Tilapia Foil Packets Grilled or Baked Lemon Recipe – Both Ways!
If you aren’t much of a seafood person, tilapia is a great way to enjoy fish. The light taste and smell make tilapia a pleasing seafood dish, specially when grilled with these tilapia foil packets!
Grilling tilapia, or fish in general, sounds intimidating. I used to be intimidated as well, baking fish in the oven was more of a fail proof way to do it. With these tried and true tips, you can be grilling tilapia today and it will become the easiest dish you’ve ever made.
It all starts with the spread. In a small bowl, mix together 1 Tsp. of butter, 1/2 Tsp. of parsley, 1/2 Tsp. of minced Garlic and 1/8 Tsp of salt.
This is enough to cover one 6oz Tilapia, if you are cooking more then just double the recipe for however many you are making.
Line a large piece of aluminum foil with 6-8 pieces of asparagus, if your stalks are larger then you might stick with 6 of them.
Place the tilapia on top of the asparagus stalks, then spread the top with your butter/garlic mixture and top with two slices of lemon.
The trick that comes with grilling tilapia foil packets is all in the foil. Make sure you tear off a large piece of foil, you will want your foil packet to completely close up on the ends and overlap in the middle.
First, fold in the sides so they overlap, then fold up the ends nice and tight.
On the grill, place the foil packets with the seam side up. Watch your temperature, I keep mine around 450 degrees. Cook for about 6 minutes and then using a pair of long tongs, flip the packet over to cook for another 6-7 minutes.
After bringing them inside, allow the packets to cool for a few minutes. Open and enjoy! The tilapia fish should be flaky and delicious. For an extra kick, squeeze a little bit of your lemon slices on top.
I make tilapia foil packets in the oven all of the time. It’s so simple in the oven as well! Great in the colder months and rainy days. Both methods are fail proof and just as delicious.
If you want to try this out in your oven before venturing to the grill. Prepare your foil packets in the same way and then follow the cooking instructions below.
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
Fold the foil over the tilapia and pinch the ends closed, creating a well sealed packet.
Depending on the size of your Tilapia will depend on your cooking time. Check your packet after 15 minutes, I’ve had them take anywhere from 15 minutes to 25 minutes. Once your tilapia is cooked it will flake easily with a fork.
Used butter, lemon, capers, asparagus, tilapia and a drizzle of EVOO…wrapped each piece in aluminum foil in a 375 degree oven…HEAVENLY!!!
Wow! This looks really good. It’s light but fulfilling. I like the lemon to an extra kick to it and the grilled version is my favorite.
The taste is almost exactly the same, but the fillets I can get are almost twice the size, so they’re a LOT less likely to dry out. I used to use tilapia all the time, but now I use Swai for all those dishes!
Those are some great ideas! I’ve never tried swai before.. is it light like tilapia?
I’m ALL about the foil packets, and this is one of my favorites! I usually use Swai instead of tilapia. Also, we like to mix it up with the veggies, sometimes using squash, zucchini, tomatoes, fresh green beans, or a combination of them.
How many calories is this dish?
Thanks Tammie! We love it too
This was a big hit with a client of mine- I cook for him once a week, and this has been his favorite dish so far! Easy to prepare too- I highly recommend!
Im not a fish lover and this still looks yummy!
Love the pics!!