Easy Pan-Seared Tilapia

Pan-seared tilapia with a sweet and spicy rub delivers flaky, tender, perfectly seasoned tilapia in less than 15 minutes.

Looking for more simple seafood recipes? Baked Cod, Baked Salmon, and Blackened Mahi Mahi all deliver flavor fast, using minimal ingredients, just like this recipe for pan-fried tilapia!

Tilapia is an affordable, easy-to-find, mild white fish that can be prepared in endless ways. And while I love using tilapia to make Fish Veracruz, the easiest way to prepare this lean protein is to make pan-fried tilapia.

This recipe for tilapia uses a similar technique to my recipe for Blackened Mahi Mahi. But instead of using cajun seasoning, this recipe uses a spice rub that is both sweet and slightly spicy, to give this mild fish bold flavor, while still appealing to the more sensitive palates. Finished with lime juice to brighten the flavors, pan-seared tilapia may be made with humble ingredients, yet it delivers impressive flavors in under 15 minutes!

Notes on Ingredients

• Tilapia Fillets: I find frozen tilapia best as the filets are frozen immediately and often the freshest. This recipe is designed for 6-ounce tilapia fillets, yet feel free to use 4-ounce filets if that is what you find. Simply decrease the cooking time by 1 minute per side.
• Seasoning: I use a simple mixture of chili powder, brown sugar, and garlic for a sweet and spicy rub that is so flavorful! If you want this dish to be less spicy, I would suggest replacing the chili powder with paprika.
• Limes: The zest and juice of fresh lime help to make the flavors pop in this easy tilapia recipe.
• Apple Salsa (Optional): A tart granny smith salsa made with apples, onions, cilantro, and lime juice is the perfect finish for tilapia. It is bright, fresh, and tart, and adds texture to the overall dish. You can easily omit the salsa or serve it with Mango Pineapple Salsa instead, but the apple salsa is a delicious touch.

How to Pan Fry Tilapia

Pan-searing tilapia is the easiest, quickest way to cook tilapia. Not to mention that the crispy exterior that pan-searing achieves is a great contextual element to the final dish.

• In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, brown sugar, lime zest, and salt.
• Pat the fish fillet dry with paper towels. This will help the spice blend adhere to the fish and achieve a nice texture with pan-fried.
• Season both sides of the tilapia with the seasoning blend.
• Heat oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. You want relatively high heat so that the fish sears in the oil instead of absorbing the oil.
• Place seasoned fish in a skillet gently and leave it alone for 4 minutes. Keep in mind to NOT overcrowd the pan, if your nonstick skillet is on the smaller side, cook the tilapia in batches (as shown pictured below.)
• Gently flip the fish fillets and finish cooking on the remaining side. It will take anywhere from 2-4 minutes depending on the thickness of the tilapia fillet.

Serving Suggestions

Pan Pan-fried tilapia has enough flavor from the simple spice rub, it does not need any adornment.

That said, I do love elevating the dish by topping it with fresh fruit salsa. The flavors in this pan-seared tilapia pair well with Pineapple Mango Salsa or a Granny Smith Salsa. To prepare the apple salsa, combine diced apples with minced red onion, cilantro, lime juice, and salt.

To round out your easy fish dinner, serve the pan-fried tilapia with pineapple rice or Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice. Or if you aren't topping your tilapia with salsa, it pairs beautifully with a side of Cheesy Grits.

FAQs about Pan-Seared Tilapia

More Easy Seafood Recipes

• Avocado Tuna Salad
• Easy Fish Tacos
• Homemade Fish Sticks
• Shrimp Tacos
• Shrimp Stir-Fry
• Honey Garlic Salmon with Vegetables

Need more inspiration for planning meals that your family will love? Sign up for my FREE Meal Plans and each week you will get a meal plan with a shopping list.

If you tried this recipe for Pan Seared Tilapia, please leave a review and comment below.