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This pesto tilapia is tender, flaky and so fresh with that delicious basil pesto on top. The perfect light and healthy meal for a busy weeknight.
I’ve always said that I don’t eat fish, so clearly I’m here today to bring you a delicious Pesto Tilapia. And I’m serious, it’s delicious. But! I will deny it if you tell my husband. He will then think he has to make me eat even more seafood, and I still just can’t do it. I really do hate it. Man, I wish I didn’t, and I am trying to like seafood. I have come around to like a few salmon recipes. My latest favorite is our teriyaki salmon rice bowl.
In fact, I was kind of chuckling to myself the other day that I even have a seafood section on the site here. I mean, there are so few recipes in there. But I’m working on it! You don’t have to be a genius to figure out my preferred tastes there do ya. And this all got me thinking, I love food, and people know that, but there’s a ton we don’t know about each other. SOOOOO, I think we should chat…
5 Things You May Not Know About Me
- I hate being called, Carr. I’ll probably never admit it to your face because I hate that it makes people feel bad, but I cringe when people call me that.
- I played the flute and piccolo from ages 10-19, and then I stopped and I haven’t played since. It’s one of my biggest regrets ever. I wish I’d gone ahead and studied music in school like I had always planned until my senior year of high school
- I have a fear of falling and knocking my teeth out. True story. I pinch my mouth closed when walking down stairs etc. as if it’s actually going to protect them or something. So ironic now since I did knock my teeth out about a year ago. Have you read about the bike crash? What a nightmare!
- I worked on a proposal for the World Health Organization for Breast Feeding and it was accepted. This was concerning the under 5 mortality rate, helping to teach women to breastfeed, teach others to breastfeed, and keep a working system in place where women in the village meet together often and help other women succeed in caring for their infants.
- I sleep on the right side of my bed, always have and always will. My husband thinks it’s ridiculous that I can’t sleep on the left side, but it’s fact, I can’t.
Ingredients for Pesto Tilapia
Ok, back to this tasty tilapia dish! You’ll only need 4 ingredients for this easy seafood recipe. Here is your grocery shopping list:
- Tilapia Filets: We use the frozen ones from Costco but you can absolutely use fresh.
- Olive Oil: Used to sear the pesto fillets.
- BBQ Rub: We are obsessed with the Meat Church Honey Hog BBQ Rub, but you can use your favorite BBQ rub or make your own at home. We have a great BBQ rub as well!
- Pesto: You can make your own or use store-bought.
The measurements for each ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
How to Make Pesto Tilapia
You will only need 15 minutes to make this low fat tilapia recipe! I love a quick and easy healthy meal! Here are the basic steps:
- Prep: Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Rub: Drizzle olive oil evenly over each filet and sprinkle with the BBQ rub. Flip the filets over and repeat on the other side.
- Sear: Heat a skillet over medium high heat and add a little more olive oil. Once shimmering, add the fish and cook for about 2 minutes until golden and flip.
- Bake: Top with a spoonful of pesto sauce and spread it over the filet. Place in the oven for 10 minutes.
- NOTE: I added some fresh pesto after baking for these photos so it looks brighter green than it will after you bake it.
- Serve: Serve over multi color quinoa with a side of cherry tomatoes.
These instructions can also be found in the recipe card down below. Keep scrolling for the complete recipe!
Is Tilapia Good for You?
Tilapia is not as heart-healthy as fatty fish like salmon because of its low omega-3 levels. But, Tilapia is a very good source of protein. A 3.5 ounces serving of tilapia has 26 grams of protein and only 128 calories.
Tilapia is also rich in niacin, vitamin B12, phosphorus, selenium and potassium.
What is Pesto?
Pesto is a sauce made of crushed basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil. It is served with pasta or as a dip or sauce.
Why Does Tilapia Taste Muddy?
The dirty or muddy taste that can occur in tilapia comes from microorganisms in the water where the fish was raised.
Try marinating the filets in lemon juice or white vinegar for 30 or more minutes. Pat dry before proceeding with the recipe.
How Long Will Pesto Tilapia Keep?
Tilapia doesn’t keep for very long. If you store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator, it will keep for up to 2 days.
If you are looking for a low calorie, lean and healthy meal that is still loaded with flavor, then this pesto tilapia recipe is a must try! And it only takes 15 minutes to get dinner on the table!
More Seafood Recipes:
- Baked Mustard Maple Bacon Salmon
- Homemade Fish Tacos
- Sticky Honey Lime Shrimp
- Teriyaki Salmon Rice Bowl
- Air Fryer BBQ Salmon
- Citrus Oven Baked Salmon
- Lemon Garlic Shrimp
How to Make Pesto Tilapia Video
Lean Pesto Tilapia
Ingredients
- 2 Tilapia Filets, we use frozen from Costco
- Olive Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Meat Church Honey Hog BBQ Rub, or BBQ Rub
- 1/2 Cup Prepared Pesto
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Drizzle olive oil evenly over each filet of fish and sprinkle with BBQ rub. Flip and repeat.2 Tilapia Filets, 1 Tablespoon Meat Church Honey Hog BBQ Rub, Olive Oil
- Heat a skillet over medium high heat and add a little more olive oil. Once shimmering, add the fish.
- Cook for about 2 minutes until golden and flip.
- Top with a spoonful of pesto sauce and place in the oven for 10 minutes.
- Serve over multi color quinoa.1/2 Cup Prepared Pesto
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Your cooking times differ. It initially says cooking time: 20 minutes. But in your instructions it says 30-35 minutes. Which cooking time would be best? I am rather inexperienced and don’t want to ruin my fish!
oh shoot~ I don’t know why it went back to 20 minutes. Ours usually needs about 30 minutes so I’d stick with that.
I made this last night, and it was great! So simple and surprisingly tasty for only 2 ingredients! Just a note – your recipe calls for 2 fillets, but says it serves 4, and that each serving is 1 fillet. I cut the recipe in half anyway since I was cooking for 2, but just wanted to let you know. This was wonderful!
Easy, healthy, AND delicious?! Sounds like an excellent combination for a week night dinner! My family loves fish, but I don’t. I depend on easy fish recipes to make them things they will enjoy because I won’t even taste it!
ugh, I hate when I can smell the fish. That’s why tilapia is good, it really doesn’t smell to me.
You sold it? I still have mine, but it got dropped hard once after high school and has this huge nasty dent in it. So I have to get a new one to really pick it back up, too. One day I’ll make Brent buy me one for Christmas or something. 😉
I’m not even a fan of seafood, but I still think this look amazing! I love how satisfying this looks 🙂
Oh, so glad to see someone else who LOVES food and loves to cook, also doesn’t like seafood! And, like you, I try it whenever I get the chance, still waiting for the love. I’ll have to try this recipe. My hubby loves seafood, and somehow, so do my kids. Don’t know how that happened. Thanks for the recipe!
I totally understand. My kids love it too!
My boyfriend loves tilapia but I never know what to do with it. This is such a great idea!
I’m totally going to start calling you Carr now!! 🙂
I actually love seafood, but don’t make it at home often enough. I definitely need to try this one!
I love that you love tilapia! My favorite “at home” fish. We lightly spread mayo on each side (no-fat mayo works ok but not quite as good as regular) then we each choose our favorite seasoning…hubby likes Creole, my sister likes dill, and I like lemon-pepper with dill. Put it on a grill pan or table top grill, and cook…yummm!
Things people don’t know about me: I can’t quite bring myself to do Asian…I’m very intimidated. I buy the ingredients, then they just sit there on the shelf. I’m OCD…I hear a song and I “tap out” the beat for hours afterwards. I LOVE to be a “need meeter”..helping people with things, without others knowing about it. I used to take piano and voice, and like you, I SO regret stopping. Teacher moved but I should have pursued it. And, I’ve always wanted to own a restaurant!
I cook a lot with fish, mainly with salmon, halibut, black cod. Never really cooked tilapia (I know it sounds strange :)). So, that’s why I am pinning this recipe! 🙂
Julia, I can’t do salmon yet, but maybe halibut! And take note, I just created a new tilapia recipe that should go live in a few weeks. OH MY HEAVENS. I’m officially obsessed.