What Seasoning to Put on Baked Tilapia (10 Best Options)

When it comes to cooking tilapia, there are so many options.

You can grill it, fry it, bake it—but what should you sprinkle on top while you’re at it?

Read Also: Tilapia Wine Pairing – The Best Wines for Tilapia

We’ve got you covered.

In this post, we’ll go over some of our favorite ways to season baked tilapia!

See Also: 18 Easy Sauces for Tilapia I Can’t Resist

What Seasoning to Put on Baked Tilapia?

The best seasonings to put on baked tilapia are onion powder, salt, and pepper. The reason why these three seasonings work so well is because they all complement the flavor of the fish without overpowering it.

Onion powder is a great option because it adds an extra layer of flavor to the fish without being too strong or overpowering.

It also works well with other ingredients like garlic powder or parsley flakes if you want to add some more depth to your dish.

Salt and pepper are also good choices because they bring out the natural flavor of the fish while also adding some additional texture, which makes them a great addition to any meal.

The only downside is that they can be very salty if you use too much!

Still looking for options?

Then keep reading:

Cajun spice blend

Our first great option is Cajun seasoning.

If you like spicy food but don’t want something too strong or overpowering, then this is probably the best choice for you.

It has just enough kick without being too much!

If you’re looking for something milder yet still flavorful, try white pepper instead (or both!).

White pepper has a more subtle taste than black pepper and can be used in place of cayenne pepper if desired (although cayenne pepper will give your dish more spice).

Paprika

When you’re seasoning your baked tilapia, don’t forget about paprika!

It’s perfect for adding a little kick to your fish.

How much paprika should I use?

If you’re buying it in a store, the packaging will usually tell you how many teaspoons equal 1 tablespoon.

A little bit goes a long way, so try just sprinkling some on first, then add more if you feel like it needs more.

If you’re using fresh paprika from your garden or from a local farmer’s market, just estimate how much is roughly equivalent to 1 teaspoon of powdered paprika and go from there.

Italian seasoning

When you’re making baked tilapia, you can’t go wrong with Italian seasoning.

This seasoning is made up of basil, oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme—all delicious flavors that go great with fish.

Just sprinkle it on your tilapia before you bake it (and maybe some lemon juice as well), and it will come out tasting amazing.

You can use this seasoning by itself or pair it with some lemon juice for a little extra zing!

You can also mix it up with other seasonings that go well with fish like soy sauce or garlic powder if you want to get really creative!

Garlic salt

This seasoning will give your tilapia the flavor it needs to really stand out on the plate.

Here’s how to use this seasoning with this kind of dish:

• Season the fish with garlic salt before baking it (1 tablespoon per pound)
• You can also add it after cooking, but be warned—it’ll make your kitchen smell like garlic for days!
• If you’re looking for other ways to use garlic salt, try sprinkling it over some roasted vegetables or even on top of popcorn!

What other seasonings pair well with garlic salt?

Well, almost anything that has “salt” in its name will go well with garlic salt.

Try adding some paprika or black pepper when you cook your next batch of fish!

Parsley flakes

Parsley flakes goes well with the tilapia because it’s mild and doesn’t overpower the flavor of the fish.

It also works really well with other seasonings, such as pepper or garlic powder.

You should use about 1 teaspoon of parsley flakes per pound of tilapia.

The flavor will be more intense if you use more, but you won’t need to use much more than a teaspoon per pound anyway.

Cayenne pepper

If you’re looking for a great seasoning to put on baked tilapia, try cayenne pepper.

All you have to do is sprinkle it on before you bake the fish, and let it sit for about 10 minutes.

Then bake as usual!

The spiciness will add an extra kick of flavor that’s sure to impress your guests—and they won’t even know what hit them!

If you want to take things up a notch, you can also mix in some lemon juice or garlic powder before baking.

If you’re feeling adventurous, try mixing in some brown sugar or honey as well!

Basil leaves

Another great way to season your baked tilapia is using basil leaves.

Fresh or dried is fine, so long as it’s fresh.

The leaves are easy to find in any grocery store and add a really nice flavor to the fish.

You can season the fish with just basil leaves, or you can add them to other seasonings as well—we recommend pairing them with garlic powder and black pepper.

The best part about this seasoning is that it will work on any kind of fish and any kind of baked dish (or even grilled).

Try it out next time you’re making baked tilapia!

Dill weed

This seasoning is perfect for fish, and it pairs well with other herbs like thyme and rosemary.

It’s also commonly used in pickling brines for vegetables, so it can help bring out the flavor of almost anything you’re cooking.

You can use anywhere from 1/4 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of dill weed per pound of fish.

For example, if you’re baking a 3-pound fillet of tilapia, add 1/4 teaspoon of dill weed to the mix—you can always add more later if you find that it needs more flavor, but you can’t take away what’s already been added!

Old Bay Seasoning

Old Bay Seasoning is a seafood-based seasoning that is great for pairing with fish and other seafoods, but it also tastes great on chicken, pork chops, or even vegetables like Brussels sprouts or green beans.

This seasoning has a bit of heat and tanginess to it—it’s not overwhelming by any means, but it does have some kick that you might find yourself craving again and again.

Cilantro

This popular herb has a nice, fresh flavor that works well with most types of fish.

It pairs especially well with baked tilapia because the fish’s mild flavor is enhanced by the freshness of the cilantro.

To season your baked tilapia:

• Sprinkle cilantro over the fillets before they go into the oven (about 1 tablespoon per fillet).
• Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes or until cooked through, flipping halfway through cooking time.

3 Tips for Putting Seasonings on Baked Tilapia

Tilapia is a great source of protein and can be prepared in many ways, but one of the most popular ways to prepare it is baked.

Baking fish has been a favorite technique for centuries because it’s easy, doesn’t require any special equipment, and keeps the flavor of the fish intact.

If you want to bake your tilapia, here are three tips to help make sure that your dish turns out great:

• First, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the oven is heated up, place the fish on a baking sheet with aluminum foil on top (this will help prevent sticking).
• Next, add seasonings to your fish according to taste preference. For example, if you like spicy foods then add some chili powder or cayenne pepper (but don’t add too much—you don’t want your mouth burning!). You can also add other ingredients such as lemon juice or rosemary for extra flavor if desired!
• Finally, put your fish in the oven for about 20 minutes until done then serve!

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