Grilled tilapia is the perfect excuse to fire up your outdoor grill. This recipe is super easy and packed full of great flavor. Made in just 15 minutes!
If you are a fan of seafood dinners, you will love our cod recipe.
Grilled tilapia is one of the healthiest dinners in my rotation. In just 15 minutes, you’ll have a fish that flakes easily with a fork and has a nice, smoky flavor.
Grilled tilapia is a family favorite. We like to purchase a whole fish from Costco and grill it right up. If you’re a fan of whole-fish recipes, our lemon-herb baked trout is also a must! Since the whole fish has a lot of bones, it takes us quite some time to pick them out. This means we have even more time around the table to chat a catch up!
How to Grill Tilapia
Our best suggestion when grilling tilapia is to opt for the whole fish. It’s not only fun to pick it apart, it also comes out much more moist than butchered filets.
- Make small incisions on the outside of the fish.
- Season it generously with garlic salt.
- On the inside place slices of butter and lemon.
- Grill at 450 °F heat for about 5 minutes on each side. Depending on the size of the fish you may need to grill it a bit longer.
Hot Tip: Fully cooked fish should have an internal temperature of 145 ℉. Use a meat thermometer to take the guesswork out of preparing your fish safely.
How To Grill Tilapia Without it Falling Apart
Another reason I recommend that you use whole fish is that it stays together better when grilled. If you choose to use filets, you will want to make sure that the grill is very hot to create a good crust. Use foil or a fish tray to prevent the filet from falling apart and sticking to the grates.
I also recommend that you grease the grill grates with a high-heat oil. My favorites are grapeseed and peanut oil. But, be careful because oil does tend to flare up over an open flame!
Cooking Tilapia in Foil
Cooking tilapia in foil is the best method when you are cooking fillets. You can use the same exact recipe of seasoning and stuffing the fish with lemon and butter. I also like to add a few pieces of lemon and butter on top for good measure. Wrap the tilapia in foil and grill for about 5 minutes on each side. While you won’t get the same crispy outer layer, the fish will be moist and juicy on the inside.
You will not have the same crispy outside later but it will be moist and juicy.
Serving Grilled Tilapia
Grilled tilapia is so versatile. Pair it with creamy cauliflower rice or creamy herbed potatoes.You can also make a homemade caesar salad or a purple cabbage slaw. Whatever you do, keep your side light and delicious and try to eat outside! Fish is just meant to be enjoyed on a patio…
Other Fish Dishes You’ll Love
I didn’t used to love seafood, but once I moved to Seattle and got access to the best and tastiest fish, shrimp, clams and more, I simply fell in love. Here are some of my favorite seafood dishes:
- Perfect Air Fryer Salmon – If you haven’t made fish in the air fryer yet, you are totally missing out. The air fryer makes a super crispy crust and a moist inside.
- Creamy Shrimp Scampi – I love eating shrimp pasta during the summertime. The creamy sauce is elevated by white wine and freshly grated parmesan.
- 15 Minute Grilled Salmon – An easy, 3 ingredient recipe. Fire up the grill!
- Air Fryer Tilapia – Dinner will be ready in minutes with this easy Air Fryer take on tilapia.
- Smoked Oysters – Oysters are so amazing in the Pacific Northwest and I have grown to love them so much. This miso butter brings out the best flavors of this coveted shellfish.
- Grilled Halibut – Looking for another mild flavored fish to throw on the grill? This 4 ingredient recipe is ready in minutes!
Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 tilapias
- 1/4 cup Unsalted Butter
- 2 lemons
- 2 tbsp Garlic Parley Salt
- 1 tbsp dill garnish
Instructions
- Slice lemon into half rings. Butter into small chunks.
- Make small incisions on tilapia. Season all sides generously. Stuff it with butter and lemon slices.
- Grill tilapia at 450 °F for about 5 minutes on each side. Depending on the size of the fish, you may need to grill longer.
The fish in the picture has grill marks but in the comments you say you recommend wrapping it in foil. How was the fish in the photo cooked?
Hey April, I cook mine directly on the grill (as pictured). However, the foil method works great if someone is worried about the fish sticking or falling apart on their grill.
This was really delicious. We grilled golden pompano. I used olive oil instead of butter but next time I will try the butter. Thanks for sharing.
Hey Alice, Butter and fish is always a great combo! Enjoy the grilled fish! 🙂
To me this is way to salty .
Hi Ruth, ah I'm sorry to hear it came out too salty! I always encourage readers to adjust to taste. Hope you give it another try with less salt. Thank you for the feedback!
What kind of griddle/tray did you use?
Hey Jay- in the post I actually recommend wrapping the fish in foil when grilling, it makes the fish moist and juicy inside; but if you do prefer to use a grilling basket, here is an amazon affiliate link to the one that's in my storefront: https://amzn.to/3zVRlGU
Do you gut the fish first? I assume so, so you can stuff it but not sure 🤔
Hi Kristina, we actually purchase clean fish. As you can tell in the recipe steps, we stuff it with lemon. Hope that helps. 🙂
Do i need to descale the fish first?
Hey Jake, you don't. We always grill it whole.
Yum! My family and I love seafood! They'll be so excited to try this!
Beth, I hope you love it!
So delicious and easy to make. Seafood is my favorite in the summertime. This was PERFECTION made on the grill!
I am so happy to hear this. Thank you for sharing!
This is everything a gourmet meal should be, and then some! Looking forward to impressing my family with this for dinner this weekend!
Sara, Hope your family loves it!