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This Lemon Pepper Grilled Tilapia is so easy it is hard to even call it a recipe. You can have dinner in under 10 minutes that is seasoned to perfection and so amazing!
Cooking the Tilapia in foil helps perfectly flaky, flavorful fish every time. This fish recipe has been our go-to this summer. It is light and healthy and every one loves this easy seafood recipe. I like to pair this Grilled Tilapia with some summer vegetables and rice to complete the meal.
It is quick and easy dinner idea that saves me time and money. The seasoning is a staple ingredient and the process to make these Grilled Tilapia is less than 10 minutes. You may even like this Blackened Tilapia Recipe for a delicious variation.
What's in this post: Grilled Tilapia
How Do You Grill Tilapia Without it Falling Apart?
The best way from keeping your tilapia from falling through the grill grates, is to cook the tilapia in foil. Cooking the Tilapia in foil also prevents the tilapia from sticking to the grates.
Cooking in foil is a great way to add in cherry tomatoes with your Tilapia. It also keeps the moisture locked in which results in flavorful fish. You still get the flavors of grilling your fish but keeping it in foil allows you to enjoy it even more.
Ingredients
- Tilapia Fillets – We recommend using fresh tilapia. If using frozen, make sure to thaw completely. Use this recipe to make Cod, Snapper or Salmon.
- Lemon Pepper Seasoning – Feel free to use other types of seasoning
- Olive Oil – Use oil of your choice such as vegetable oil or avocado oil
Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe in the recipe card.
How to Make Grilled Tilapia
- Step 1 – Prepare Foil – Tear the foil into 6 equal pieces for each tilapia filet.
- Step 2 – Add Tilapia – Place a tilapia filet on each piece of foil.
- Step 3 – Prepare Grill – Preheat the outdoor grill over medium high heat (approximately 400 degrees F).
- Step 4 – Season Tilapia in Foil – Drizzle the olive oil over each filet and sprinkle each one with approximately ½ tsp Lemon Pepper Seasoning. You can also use cooking spray.
- Step 5 – Prepare the Foil – Fold up the sides and the top of the aluminum foil to make a foil pack.
- Step 6 – Grill Tilapia in Foil – Place directly on the grill for 8-10 minutes until the tilapia reaches an internal temperature for 145 degrees F. We like to flip to make sure the Tilapia cooks both sides.
- Step 7 – Serve and Enjoy – Be careful when unwrapping the foil packets and then the tilapia is ready to enjoy. Season with salt and black pepper and garnish with fresh lime, fresh lemon juice, parsley or fresh cilantro and serve.
Recipe Tips
- Seasoning – Feel free to change the seasoning to what you prefer. We usually start with ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder, paprika, ginger, onion powder or cajun seasoning. Blend the spice mixture of choice in a small bowl then add to tilapia. This adds flavor to this delicious white fish recipe.
- Cooking Tilapia – We love cooking the tilapia in foil but you can also cook in a grill pan or grill baskets.
How Long to Grill Tilapia
In just 8 minutes, you will have the absolute best meal. It is easy to tell when this Lemon Pepper Grilled Tilapia is done.
It really only takes a few minutes per side and dinner is ready. You will love having such a quick and easy recipe to cook.
How to Tell When Tilapia is Done
Tilapia is white fish when it is raw but it is more of a translucent white. You know when Tilapia is cooked and ready to eat when the white becomes more of a solid white it flakes easily with a fork.
What Does Grilled Tilapia Taste Like?
If you are afraid of fish, then try Tilapia. I think you will be impressed with how “non fishy” it tastes.
Some of our family really does not care for fish and they like Tilapia. It has a great flavor and the lemon pepper really jazzes it up.
Serving Suggestions
Tilapia is delicious served with many side dishes or many other ways. These are some of our favorites.
- Cauliflower Rice
- Parmesan Grilled Zucchini
- Air Fryer Broccoli
- Fish Tacos Recipe with Homemade Flour Tortillas Recipe topped with fresh cabbage or Homemade Salsa Recipe
- Grilled Vegetable Foil Pack Recipe
- Serve the Tilapia over your favorite salads.
- See Best Sides for Tilapia for more side dishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Heat your grill to medium high heat so that the fish will sear. You want the internal temperature of the fish to be 145 degrees. We recommend using a meat thermometer to make sure that the Tilapia is done.
We buy our Tilapia at Sam’s because it is individually packaged and it is very convenient. We take it out of the freezer, run water over it to loosen the package and place it right in our foil pack and straight to the grill.
There is no need to thaw! I just love this easy tilapia recipe. This is such a big help when we need dinner fast.
Refrigerate any leftover tilapia in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
More Easy Tilapia Recipes
Easy Seafood
Easy Parmesan Crusted Tilapia Recipe
Easy Seafood
Baked Tilapia Recipe
Quick and Easy Air Fryer
Air Fryer Tilapia Recipe
If you make this Lemon Pepper Grilled Tilapia Recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review. We love hearing from you.
Grilled Tilapia
Ingredients
- 6 Tilapia filets
- 3 teaspoons Lemon Pepper Seasoning
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
Instructions
- Tear the foil into 6 equal pieces for each tilapia filet. Place a tilapia filet on each piece of foil.
- Preheat the grill over medium high heat (approximately 400 degrees F).
- Drizzle the olive oil over each filet and sprinkle each one with approximately ½ tsp Lemon Pepper Seasoning.
- Place directly on the grill for 8-10 minutes until the tilapia reaches an internal temperature for 145 degrees F.
- Be careful when unwrapping the foil packets and then the tilapia is ready to enjoy!
One of my favorites dishes! so good!!
Love this tilapia recipe!
My favorite fish recipe!
So easy to make and delicious too!
Hi Carrie, Great recipe, the tilapia came out perfect!! super easy and quick which is what I needed for this evening. Please keep your recipes coming, look forward to trying more!
Thank you,
John Aguer
Recipe was Delicious and so easy!! Thank you for sharing!
This was very good, and the whole family loved it. Followed the directions with the foil packets and baked in the oven. Moist and flavorful plus it was budget friendly. We’ll definitely be making this again. Thank you!
Five Star. This is not only easy but delicious. I made a dill sauce to go with them. Extremely easy. Mayo, miracle whip and dill relish. Fantastic although you don’t need it.
That dill sauce sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing 🙂
You wouldn’t believe if I tell you this will be my first tilapia cooking:) It Is very helpful to me!
Thank you!
Awesome! I’m glad it was helpful 🙂
Very nice recipe. Love this Grilled Tilapia Recipe. Thank you for share this step by step instructions.
Thank you Steven!
What if you want to do it in the oven. What temp & how long do you suggest to cook it? Thanks!
Here is a great recipe that we have baked tilapia. Thank you!
Recipe – https://www.eatingonadime.com/easy-baked-tilapia-recipe/