Grilling tilapia is healthy, easy, and fast to cook. Add a simple homemade blackening seasoning for spicy fish tacos or a delicious dinner. This easy grilled blackened fish recipe can be adapted to other fish. You can even use Cajan, Creole, or any other seasoning.
🐟Ingredients
Tilapia
Butter
Blackening Seasoning—Paprika, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Dry thyme, Dry oregano, Salt, Black Pepper, Cayenne pepper
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Featured Comment by Douglas:
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"Great recipe! Both my wife and I loved the result. We will be grilling the blackened tilapia recipe again."
It is time to get some healthy fish in your diet with this quick and spicy recipe, which will become one of your favorites.
This tilapia recipe only needs a few minutes of prep and only about 5 minutes on the grill for a delicious low-fat main dish or tacos.
You can use fresh or thoroughly thawed frozen whole tilapia filets. But using other types of fish and seasoning are discussed.
👨🍳How to Grill Blackened Tilapia—Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
1. Preheat the grill to high heat.
2. Make blackening seasoning if using my suggested blackening rub.
3. Rinse and pat dry the tilapia. Brush with melted butter.
4. Coat with blackening, Cajun, Creole, or other seasoning.
5. Load the tilapia in the grill basket, grill pan, or on a preheated griddle.
6. Place the tilapia on a preheated grill. The lid may be open or closed—grill for only 2 minutes.
7. Flip and grill for another 2 minutes. Check the temperature (145°) and color. You may need a few minutes more.
8. Serve immediately; I suggest with Simple Tartar Sauce or making a spicy fish taco.
For more details, keep reading. See the Recipe Card below for complete instructions and to print.
⏰How long to grill fish
While thinner fish, like tilapia, are generally done in a grill basket in about 4-5 minutes, thicker fish may take 6-8 minutes or more.
Cook to good color and a minimum temperature of 145 °. A rough rule is to cook for 10 minutes per inch of thickness.
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👨🍳Make it right every time
I cook on a gas grill, although charcoal or pellet grills can also be used.
Grill with no foil to get a nice crispy crust instead of in foil, which is more like steaming fish.
You can use fresh or thawed frozen tilapia. I like to move frozen tilapia to the refrigerator the day before cooking.
The thickness of whole tilapia filets can vary; cooking time will usually be 2-3 minutes per side, but thick filets may take 4 minutes per side.
Try to cook right to 145° for safety, but not much more, or your fish will dry.
🔥Spicing
The basic instructions for grilling fish don't change with the spicing, so you can use any spicing or flavor you want.
My homemade blackening seasoning is economical and easy to adjust. But you can use commercial Cajan, Creole, or blackening seasonings.
To adjust the heat in my homemade blackening seasoning, change the cayenne pepper.
- Slip the cayenne pepper if you want no added heat to the spice mix.
- Use ¼ teaspoon for 3 to 4 out of 10 heat.
- Use ½ teaspoon for 6 to 7 out of 10 heat.
- Use a full teaspoon for 9 to 10 out of 10 heat. I call this "manly man" level.
♨️Grilling tips
If you grill fish frequently, get a grill basket like the one pictured. It supports the fish, making flipping easy and painless. They are cheap and avalible at any big box store.
If you use a grindle, preheat it with the grill since it is heavy and needs a lot of heat. Grill pans will usually heat fast but may prolong cooking time a little.
Since the fish is thin and uses high heat, you can cook with the grill lid open or closed—it does not matter.
Can I grill other fish fish?
Other fish fillets, such as mahi mahi, halibut, cod, or even salmon, can be used and typically cook about the same with an easy thickness adjustment.
Generally, fish will need about 10 minutes per inch of thickness of the fish fillet. Check for a final internal temperature of 145° with an instant-read thermometer.
For more information, please see my discussion of the 10-minute rule for cooking fish.
🐟Fish Recipes
Check out these other great tilapia recipes, like baked parmesan tilapia or lemon butter tilapia. Or for salmon, try Garlic Butter Salmon in a Convection Oven.
🍽️Serving suggestions
If you make fish tacos, my Pineapple Mango Salsa Recipe is a great compliment
If not making tacos, serve top with homemade tarter sauce and with smashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, healthy biscuits, Cheddar Bay Biscuits, or cornbread biscuits.
❄️Storing leftovers
Leftover fish is never as good as freshly cooked, but sometimes there are leftovers.
Seal leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for 4 days. You can freeze leftovers for three months, but they will lose their flavor and texture.
Leftovers may be reheated in the oven at 300° for about 10-15 minutes, lightly covered.
❓FAQs
Tilapia is a healthy, mild white fish commonly farm-raised but can also be caught in the wild. It provides economical, high-quality protein along with some healthier fats. It is available fresh or frozen in most of the world.
Please see my baked blackened tilapia for instructions.
📖The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions
Grilled Blackened Tilapia
Ingredients
- 1 pound Tilapia - fresh or thawed frozen
- 1 tablespoon butter - melted
Blackening Rub-makes enough for 2 pounds
- 3 tablespoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dry thyme
- 1 teaspoon dry oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper to taste
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat the grill to high heat. If using a griddle instead of a grill basket, then place it on the grill to preheat.
- Combine 3 tablespoons paprika, one teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon onion powder, one teaspoon black pepper, one teaspoon dry thyme, one teaspoon dry oregano, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder. Also, add cayenne pepper ¼ teaspoon for normal (3/10 heat), ½ teaspoon for spicy (7/10), and one teaspoon for manly man 10/10 heat.
- Rinse and pat dry 1 pound of tilapia.
- Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a microwave—about 15 seconds.
- Brush both sides of tilapia with the melted butter.
- Coat both sides of the tilapia with a generous amount of the rub—you don't need all the rub. Other seasonings may be used instead.
- Spray a flexible grill basket with a generous amount of PAM.
- Load the tilapia in the grill basket. Alternatively, a grill pan will work. if using a griddle, then add a tablespoon or so of vegetable oil to the preheated griddle. Do not use olive oil since it smokes at high temperatures.
- Place the tilapia on preheated grill. The lid may be open or closed—grill for only 2 minutes. Flip and grill another 2 minutes. Check temperature (145°) and color. You may need few minutes or so more.
- While the thinner fish in a grill basket is generally done in about 4-5 minutes total time—thicker fish may take 6-8 minutes—to cook to good color and 145° minimum temperature.
- You can serve immediately or make tacos.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- You may be grilled with the hood open or closed.
- I use ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper here. This was a 7/10 hot. I suspect most people will want ¼ teaspoon, which is a 3-4/10 heat level. The original recipe used a full teaspoon which I did once. It was what I call manly man level of 10/10.
- Store extra seasoning sealed tightly for next time. This is enough for about 2 pounds.
- While the thinner fish in a grill basket is generally done in about 4-5 minutes total time, thicker fish may take 6-8 minutes—cook to good color, and 145° minimum temperature.
- Grilling other fish and seasonings are discussed in the post.
Your Own Private Notes
To adjust the recipe size:
You can adjust the number of servings above; however, only the amount in the ingredient list is adjusted, not the instructions.
Nutrition Estimate (may vary)
Originally published May 11, 2013. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Jason says
Thank you so much for your beautiful recipe, i just finished making Tilapia on the barbecue using your rub recipe and it's now gone. Keep up the good work in the kitchen.
NickL says
The last time, the spices stuck to my hand, the plate and less so the fish. What am I doing wrong to cause this?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Nick,
Welcome to the blog.
A couple of things will help. Give the butter a few minutes to firm up on the fish. Be sure some butter is on the plate. Put it on and pat with a spoon. Flip with a fork. And move to the grill basket with a fork. Don't be afraid to add a bit more to "patch" it or just more flavor.
Dan
Alex Jones says
I've cooked this numerous time in a cast iron on the stovetop, but always missed that grilled flavor. Finally bought a grill grate and turned out phenomenal. We put ours in tacos with some slaw mix that I toss with some quick and easy ingredients, my wife makes an amazing jalapeno cilantro and lime dressing to top it with. One of our favorite meals! Great recipe
Nick L says
Well, tried this for this first time and I’m not the home cook specialist. Used a cast iron pan, on the gas grill, no paprika but everything else. Turned out great!! Better half rarely if every eats fish - but liked this and would consider it again. Thank you!
Can this work with other fish besides Tilapia?
Alex Jones says
I have done it with other white fish such as cod, but I wouldn't recommend using a basket for this but rather a griddle style pan on the grill
Dorothy Duncan says
Can this be cooked on a stovetop?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Dorothy,
Welcome to the blog.
This should pan fry fine. About 3 minutes or so per side depending on the thickness.
This recipe is based on my oven-baked recipe which is based on a stovetop Food Network recipe. https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/aaron-mccargo-jr/big-daddys-blackened-tilapia-recipe-1948646
Dan
Jaime says
What other spices can you recommend besides cayenne pepper? That's way too hot for me. Can't handle it. Maybe chili powder or cumin?? I'm new at this.
DrDan says
Hi Jaime,
Welcome to the blog.
The cayenne adds very little taste, mostly just heat. So skip the cayenne and don't substitute.
Dan
Bruce says
This was AWESOME. It’s -20 here today so my grill wouldn’t fully heat up so I just kept an eye on it and ended up doing 10 minutes per side! But it worked out great anyway. Thanks so much.
DrDan says
Hi Bruce,
Welcome to the blog.
That is some serious grilling. Glad it worked well even at low temperature. I grill all winter but it rarely gets to zero here. I will add a few minutes to a burger or steak.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Crista says
Could this be placed in foil and put on the grill?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Crista,
Welcome to the blog.
I never cook fish in foil but it probably would work. It is just fish with seasoning but this has nice surface that won't be there in foil.
Dan
Debbie says
Was wondering if you could use a cedar plank with this recipe?
DrDan says
Hi Debbie,
Welcome to the blog.
Yep cedar plank would work if that is your preference. It will take about 50% longer and no flipping. I'm not a big fan of plank so I usually don't discuss it.
Dan
Alicia says
This looks delicious and easy. Question: do you use the frozen tilapia or fresh? Thankli
DrDan says
Hi Alicia,
I use frozen thawed. But fresh would be great but I'm in Michigan.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Davey says
In terms of herbs/spices, this is a good blackening seasoning mix, but I think it needs a good bit more salt. Perhaps I'm used to the 7:2:1 seasoning mix which is more salty. I'm going to up the salt content for my next batch. On the plus side, the fish came out well-cooked.
I tried to close the lid of the grill, but the lid pressed down on the arm of the basket and raised the basket off the grates. Like a see-saw. So I had to leave the lid open. Didn't seem to affect things much.
DrDan says
Hi Davey,
I could see a little more salt at least for me.
The lid can be open or closed for this recipe since the fish is so thin and the heat is high.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Elizabeth Gillings says
Thanks so much for addressing this issue...I definitely will be back to eating it...I've missed my blackened tilapia!
Elizabeth Gillings says
I loved your oven baked blackened tilapia when I've eaten it in the past so I bet it's even better grilled. My question to you as a Doctor is tilapia not as bad as people say anymore? I hear how "poisoned" it is and would like your opinion because I really miss eating it. Thanks!
DrDan says
Hi Elizabeth,
Some internet “health sites” have been attacking tilapia as unhealthy using “click-bate” headlines like “worse than bacon.” While you can attack any farm-raised fish the for the method, or any farm product for that matter, the facts still support tilapia as a good source of low-fat protein.
Tilapia is a bit lower in omega-3 than some wild fish but also lower in mercury. You can have that whole discussion about the impact of over-fishing of oceans. It goes on and on.
So the "people" that are attacking tilapia have an agenda or are highly misinformed.
So enjoy your tilapia.
Dan
Kenneth says
Dr.Dan, Thanks for the recipe, I went to my email to grab your website address to get the recipe for oven blackened tilapia as I had used it before. I found this for grilled blackened tilapia. I used it with a griddle that works on my grill. Of course being from Alaska I used some fresh halibut. I used your spices to the best of my ability but ran out of thyme so had to skip it. No cayenne so used some NM red chile powder instead. Followed the technique using a timer. Came out very good. A crust but not dry. My wife had fish tacos and I had blackened halibut with cole slaw. Same meal just skipped the tortillas due to diet restrictions. A great summer dish and did not heat up the house. This will be on the menu again. I also used the simple tarter sauce but used lime juice instead of lemon because I was out. Still good and so easy. Thanks again.
Kathleen says
So wonderful, a genuine 5 star! We grilled it without a basket and it turned out perfectly. We had it with sautéed beet greens, grilled zucchini, and garlic bread. This is definitely something we will have often, thanks for sharing.
Salka says
you bought something youself frome home depot! Thats an achievement! congratulations!
DrDan says
Yep, I was proud of myself.
But the reason for the wording is the FCC rules and if I mention a specific product line the Brinkmann Steel Flexible Grilling Basket here, the FCC assumption is that I was given it free and that would be illegal to mention it. So to be legal, I must say I paid for it myself.
Debbie says
Ibmade this recipe and put it on a charcoal grill and cooked it in aluminum foil it was so good.