Grilled Tilapia: Easy Spanish Weeknight Dinner with Smoked Paprika 62 2026

Grilled tilapia is a perfect choice for a weeknight dinner, because it pairs the simplicity of its preparation with a delicious flavor. In this recipe we show you how to prepare it step by step, along with suggestions for serving it.

Below we show you how to prepare the tilapia in a simple way so that it turns out perfect. You can serve it with almost any ingredient you can think of, whether it is a salad, boiled potatoes or grilled vegetables. It will be ideal with any of these options.

Ingredients for Grilled Tilapia

These amounts make 3 servings.

• 3 tilapia fillets
• Salt
• 1 head of lettuce
• 3 tomatoes
• 1 lemon
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Mild olive oil (for the griddle)
• Chopped chives, for garnish

How to Make Grilled Tilapia Step by Step

1. Dry and salt the tilapia

If you start with frozen fillets, leave 3 tilapia fillets thawing in the refrigerator from the night before. Once thawed, when you are ready to prepare them, dry them with paper towels and add a pinch of salt on both sides.

2. Prepare a salad with the lettuce and tomato

Next, we are going to prepare a lettuce and tomato salad that will serve as a side dish. Separate and wash the leaves of 1 head of lettuce, wash and chop 3 tomatoes, and wash and chop 1 lemon. Place the lettuce in a bowl, add the tomatoes, 1 pinch of salt and 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil. Mix all the ingredients well and set aside until serving.

3. Cook the tilapia fillets for 3 minutes on the oiled griddle

Heat a griddle until it reaches the optimal temperature and then grease it with a little mild olive oil. Place the tilapia fillets on the griddle and cook them for about 3 minutes.

4. Flip them and cook for 2 more minutes

Flip them with a spatula and let them cook for 2 minutes on the other side.

5. Transfer them to a platter and serve with the salad

Once cooked, remove them with a spatula to keep them from breaking, place them on a platter along with a few lemon slices and garnish them with chives. Serve them accompanied by the lettuce salad.

Tips for the Best Grilled Tilapia

Thaw the fillets overnight

Starting from frozen fillets makes a difference: leave them thawing in the refrigerator from the night before so they are ready to cook. Patting them completely dry before seasoning helps them sear rather than steam on the griddle.

Keep the side dish simple

The lettuce and tomato salad is a light, fresh counterpoint to the fish, and it comes together while the griddle heats. Dress it with just a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil so the flavor of the tilapia stays center stage.

Use a spatula and watch the timing

Grease the hot griddle with mild olive oil and cook the fillets about 3 minutes on one side and 2 minutes on the other. Tilapia is delicate, so lift it with a spatula instead of tongs to keep the fillets intact when you flip and plate them.

30 Recipes I Keep Coming Back to in My Own Kitchen

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a go-to lineup that covers cozy classics, well-known dishes from around the globe, and desserts that make everyone at the table happy.

Some nights I want something luxurious, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a truly indulgent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And whenever a fruity, comforting sweet sounds right, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I make.

Mornings and lighter meals call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a filling Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple to keep in the pantry, this straightforward Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe is one I rely on.

For small plates and Mediterranean cooking, I bounce between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also comes out when I want the meal to feel a bit more special.

Hearty midday meals and snug evening dinners? I'm always pointing people toward this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I need something more substantial, out comes this oven-baked Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply soothing French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

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And when drinks plus a whole menu are needed for guests, I'll set dinner alongside this cooling Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this punchy Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like putting this zippy French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or closing things out with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes are built on straightforward methods, dependable technique, and serious flavor.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely come back to time and time again—whether it's a fast solo meal or a spread I'm putting together for loved ones.

On the sweet side, the rich, velvety Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together easily. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and uncomplicated is what I'm after, I'll go with the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a spot-on Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For cozier, heartier fare, I'm quick to suggest the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the luscious Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also a big fan of sharing dishes with roots around the world, like the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it's quick and still delivers terrific texture. The ones I make most are Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for anyone steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

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