Crispy Lemon Pepper Baked Tilapia
A quick, healthy, and flavorful baked tilapia recipe featuring a crispy lemon pepper panko crust that is perfect for weeknight dinners or impressing guests.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Total Time: 17-20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 tilapia fillets (about 6 oz or 170 g each), fresh or thawed
- 1 cup (about 100 g) panko breadcrumbs
- Zest of 1 large lemon
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
- Freshly squeezed juice from half a lemon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a shallow bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, lemon zest, black pepper, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix well.
- Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Brush both sides of each fillet lightly with olive oil using a pastry brush.
- Press each fillet gently into the breadcrumb mixture, coating evenly on both sides.
- Place the coated fillets on the prepared baking sheet spaced apart to allow air circulation.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the fish flakes easily with a fork. Check at 10 minutes if fillets are thin.
- Optional: Broil for the last 1-2 minutes for extra crispiness, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Remove from oven and squeeze fresh lemon juice over each fillet before serving.
Notes
Dry the fish thoroughly before coating to ensure crispiness. Press the breadcrumbs firmly onto the fillets. Baking at a high temperature helps achieve a crispy crust without drying the fish. For extra crispiness, broil for 1-2 minutes at the end. To keep leftovers crispy, reheat in the oven at 375°F for 8-10 minutes instead of microwaving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tilapia fillet (6
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 0.5
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 3
- Saturated Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 26
Keywords: tilapia, lemon pepper, baked fish, healthy dinner, crispy fish, quick recipe, panko crust, seafood