Blackened Tilapia

Quick and flavorful blackened tilapia fillets seasoned with a bold Cajun spice blend and pan-seared to perfection. Ready in under 15 minutes for an easy weeknight dinner.

Prep

5 min

Cook

8 min

Servings

Ingredients

11 items

Measurements are approximate and only convert common kitchen units.

Tilapia fillets

about 6 oz each

4
Paprika

smoked preferred

2 tsp
Garlic powder

1 tsp
Onion powder

1 tsp
Dried thyme

½ tsp
Dried oregano

½ tsp
Cayenne pepper

adjust to taste for heat

½ tsp
Salt

or to taste

¾ tsp
Black pepper

½ tsp
Butter

melted, or olive oil

2 Tbsp
Lemon wedges

for serving

Tilapia fillets

4

about 6 oz each
Paprika

2 tsp

smoked preferred
Garlic powder

1 tsp
Onion powder

1 tsp
Dried thyme

½ tsp
Dried oregano

½ tsp
Cayenne pepper

½ tsp

adjust to taste for heat
Salt

¾ tsp

or to taste
Black pepper

½ tsp
Butter

2 Tbsp

melted, or olive oil
Lemon wedges

for serving

Instructions

6 steps

1
Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels and brush lightly with melted butter or olive oil on both sides.
2
In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper to create the blackened seasoning.
3
Generously coat both sides of each fillet with the seasoning blend, pressing it in gently.
4
Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until very hot (about 2-3 minutes). Add a thin layer of oil or butter.
5
Place the seasoned fillets in the hot skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until the fish is opaque, flakes easily, and has a dark, crispy blackened crust. Do not overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if needed.
6
Remove from heat and serve immediately with lemon wedges, fresh parsley, and your favorite sides like rice, coleslaw, or roasted vegetables.