Tilapia is a white, mild fish that cooks quickly, which makes it easy to prepare. Because of the mild flavor, tilapia filets taste great with a variety of flavors.
Cooking with tilapia is a great way to save time and energy on busy weeknights when you want to make a quick healthy dinner.
There are many ways to enjoy this inexpensive fish. You can try blackened tilapia if you like a strong taste, easy baked tilapia for quick meals, or pan-seared tilapia with your favorite seasonings!
If you are cooking it in a pan, use medium-high heat and cook the fish filets for at least eight minutes be sure to add a drizzle of olive oil. If you are using the oven, use high heat and cook for at least five to six minutes.
Make sure you get an internal temperature of 145 degrees before you enjoy your healthy meal! And if you’re looking for some flavorful sides to complete your delicious meal, keep reading to find out the best sides to pair with tilapia.
Here are 50 of the best side dishes to serve with tilapia!
1. Pasta
This is a great option if you are looking to serve carbohydrates with your tilapia. Try angel hair pasta with parmesan crusted tilapia to make a delicious meal! To make the tilapia you can use parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, and fresh lemon juice! Serve with lemon wedges.
2. Baked Potatoes
The great thing about this recipe is that you can make it in the microwave! You can add anything you want: sour cream, cheese, bacon bits. This makes for a quick side dish option and is an easy way to elevate your tilapia dish.
3. French Bread
French bread makes the perfect side for tilapia dishes! One way to turn ordinary french bread into something extra special is by brushing it with garlic butter and then sprinkling parmesan cheese over the top before baking. It's an easy way to add big flavor to your tilapia dish!
4. White Rice
White rice goes well with just about everything, so having a spoonful of white rice on the side of your tasty freshwater fish is always a good choice at dinner time. It’s a great choice for any night of the week!
5. Breaded Vegetables
You can serve golden brown breaded vegetables alongside your tilapia for a delicious fish and vegetable meal. The bread crumbs on the crisp vegetables add contrast to the tender white fish.
6. Mashed Potatoes
This makes for a great side dish when served with vegetables and breaded tilapia! Mashed potatoes go great with everything, even different types of fish.
7. Corn on the Cob
This is another carbohydrate option that goes well with fish such as tilapia. If you don’t like the mess of eating corn on the cob, try a corn casserole!
8. Fruit Salad
Fruit salad is one of my favorite ways to serve fruit because it's easy, healthy, and always refreshing since it's cold. Mango salad is one of the best fruit salads to pair with tilapia. Add one to your recipe card so you’ll always have a go-to side!
9. Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce
This classic recipe works great as an appetizer or you can double up on the ingredients to serve it as your side dish with your fish! Anyone eating this will be a huge fan!
10. Okra with Tomatoes
Serve this delicious Southern classic alongside your tilapia for a traditional yet modern dish! Okra, onion, and cherry tomatoes work great together in this recipe.
11. Coconut Rice
This is an amazing twist on plain old white rice that makes it extra special due to the flavor of the coconut milk. I love serving coconut rice with fish because it's light yet very flavorful at the same time. If you’re tired of white rice, try using jasmine rice instead!
12. Green Beans
Green beans are always a good choice when deciding what to serve with fish because they cook quickly and taste great with a variety of flavors such as butter, parmesan cheese, and garlic powder!
13. Cornbread
Cornbread is an easy-to-make classic that you can serve alongside your tilapia for a delicious Southern meal.
14. Pan-fried Potatoes
Potatoes are one of my favorite side dishes, especially when they're pan-fried in oil and butter! Always remember to add salt and black pepper to your potatoes before cooking them in order to bring out their true flavors.
15. Tortillas and Guacamole
I love serving tortillas along with other Mexican-inspired foods such as guacamole because it makes the meal complete. Try turning your tilapia into fish tacos with tortillas, guacamole, and your other favorite toppings! Topping it with lime juice also adds great flavor to this dish.
16. Kale Salad with Feta Cheese
This is a great side dish for vegetarians or people looking to serve something light alongside their tilapia.
17. Mushrooms with Butter and Garlic Powder
Mushrooms are one of my favorite vegetables because they're adaptable in terms of how you cook them, the ingredients you add (such as garlic powder), and even the amount of time that you allow them to cook in order to bring out their flavor before serving them!
18. Rice Pilaf
Rice pilaf is easy to make thanks to the many pre-packaged mixes available today at your local grocery store. All you need is a pack of rice and a little water! You can also use brown rice if you prefer something healthier!
19. Oven-roasted Vegetables
Roasted vegetables are one of my favorite side dishes because they are always flavorful due to the number of fresh herbs and spices that you can add. Roasting them gives them a slightly nutty flavor that goes great with fish! Also, these are easy to make on a baking sheet!
20. Grilled Vegetables
Grilling vegetables is a great way to bring out their natural flavors since it locks in the moisture while caramelizing them on the grill. Cook for about fifteen minutes or until they're tender. You can serve grilled vegetables with tilapia as a delicious alternative to your usual side dishes!
21. Buttered Noodles
This is the easiest side dish to make to save on time, especially when using pre-packaged ramen noodles found at your local grocery store. The best way to make it is to boil your noodles, add a little pasta water, and lots of butter!
22. Avocado Salad
Top your tilapia with a nice, cool avocado salad, or serve it on the side! Try adding red onions, beans, and lemon juice. The freshness of the avocado and other ingredients is a great contrast to the warm, soft tilapia.
23. Risotto
Risotto is a great rice dish that you can serve with tilapia because it's creamy and full of flavor thanks to the many ingredients such as onions, mushrooms, red pepper, and parmesan cheese. I love eating risotto in general but especially when it's served alongside fish or meat since they both compliment each other really well!
24. Garlic Bread
Garlic bread goes great with so many different kinds of meals such as pasta dishes, soups, and even seafood like tilapia! You can add cheese for extra flavor or simply add fresh garlic if that's your thing. Either way, this recipe is an easy staple side dish that you're sure to love.
25. Parmesan Zucchini
This is an incredible dish for vegetarians or people looking to serve something light alongside their tilapia! Zucchini has a subtle flavor so adding parmesan cheese to the mix really increases the taste factor while also making them easier to eat since the cheese acts as a binding agent.
26. Ratatouille
This rustic french stewed vegetable dish goes great with steamed tilapia! It has bold flavors that compliment any easy tilapia recipe.
27. Fried Rice
Fried rice is a great meal that you can serve with tilapia because it's delicious, easy to make, and very filling! As long as you have the ingredients such as eggs, soy sauce, garlic & ginger powder, vegetables or meat, and rice on hand you're good to go.
28. Stir Fry
Sesame Stir-fry is a great recipe to serve with tilapia because it's delicious, easy to make, and can be made using ingredients found at your local grocery store!
29. Macaroni & Cheese
Macaroni & Cheese is a classic dish that goes well with practically anything. If you're looking for something more filling try swapping the macaroni noodles for whole wheat pasta; either way this recipe is complete comfort food at its finest!
30. Cilantro Lime Rice
Tilapia goes great with some incredible cilantro lime rice! It’s super easy to make. You just need lime juice, coconut milk, and your preferred type of rice.
31. Steamed Broccoli
Steaming vegetables is by far my favorite way to prepare them because it locks in the flavor while cooking them fast! If you're not a fan of broccoli you can substitute it for many other kinds of veggies such as cauliflower, carrots, or green beans.
32. Creamy Cucumber Salad
This works great with tilapia since both are light and flavorful – plus they go really well together! You can use greek yogurt instead of sour cream if you'd like but either way this recipe is easy, refreshing, and healthy!
33. Lemon Rice Soup
This soup is so simple that anyone can make it at home without much practice! All you need is water, basmati rice, ground turmeric, lemon, dried oregano leaves, or Italian seasoning. You can also add chopped carrots and celery – just make sure to chop them up small so they fit into your spoon! It goes great with the flavor of the fish.
34. Avocado Toast
Avocado toast is a great dish that goes well with just about anything – especially tilapia since both use similar ingredients such as eggs and avocados. It's a filling breakfast that starts off your day on the right foot but also makes for an awesome lunch or dinner whenever you're in the mood for something light yet fulfilling.
35. Watermelon Granita
This recipe works great with tilapia because it's refreshing, delicious, and full of flavor! Watermelon granita is an incredible dessert to serve with fish because it's so light and simple – plus the fruit used in this recipe goes well with just about any kind of fish you can think of.
36. Quinoa Salad
Quinoa salad is great because you can customize it however you like! It’s the perfect choice if you are trying to get picky eaters to eat healthier because it can easily take on the flavor of whatever you add to it. Serve it cold or warm; Either way, it’s great with tilapia!
37. Cheese Stuffed Pasta Shells
This recipe works great for tilapia because it's full-flavored, hearty, creamy, and cheesy! It might be a little time-consuming but after serving it for dinner once or twice you'll see what all the fuss is about since it's so delicious!
38. Cheese Enchiladas
Try adding a Mexican flare to your tilapia! Cheese enchiladas are a great choice if you're looking for something that tastes like comfort food yet isn't too heavy to eat on a daily basis.
This dish can be served with rice or even potatoes – but make sure to use tortillas that are whole-wheat instead of corn (if available) because they taste better and hold together much better than regular corn tortillas!
39. Coconut Creamed Spinach
Spinach is a healthy green that can easily be flavored! Try making it with coconut milk and serving it with baked tilapia.
40. Lentil Salad
Lentil salad is so simple yet so tasty that everyone will love it instantly! It works great as a side dish for tilapia since both are light and full of flavor, plus lentils are packed full of nutrients that make this salad healthy enough for anyone to enjoy without guilt.
41. Bean Salads
Bean salads are easy and customizable! You can use lima beans, black beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, or whatever you prefer. Try adding ingredients like onion, celery, and fresh parsley; It goes great with tilapia!
42. Cesar Salad
A Cesar salad is a great option to serve with tilapia. It's simple yet flavorful with enough ingredients to keep the meal interesting. You can serve this salad with chicken or even shrimp if you want it to taste extra delicious – plus croutons are great on any sort of salad so don't be afraid to add them, too!
43. Lemon Garlic Rice
This recipe works great with tilapia because it's so simple and full of flavor – plus lemon and garlic go well with just about any kind of fish!
It only takes a little over an hour to make but the wait is definitely worth it since this dish tastes delicious. Try adding some lemon zest to your tilapia to make it pair even better.
44. Roasted Beets
Roasted beets are super easy to make yet taste incredible if you know what you're doing in the kitchen. Plus they work great as a side for tilapia since both ingredients are flavorful enough on their own but even better when paired together!
You can also add some other veggies to give your roasted beets more texture, color, and nutrition. It’s delicious and adds color to your dinner tables!
45. Balsamic Grilled Vegetables
Balsamic grilled vegetables are one of the simplest side dishes you can make with just a few ingredients. Plus they're packed full of flavor and texture so even kids will love them! You can serve these vegetables with any kind of fish or meat, including tilapia.
46. French Fries
Try this classic side next time you make tilapia! French fries go great with everything so you can pair them with tilapia prepared in any way you like.
47. Coleslaw
This classic southern side dish is great when making tilapia in the summer! Customize it to your liking and try pairing it with grilled tilapia.
48. Brussel Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are one of the best vegetables you could possibly make to serve with tilapia. There are so many different ways to prepare it. If you like simple, try roasting them with simple herbs. If you want to try something a little more complex but just as delicious, try making cheesy cacio e pepe brussels.
49. Au Gratin Potatoes
These potatoes are super cheesy and creamy! It’s hard not to love them, especially when paired with a yummy fish like tilapia. Try serving them at your next dinner party!
50. Grilled Zucchini
Grilling zucchini might sound boring, but it actually works really well if you have some extra time on your hands! It only takes 10 minutes to grill so this makes for a great appetizer or side dish, especially for fish.
We hope you enjoy these ideas for what to serve with tilapia. Remember, tilapia goes well with almost any flavor, but especially lemon and garlic, which give the fish a delicious added flavor. Try these side dishes next time you make your best tilapia recipes!
Tips
When you're looking for what to serve with delicious, delicate tilapia, remember that both candied nuts and dried fruits will bring out the sweetness of the dish.
If your dish turns out too dry or spicy, try serving it with cheesecake or vanilla ice cream for dessert– it's a simple dish that will also help cool down your taste buds.
Tilapia is a healthy fish. It is a great source of protein and contains lots of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin b12. It also has 240 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids per serving!
Some of the health benefits of eating tilapia include cancer prevention, better heart health, and increased bone strength, so if you are looking for a healthy fish, tilapia might be the one for you!
If you're looking for other seafood dishes, we hope the ideas above can help you out! These side dishes will easily pair with other fish, like a yummy flounder cook or filling salmon dinner.
Remember, never be afraid to experiment with new flavors and spices in the kitchen! And don't forget about our other delicious recipes on our website - there are more than enough options for what to serve with tilapia if you want something tasty but quick.
You can buy tilapia fillets or fish fillets at any grocery store and add in a bell pepper or red onion for extra flavor. Be sure to cook it on high heats. Good luck and happy cooking!
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