goodness.

It’s fresh, flavorful, and ready in only 20 minutes!

With endless customization options, and minimal clean-up, this baked tilapia in foil is one recipe that you will come back to again and again. 

Recipe Video

Why This Recipe Works

This simple baked tilapia in foil recipe works because it’s quick, easy, healthy, and highly customizable.

To prepare it, simply add tilapia, vegetables, herbs, and seasoning to some foil, wrap it up, and bake. The entire process takes about 25 minutes, making it a perfect option for busy weeknights.

Additionally, this oven-baked tilapia is a lean protein that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, making it a nutritious meal option. Adding vegetables like peppers, onions, and carrots increases the meal's nutritional value. This recipe offers a balanced dish that is low in calories and high in essential nutrients.

Customization is another big advantage of this quick Tilapia foil packets recipe. You can easily adjust the seasonings, swap out the vegetables, or add other proteins like shrimp or sausage to suit your taste.

Ingredients

Seasoning Mix:

While the seasoning mix for this quick tilapia foil packets recipe leans savory with the onion powder, garlic powder paprika, salt, and pepper, there is plenty of room for customization. Use Asian flavors like ginger, miso, and soy sauce for an Asian-inspired dish, or incorporate some parsley, basil, and oregano for a Mediterranean vibe. Get creative!

Tilapia:

When it comes to this simple baked tilapia in foil, both fresh and frozen tilapia work well. If using frozen, ensure you thaw it completely in the fridge overnight before cooking. Whether you use fresh or frozen, pat the fillets dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. This will allow for a better cook on the fish. While this recipe uses tilapia, most whitefish will work well including cod, haddock, and halibut. For variety, try adding shrimp, sausage, or thinly sliced chicken.

Vegetables:

As with all the ingredients in this easy baked tilapia recipe, the vegetables can also be customized to suit your taste preferences. Stay true to the recipe with onions, carrots, corn, and peppers, or experiment with your favorite vegetables. Zucchini, potatoes, eggplant, cherry tomatoes, bok choy, beans, and peas are all excellent additions to this recipe.

Lemon:

Adding fresh lemon wedges to the baked tilapia in foil makes for a fresh, lemony flavor, but it also helps tenderize the fish. Any citrus will work for this, lime, orange, and even grapefruit.

Oregano:

A fresh sprig of oregano will infuse the whole packet nicely with its flavor. You can really add any fresh herb you want to your foil packet Tilapia. Rosemary, thyme, basil, dill, sage, and cilantro are all popular options. Whatever you use, remember to remove the sprig before you eat so you don't end up chewing on a twig.

How to Make Baked Tilapia in Foil

Step One: 

Create your spice mix by combining onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and set aside.

Step Two:

Place a tilapia fillet on a square of tin foil and top it with some onion, carrot strips, green peppers, corn, fresh lemon wedges, a sprinkle of the seasoning mix, and a sprig of fresh oregano.

Step Three: 

Fold the foil into a tightly sealed packet and repeat the previous step with the remaining tilapia fillets.

Step Four:

Place the packets on a cookie sheet and bake them for 12 minutes at 300F.

Step Five: 

Serve your healthy baked tilapia in foil, and enjoy!

Tips

• Seal the foil packets well to lock in the steam. This allows the fish to cook evenly, resulting in a tender, flakey baked tilapia.
• Let the foil-wrapped tilapia rest for a few minutes after baking to allow the juices to redistribute and enhance the flavor.

What to Serve With Baked Tilapia in Foil

This baked tilapia in foil is a highly versatile recipe that can be customized and served in a variety of ways with a variety of different side dishes. Add some onion, peppers, and taco seasoning to your tilapia packets and use it to make fish tacos, served alongside some salsa, guacamole, and nachos. You can also make cajun-style seafood boil packets with andouille sausage, shrimp, onions, peppers, corn, and cajun seasoning served with some crusty garlic bread and a side salad. If you stick to the classic form of this delicious baked tilapia in foil recipe, it can be served alongside some rice or couscous for a more fulfilling meal while a classic garden salad will keep things lighter.

FAQs

Do I need to flip the tilapia while baking?

No, you don’t need to flip the tilapia when baking it in foil. The steam created inside the foil packet cooks the fish evenly on both sides.

Should I use butter or olive oil in the foil packets?

Either butter or olive oil can be used. Butter adds richness, while olive oil keeps the dish light and healthy. Both help prevent the fish from drying out.

Can I prepare the foil packets in advance?

Yes, you can assemble the foil packets a few hours ahead of time and keep them in the refrigerator. Just bake them when you’re ready to cook.

What's the best way to store leftover baked tilapia?

To store leftover baked tilapia, cool it completely and place it in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months. For freezing, wrap the fish tightly in plastic wrap, then in foil.

More Fish Recipes

Fish is a great meal option when you want to eat a little lighter. Most types of fish, like this baked tilapia in foil, are high-quality protein sources that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and low in saturated fats. So, if you want to eat a little lighter tonight, or you just enjoy fish, here are some delicious fish recipes for you to try. Bon appetite!

Fish Cakes

Portuguese Fish Stew

Air Fryer Swordfish

Parmesan Crusted Walleye