posted October 09, 2023
Grilled Tilapia with Lemon and Garlic
With my grilled tilapia recipe, you can enjoy yummy, flaky fish anytime! Not only will you be able turn out perfect, zesty filets, you do it all in less than 30 minutes. This recipe is a must for anyone who likes fish.
What is tilapia?
Tilapia is one of the most used fish in the United States for a few different reasons. Itās a fairly inexpensive fish and you can find it in most grocery stores. It also has a very mild, slightly sweet flavor which doesnāt taste too āfishy,ā which makes it ideal for picky eaters.
Some chefs donāt like cooking tilapia because it tends to take on the taste of whatever youāre cooking it with. You donāt need to worry about that, because Iām going to teach you how to pack in the zesty flavor without sacrificing that sweet tilapia taste.
How to Season Tilapia
Because tilapia has such a mild flavor, itās important not to overdo it when it comes to seasoning. You want your flavors to add a little something extra without taking away from the natural taste of the fish. Thatās why this recipe only calls for a few key ingredients.
- Wet ingredients. Iām using olive oil for this recipe, but you can also use avocado oil. Whatever you have available is fine as long as itās a high heat oil. You also want to squeeze some fresh lemon juice on your filets.
- Dry ingredients. Using the same lemon and a microplane, sprinkle fresh lemon zest on to your filets. Add some freshly minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
Thatās it! I told you it was simple.
How to Grill Tilapia
- Preheat your grill. Set your grill to 400-450 degrees F. You want to coat your grill grates with a high heat cooking oil, like avocado or vegetable oil. You want to make sure your filets donāt stick to the grill.
- Drizzle and season. Place your tilapia filets on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with the lemon juice and olive oil, then top with lemon zest, garlic, salt, pepper, and onion powder. Turn the tilapia filets over on the baking sheet to thoroughly coat both sides.
- Grill. Transfer the seasoned filets to the grill, close the lid, and cook for 4 minutes. Open the lid and use a thin metal spatula to carefully lift and flip the filets. Add an extra 1-2 minutes if theyāre sticking to the grill.
- Flip and finish. Close the lid and cook the tilapia for an additional 4-6 minutes, until the internal temperature of the tilapia reads 145 degrees F. Be sure to use a reliable food thermometer.
- Plate. Remove the tilapia from the grill to your serving platter and garnish, as desired, with additional lemon wedges and fresh parsley.
How Long to Grill Tilapia
Grilling tilapia directly on the grill only takes 8-12 minutes. Youāre looking to give them around 4 minutes on each side to get to an internal temp of 145 degrees F. If theyāre sticking to the grill, give them an extra 1-2 minutes of cook time to ensure they come off easily. The last thing you want to do is leave all that yummy seasoning stuck to your grill grates.
Grilled Tilapia with Lemon and Garlic Recipe
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Grilled Tilapia with Lemon and Garlic
Ingredients
- 4 filets tilapia
- 1 lemon (for zest and juice)
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon salt (to taste)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper (to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Optional Garnish
- 1 lemon (wedged)
- 1 Tablespoon Italian parsley (chopped)
Instructions
- Preheat your grill. Set your grill to 400-450 degrees F. Lightly coat your grill grates with a high heat cooking oil, like avocado or vegetable oil, to make them more non-stick.
- Coat and season. Place your tilapia filets on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with the lemon juice and olive oil, then top with the zest, garlic, salt, pepper, and onion powder. Turn the tilapia filets over on the baking sheet to thoroughly coat both sides.4 filets tilapia, 1 lemon, 1 Tablespoon olive oil, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Grill. Transfer the seasoned filets to the grill, close the lid, and cook for 4 minutes. Open the lid and use a thin metal spatula to carefully lift and flip the filets. If your filets still seem stuck to the grates, let them cook for 1-2 more minutes. Once the first side is cooked, it will naturally release from the grill grates.
- Flip and finish. Close the lid and cook the tilapia for an additional 4-6 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the tilapia reads 145 degrees F. Be sure to use a reliable food thermometer.
- Plate. Remove the tilapia from the grill to your serving platter and garnish, as desired, with additional lemon wedges and fresh parsley.1 lemon, 1 Tablespoon Italian parsley
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