Easy meal you can make in your Instant Pot using only 4 ingredients: Fish, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Contents
Can I add cheese?
Sure. You can add 1 cup of grated parmesan cheese and sprinkle the fish after cooking.
Have you ever tried the pairing fish + cheese? It may seem a bit extravagant, but Parmesan cheese is so delicate that it can be paired with almost anything!
Do I have to marinate the Tilapia?
You don't HAVE to, it's just that the fish tastes much better that way.
Marinate overnight or for at least 1 hour in the fridge.
How to serve?
I served it with roasted bell peppers and lemon slices for a keto-friendly meal.
Healthy side dishes for this Instant Pot tilapia recipe:
Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes
For even more ideas, check out What To Serve With Tilapia.
Instant Pot Seafood Recipes
Instant Pot Buttered Lobster Tails

Instant Pot Tilapia
Ingredients
- 4 tilapia fillets
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Marinate your tilapia fillets with lemon juice, salt and pepper and let them rest in the fridge overnight or for at least one hour.
- Place the fish with its marinade into the Instant Pot and close the lid.
- Cook at high pressure for 4 minutes.
- When cooking time is complete, wait for a natural pressure release (or for at least 10 minutes).
- Open the lid, serve and enjoy 🙂
Does fresh or frozen matter, as far as cooking time or amount of lemon juice?
Since tilapia is so thin, it shouldn't really make a difference. I use the same time and same amount of lemon juice.
I am wondering if 1/4 cup lemon juice is enough to cook in the instant pot. My experience has been unless I have 1 cup of liquid the instant pot doesn’t reach pressure.
Some models require more liquid to reach pressure than others. Usually 1/4 cup or 1/2 cup will be enough. Try adding 1/4 cup water and see if that works, adding more water or fish stock if needed.