It’s time to learn how to grill tilapia! (Don’t worry, it’s beyond simple.) This grilled tilapia in foil couldn’t be easier! Simply layer a white fish in the fish foil packet, season with olive oil, salt and pepper, top with veggies and GRILL. Lots of bright summer flavors and the perfect meal to eat outside. The grilled fish in foil packets is not only fun, but it’s also functional as flaky fish like tilapia can’t be grilled directly on the grill. It also helps “steam” the fish so you aren’t drying it out. It’s a meal in a foil packet, but add napa cabbage slaw for a crunchy side.

If you love fish, be sure to try my salmon Caesar salad, air fryer tilapia, fish cakes (made with tilapia), crispy baked cod, blackened cod, and grilled salmon in foil next time. If you need a winter version, my Mediterranean baked fish is a great alternative that you can make inside.

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Grilling Tilapia in Foil Video

https://www.tiktok.com/@myeverydaytable/video/6974196798701292806

Can You Grill Tilapia?

Yes, you can grill tilapia! And I’ll show you how to grill tilapia without it falling apart. There are a few ways to make grilled tilapia:

• Use a grill basket. This is especially helpful when grilling a flaky fish.
• Make a foil platter. You can do this easily by shaping some foil into a platter shape.
• Make grilled tilapia in foil. This is exactly what we’re doing in this grilled tilapia recipe!

Ingredients

The ingredients to make grilled fish in foil are basic:

• White fish – While the recipe calls for tilapia, you can really use any flaky white fish. Cod, bass, grouper, catfish, snapper, or halibut would also work.
• Olive oil – Use high quality olive oil for best flavor.
• Bell pepper – I’ve used an orange bell pepper for a variety of colors, but use yellow, orange, or red.
• Onion – I’ve used red onion, which I prefer for color and flavor, but you could also use white or yellow onion.
• Corn – Use fresh or frozen. If using fresh corn on-the-cob, simply cut it right off the cob and it’s ready to use.
• Tomatoes – Grape or cherry tomatoes work really well in this dish, but you could also use diced tomatoes, just be sure to remove the seeds so it isn’t too watery.
• Seasonings – garlic powder, sea salt, black pepper. You could also season tilapia filet with lemon pepper.
• Bread – Optional bread for serving. I love to grill it and serve it on the side.

Grilled Tilapia Recipe FAQs

Can you grill tilapia in foil?

Yes, grilling tilapia in foil is a great way to ensure your fish doesn’t fall through the grill grates. It’s also easy and keeps it nice and flaky without drying it out.

How to season tilapia for grilling?

In this recipe for grilled tilapia, the seasoning is kept really simple with olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. The fish also gets plenty of flavor from the corn, tomatoes, pepper, and onion!

You could also use old bay seasoning and grill the tilapia just like my grilled trout recipe.

What to put on grilled tilapia?

Tilapia is a blank canvas. We’ve seasoned it here with basic seasonings and fresh veggies. Grill them together in foil packets and it makes for a flavorful and nutritious dish.

Is grilled tilapia healthy?

Yes! Unless you don’t or can’t eat fish. 😉 This tilapia recipe is nutritious and packed with protein and veggies. Serve it with a carb to round out the meal and it’s a satisfying combo.

How do you grill tilapia without it falling apart?

Because tilapia is a flaky fish, you can’t just set it right on the grill or it will fall apart.

That’s why we’re cooking the grilled tilapia in foil packets. There are also a few other options (see above!) for grilling flaky white fish.

How long to grill tilapia?

This easy grilled tilapia will take about 10 minutes to cook over a medium-high heat grill over direct heat (right over the flame).

The tilapia grill time will vary based on the size of the tilapia fillet. You’ll want it to easily flake so you can open up one of the packet and check with a fork.

You can also use an instant read meat thermometer, you’ll want to cook the tilapia in foil until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.

Substitutes for Grilled Fish Foil Packets

Many grilled tilapia recipes like this one can be made with any flaky white fish like cod, bass, grouper, catfish, snapper, or halibut.

You can also swap out some of the vegetables depending on what you have. I love the bright and summery-fresh veggies used in this grilled tilapia in foil, but feel free to use other soft vegetables like shallots, lemon slices, green beans, diced potatoes, or zucchini.

Get Your Kids Involved in Making this Grilled Tilapia Recipe

There are so many ways to get your kids involved in cooking this grilled tilapia in foil:

• Season the fish with olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper.
• Help chop veggies with a kids knife. (The pepper is a good one for younger kids.)
• Add veggies to fish foil packets. This doesn’t need to be done perfectly, so it’s the perfect job for kids! Season veggies with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

How to Serve Fish to the Whole Family

I get it, feeding kids can be tough! But following the Division of Responsibility and knowing your job and your child’s job makes it SO much more enjoyable. You’ll be able to feed your kids any meal, which will help ensure that they are eating a variety of nutritious foods – with plenty of play food sprinkled in. 😉

If you can get your kids involved (see ideas above!) this always helps. Other than that, be sure to use the Division of Responsibility, serve it with a few things you know they will eat (like bread, milk, fruit), and then ultimately let them decide what to eat.

They may take a bite of fish, they may not. Both are ok.

What to Eat with Grilled Tilapia

This grilled tilapia recipe is a protein and veggie so you really just need to eat some carbs! I love it with grilled bread, but you could also serve it with some

• Grains – Serve over a bed of rice, quinoa, couscous. All the flavor from the fish and veggies will soak into the grains.
• Salads – Simple salad recipes like everyday side salad, simple green salad, or quinoa arugula salad pair well with the grilled fish.
• Grilled bread – The best summer side! Simply brush bread slices with olive oil and grill until lightly charred on both side. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and eat.

More Easy Grilling Recipes

Love to grill anything and everything when the weather is right? Me TOO! Here are some other

• Grilled Drumsticks
• Grilled Chicken Thighs
• Grilled Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
• Grilled Lake Trout

More Fish & Seafood Recipes

If you like this grilled fish in foil with vegetables, you should try some of my other easy seafood recipes:

• Old Bay Shrimp Boil
• Moo Shu Shrimp
• Frozen Salmon in Air Fryer
• Baked Panko Salmon

Helpful Tools for Grilled Fish Recipes

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