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    Home » Main Dishes » Easy 6-Ingredient Baked Tortilla Crusted Tilapia

    By Kaleigh - October 5, 2016, Updated January 31, 2021

    Easy 6-Ingredient Baked Tortilla Crusted Tilapia

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    healthy tortilla crusted tilapia in a bowl with quinoa, black beans, and avocado.

    A quick and easy, 6-ingredient recipe for crispy baked tortilla crusted tilapia is a healthy, delicious, and economical weeknight meal. (gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free)

    healthy tortilla crusted tilapia in a bowl with quinoa, black beans, and avocado.

    Are you intimidated by cooking fish? I find that a lot of people are if they're new to cooking fish (or cooking in general) and tend to steer away from seafood. But they shouldn't be! Fish is actually super easy to prepare and so versatile, plus it's heart healthy and delicious! One of the easiest ways to dive into preparing fish at home is baking it with an easy, crispy coating, like this tortilla crusted tilapia, with only 6 easy ingredients!

    Why You'll Love This Baked Tortilla Crusted Tilapia

    • This recipe is not only an easy way to get started with preparing fish, it's also a great weeknight staple! With only 6 simple ingredients - fish, tortilla chips, lime, and spices - it comes together quickly.
    • It's affordable. Tilapia is an inexpensive fish, and with just a couple pantry staples, this recipe is easy on your budget. This is a great recipe for using up those crumbs at the bottom of the tortilla chip bag that tend to be stale anyway. They crisp up perfectly in the oven!
    • It's also healthy, because it's baked and full of lean protein. It's dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free, so it fits into a variety of dietary patterns.
    • Finally this tortilla crusted tilapia is delicious! With a crunchy tortilla coating full of Mexican-inspired spices and a firm, flaky interior, this is a great dish for those weary of eating fish.

    healthy tortilla crusted tilapia on a plate with quinoa, black beans, and avocado.

    Tips For Buying and Storing Fish

    If you aren't used to cooking fish, you probably aren't used to buying it either. Here are some tips to make sure you get great-tasting results:

    • Make sure you get what's fresh. Fresh tilapia filets should be firm, white, and not have an overly 'fishy' smell. If it's not fresh, pick another whitefish, such as cod.
    • If your budget is a little tighter, try frozen tilapia filets! I love the frozen tilapia 'loins' from Costco for a great budget-friendly option. But keep in mind, frozen fish does tend to have a little bit stronger taste.
    • If you aren't going to cook your fish within 1-2 days of buying it, store it in the freezer in vacuum-sealed bags until ready to cook. Fish should be removed from the bags while thawing.

    How To Make Baked Tortilla Crusted Tilapia

    This baked tilapia recipe couldn't be easier!

    1. Crush up tortilla chips and mix with the spices (chili powder, garlic powder, and cumin).
    2. Rinse and dry tilapia filets and squeeze some lime juice over them.
    3. Gently press the tortilla crumbs into tilapia filets and place them on a baking sheet.
    4. Bake for 15-20 minutes, and enjoy!

    steps on how to make healthy tortilla crusted tilapia.

    Tips For Making The Best Tortilla Crusted Tilapia

    • Don't worry if the tortilla crumbs don't completely stick to the fish. Do your best to gently press them into the filets, and sprinkle more on top. Smaller crumbs will stick better than larger ones.
    • Cooking time on the fish will vary based on the thickness. Fish is done when it is opaque and flakes easily, or when the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
    • Broil for a minute or two at the end for more browning and crunch.
    • For even easier prep, you can use pre-seasoned tortilla chips and omit the spices!
    • This recipe is best served right away. I don't recommend reheating lean fish like tilapia.

    healthy tortilla crusted tilapia cut into on a plate with quinoa, black beans, and avocado.

    What To Serve With Tortilla Crusted Tilapia

    With this recipe, dinner can be as easy as opening a can of beans and slicing some avocado, or a little more involved, like tacos or burrito bowls. You can also serve tortilla crusted tilapia with:

    • Easy Refried Black Beans
    • Cilantro Lime Quinoa (shown here)
    • Mango Salsa
    • Easy Guacamole
    • Avocado Jicama Cucumber Salad
    • Grilled Pineapple Black Bean Salsa

    Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the comments!

    Print

    6-Ingredient Tortilla Crusted Tilapia

    healthy tortilla crusted tilapia on a plate with quinoa, black beans, and avocado.

    A quick and easy, 6-ingredient recipe for crispy baked tortilla crusted tilapia is a healthy, delicious, and economical weeknight meal. (gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free)

    • Author: Kaleigh
    • Prep Time: 5 min
    • Cook Time: 20 min
    • Total Time: 25 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings 1x
    • Category: seafood
    • Method: baked
    • Cuisine: Mexican

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 4 tilapia filets (or other white fish, such as cod)
    • 1 lime
    • ¾ cup tortilla chip crumbs
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • oil spray (I like Chosen Foods)
    • for optional topping: salsa, cilantro, avocado, lime juice

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 375° F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment. In a small food processor or with a rolling pin, crush tortilla chips into very small crumbs. Pour into a shallow dish and mix with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and cumin.
    2. Rinse tilapia filets and pat dry. Squeeze lime juice onto each filet and gently press into tortilla crumb mixture to coat both sides.
    3. Place fish on the baking sheet and spray lightly with oil. Bake fish for 15-25 minutes (depending on thickness) or until flesh is opaque and the outside is golden.
    4. Top with salsa, avocado, fresh cilantro, or lime juice to serve.

    Notes

    • Cooking time on the fish will vary based on the thickness. Fish is done when it is opaque and flakes easily, or when the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
    • For even easier prep, you can use pre-seasoned tortilla chips and omit the spices!
    • If you like, serve tortilla crusted tilapia in tacos, on top of bowls, or on a salad.

    Keywords: tortilla crusted tilapia, easy tortilla crusted fish, baked tortilla tilapia

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @livelytable on Instagram and hashtag it #livelytable

    This post may contain affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission off of your purchase with no extra cost to you. Please read my affiliate disclosure for more information.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. nutritioulicious says

      October 05, 2016 at 11:34 am

      Great recipe Kaleigh! And so exciting you're writing for HA!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Kaleigh! I'm a food-loving registered dietitian, wife, and mom helping you find joy in the kitchen with delicious real-food recipes and wellness tips. Join me in finding your healthy!

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