More Than 31 Side Dishes and Desserts
When you want to know what to serve with tilapia, consider all of the delicious recipes you love. There is no right and wrong, so go with what you like. Most of these sides and desserts will go with many different types of fish—from tilapia which is a mild fish to a stronger fish like salmon.
Tilapia is a healthy fish that you can find at almost any seafood market. A favorite way to eat it at our house is fried fish fillets. We also like parmesan crusted tilapia.
Best Tilapia Recipes
It’s also a versatile fish that you can cook in so many ways. Most of the time, you can make a delicious tilapia dish with a few simple ingredients.
Fresh tilapia is always best. But if you can’t find it, don’t hesitate to get frozen fish. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding some at the grocery store.
When it goes on sale, I typically buy extra for those busy weeknights when I need to get something on the table in a couple of minutes.
This flaky white fish has a mild flavor and goes well with a tablespoon of butter, some fresh lemon juice, and a little fresh garlic.
When I make fish tacos, my first choice of fish is tilapia. I broil it with a dash of sea salt, some taco seasoning, and a little bit of black pepper before adding it to the taco shell.
Here are some of the best tilapia fish recipes:
Parmesan Pesto Tilapia – This recipe was inspired by a chicken recipe from Back to My Southern Roots. I figured if chicken was good with pesto and parmesan that tilapia would be too. It’s an easy tilapia recipe that has a hint of sophistication.
Pan Fried Tilapia – You can’t go wrong with this recipe by The Cookie Rookie.
Fried Tilapia Fillets – Here is one from Cooked by Julie that is absolutely delicious.
Easy Baked Tilapia – Even though I love fried tilapia, this super easy baked tilapia by Spend with Pennies will quickly become a favorite. All you need are a few simple ingredients and a baking sheet to cook this flakey white fish to perfection.
Healthy Dinner
A tilapia dish is a great foundation of a healthy dinner. You can serve it in so many different ways. Pan fry it or bake it. Give it a quick drizzle of olive oil and add some lemon wedges or lime juice. Or you can sprinkle a little soy sauce over it for a different flavor sensation.
When cooked properly, tilapia has a lot of health benefits. This tender white fish is loaded with nutrients that are good for your brain, heart, and other organs.
I like it with either this cocktail sauce or a creamy tartar sauce, but some people like it with straight-up ketchup. Another good option is a lemony butter sauce for dipping. I’m a huge fan of dipping.
You can add a side salad for a healthy meal or make it hearty by adding a starch, bread, and dessert. Even picky eaters will enjoy this mild white fish.
Some people like to save fish for Fridays, but we like it any night of the week. Next time you see tilapia at the supermarket, go ahead and pick some up.
Choose one of the recipes above and add some of the side dishes below. Your family will love it so much they’ll want you to add it to your regular dinner rotation.
Tilapia Side Dishes and Desserts
Some of these recipes are super quick recipes, while others take a little more time in the kitchen. However, I was careful to choose sides and desserts that take less than an hour to prepare.
Side Dishes and Desserts to Serve with Tilapia
All of these side dishes and desserts are perfect for a tilapia fish dinner.
Mama’s easy and delicious potato salad is always a hit at any get-together! It’s perfect as a side dish during a family dinner or at a picnic.
Fish dinner is always better with a side of delicious hush puppies!
Cloud bread is a delicious gluten-free, keto-friendly bread substitute. Use it for sandwiches, mini pizzas, and breadsticks to enhance any meal or snack.
This watermelon cucumber salad is a refreshing dish that’s perfect with almost any meal. Or you can enjoy it as a light snack when you need a quick pick-me-up.
Broccoli slaw is delicious, nutritious, and easy to make! It adds a lot of color to the salad table at any meal.
This creamy coleslaw is the perfect side dish for any family dinner, buffet, potluck, or picnic!
Here's a delicious way to add nutritious veggies to your fish dinner.
This Greek olive and feta salad adds flavor to any meal. In fact, it is so delicious that it might take over and be the star.
This apple spinach salad with pecans is one of the most delicious salads I’ve ever made. It has the perfect amount of sweetness without taking it over the top.
Butternut squash in the air fryer is an easy side dish that is quick and delicious. You can make it with whole or frozen butternut squash.
Cook your frozen waffle fries in an air fryer for golden, crispy deliciousness. They’re easy to make, budget-friendly, and you can add whatever toppings you like.
This classic baked macaroni and cheese is easy to make and delicious to eat. Once you serve it to your family, it will become one of the most requested favorite side dishes.
Yes, you absolutely can bake potatoes in your air fryer!
Roasted Brussels sprouts are delicious and nutritious. They’re a side dish that goes with almost any meal, and they’re super easy to cook.
Bring the garden to your plate with this yummy recipe!
The green bean casserole has become a traditional side dish for holiday dinners. It’s also delicious for any family meal.
Get out of your side dish rut and try this delicious asparagus casserole!
Honey roasted sweet potatoes are the perfect side dish for any special occasion. They’re delicious with pork, beef, chicken or fish.
Creamy buttermilk garlic mashed potatoes are a delicious as a side dish for any family dinner. They’re also perfect to serve for special occasions and holiday meals.
These Tex Mex ranch potatoes are loaded with flavor, and they’re the perfect side dish for any meal. They’re also ideal for bringing to a potluck or buffet dinner.
What a yummy side dish for any meal!
Brown rice is the perfect side for any fish dinner.
These air fryer French fries are about the best fries I’ve ever tasted. And they make the perfect side dish for so many different types of meals.
When you want a little extra heat in your cornbread, make these delicious and super easy jalapeno corn muffins! They will liven up any meal.
Who says grits are a breakfast food. Although they're delicious with bacon and eggs, they also make a great side dish for any family dinner or potluck.
There's always room on the plate for a delicious comfort food. You'll love this one!
Brownie waffles are a delicious dessert or sweet treat. You can make them from scratch or from a brownie mix. Either way is super easy!
This pineapple dump cake recipe is easy, and the results are delicious! It’s the perfect dish for dessert, an afternoon snack, or a potluck dinner.
This flourless peanut butter mug cake is easy, delicious, and gluten-free. Make it when you want a single serving of dessert.
Slow cooker cinnamon applesauce is easy to make and so delicious! Serve it for breakfast, dessert, or as a side dish for any meal.
These butterscotch pecan cookies are a delicious dessert or afternoon snack that’s super quick and easy to make.
This creamy no-bake cherry lime pie is a delicious dessert or treat. It’s easy to make and takes very little time.
Pecan pie cobbler is an easy and delicious dessert for any occasion. The easy pecan pie cobbler recipe features a double layer of pecan pie and is perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream right on top.