25 Tilapia Side Dishes That Will Blow Your Mind

The ingredients are readily accessible and cheap as well. Some recipes that go well with Tilapia are roasted cauliflower, roasted brussels sprouts, zucchini fritters, oven-baked potato wedges, classic risotto, corn casserole, etc.

Most of these recipes contain a lot of vegetables and are very healthy. In addition, they also have a lot of fibers, vitamins, and antioxidants.

Most of them can be enjoyed by people with gluten allergies since they are gluten-free. It would be best if you tried to learn how to prepare these amazing sides for tilapia.

Quick Table: Recipes To Serve With Tilapia

Recipes	Calories Per Serving	Preparation Time
Roasted Cauliflower	200	10 Minutes
Roasted Brussels Sprouts	104	15 Minutes
Zucchini Fritters	181	15 Minutes
Velveeta Mac And Cheese	497	25 Minutes
Oven-Baked Potato Wedges	138	10 Minutes
Garlic Roasted Potatoes	123	10 Minutes
Lemon Rice Recipe	175	5 Minutes
Broccoli Cashew Stir-Fry	332	15 Minutes
Roasted Asparagus	36	5 Minutes
KFC Coleslaw	198	10 Minutes
Au Gratin Potatoes	256	30 Minutes
Classic Risotto	491	10 Minutes
Corn Casserole	131	10 Minutes
Cilantro Lime Rice	64	5 Minutes
Roasted Golden Beets	65	8 Minutes
Roasted Red Cabbage	53	5 Minutes
Jasmine Rice	293	1 Minute
Tatsoi Salad	120	10 Minutes
Artichoke And White Bean Salad	463	10 Minutes
Italian Tomato Salad	133	12 Minutes
Melon Prosciutto Salad	294	12 Minutes
Grilled Baby Bok Choy	112	2 Minutes
Sautéed Swiss Chard	98	5 Minutes
Mediterranean Grilled Vegetables	113	10 Minutes
Beet Salad With Goat Cheese	353	20 Minutes

1. Roasted Cauliflower

Roasted cauliflower is a very healthy and easy-to-make meal. The ingredients used to prepare this delicacy are easily accessible and affordable. 

They include cauliflower, olive oil, curry powder, salt, and garlic powder. You should roast your cauliflower for about 25-30 minutes until it is tender and crispy at 425 degrees F. 

Roasted cauliflower is healthy since they contain a lot of fiber, vitamin C, choline, and allicin and is also rich in antioxidants. 

You can make your cauliflower ahead of time, but it should be refrigerated. Serve this delicacy with rice alongside delicious Tilapia.

Calories Per Serving:  200

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes

2. Roasted Brussels Sprouts

What better side dish to enjoy with Tilapia than roasted brussels sprouts? This dish is very delicious, nutty, and very crispy. 

It takes less than an hour to prepare this delicacy, and they are incredibly yummy when cooked to perfection. Ingredients to prepare this delicacy include brussels sprouts, olive oil, kosher salt, and black pepper.

You can store this dish in an airtight container in the fridge for two months and reheat them when you want.

Heat at 350 degrees F when using the oven for about 5 minutes. You can serve this dish with a plate of rice or ugali.

Calories Per Serving: 104

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

3. Zucchini Fritters

You can use zucchini to make a great side dish for Tilapia during summer since they are a lot in the market. I love this meal because it is easy and quick to whip up. 

Suppose you don’t want your zucchini fritters to be watery and soggy during cooking.

In that case, you should drain excess water from them by placing the zucchini in a colander, tossing it with salt, and finally, let it stand in your sink for about 10 minutes.

Ingredients used to prepare this dish are zucchini, salt, all-purpose flour, eggs, cheese, chives, pepper, and olive oil. You can serve this delicacy with avocado salad alongside Tilapia.

Calories Per Serving: 181

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes

4. Velveeta Mac And Cheese 

Do you want to enjoy your weekend with your friends? If yes, prepare this mouth-watering, cheesy, creamy, and hearty recipe. Enjoying this recipe with a delicious grilled tilapia would be more divine.

It is easy to prepare, and you don’t have to be a professional chef to prepare this delicacy. You are good to go as long as you follow the recipe instructions.

Ingredients used in this recipe are butter, all-purpose flour, milk, macaroni, Velveeta cheese, and ritz crackers.

You should run your noodles under cold water if you overcook them accidentally. 

Calories Per Serving: 497

Preparation Time: 25 Minutes

5. Oven-Baked Potato Wedges

I love having this delicacy for dinner whenever I have a movie night with my lovely wife. Accompanying this delicious dish with Tilapia will make your night more delightful. 

The best part is that it is easy and quick to prepare. Ingredients used are parmesan cheese, olive oil, onion, garlic, pepper, salt, and potatoes. 

You can use any type of potato, but the best are russet potatoes since they have smooth skin and cook faster. 

To make crispy potatoes then, you must dry your potatoes after soaking them. Then, you can season your potatoes to get your desired flavors. 

Then, enjoy this delicacy with Tilapia accompanied by a glass of wine or your favorite fruit juice. 

Calories Per Serving: 138

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes

6. Garlic Roasted Potatoes

My mother loves to prepare this meal for us every time we visit her. It is one of our best meals since childhood. They are very crispy, creamy, delicious, and very versatile. 

Therefore, you can pair it with any meal. If you have not tried it with Tilapia, try it, and you will love it. Ingredients to prepare this recipe are potatoes, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, rosemary, lemon juice, and chopped parsley.

You can always store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for five days. 

You can use any potatoes, but I will encourage you to use baby potatoes since there is no need to peel them, and they cook pretty fast. 

Calories Per Serving: 123

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes

7. Lemon Rice Recipe

Lemon Rice is one of the best staple foods in my family that we like to serve with Tilapia. We all love it since it takes less time to prepare and its pairing with Tilapia is divine. 

In addition, the ingredients used are readily available and affordable. 

They include zest, lemon juice, rice, butter, kosher salt, and parsley. Use a micro plane zester to zest your lemons since a regular cheese grater won’t be able to do this job since its holes are massive and not too sharp.

You should always add lemon juice and zest to the cooking rice water at the start so that the rice can absorb the flavors of the lemon. 

Calories Per Serving: 175

Preparation Time: 5 Minutes

8. Broccoli Cashew Stir Fry

Broccoli cashew stir-fry is a healthy, flavorful meal that takes about forty minutes to prepare. It is also oil-free and filled with vegetables. 

My younger brother loves this delicacy because he has gluten allergies, and this dish is gluten-free. The ingredients used are onion, broccoli, garlic, ginger, cashews, tamari, and sesame seeds. 

It would be best to use roasted cashews rather than raw because roasted and dry cashews add another layer of flavor to the meal. You can reduce the cashews and add extra vegetables you would love to have.

You can pair up this meal with quinoa or brown rice and accompany it with mouth-watering frilled Tilapia.

Calories Per Serving: 332

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes

9. Roasted Asparagus

I love to enjoy my tilapia fillets with roasted asparagus as a side dish because it’s healthy and super delicious. Roasted asparagus contains fiber, folate, and vitamins. 

It is also tender and has crispy tips that make you want to make it every day. This dish is easy to prepare, and it is less time-consuming. Ingredients used are; asparagus, olive oil, kosher salt, and dried basil. 

You can always store your uncooked asparagus by removing the woody stem, putting them in a glass containing little water, then refrigerating them for up to five days. 

You can reheat your roasted asparagus in an oven at 350 degrees F. you can enjoy this delicious meal with potatoes or a glass of fresh avocado juice.

Calories Per Serving: 36

Preparation Time: 5 Minutes

10. KFC Coleslaw 

You can make KFC coleslaw in the comfort of your own home. It’s quick and straightforward to make as long as you follow the recipe’s instructions. 

The ingredients used are very cheap and easily accessible. They include; cabbage, carrot, milk, mayonnaise, buttermilk, onion, lemon juice, sugar, salt, and pepper.

This meal is crunchy and zesty, just like the original KFC coleslaw, so you can impress your friends and family by making this cheap dish at home. 

Coleslaw will last about five days if stored in an airtight container in the fridge. You can pair this meal with fried Tilapia.

Calories Per Serving: 198

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes

11. Au Gratin Potatoes

You can prepare this delicacy as a side dish for your Tilapia. Au Gratin potatoes are delicious, cheesy, creamy, and packed with vegetables, and you can enjoy them anytime. 

The ingredients are simple, readily available, and can be customized with your best cheeses. Ingredients used are potatoes, onions, butter, almond milk, cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

To make the best au gratin potatoes, you should evenly slice your potatoes by use of a mandolin so that they get cooked evenly. 

It would be best if you used Yukon potatoes for the best buttery flavor rather than using other types. You can top up this meal with chopped parsley for more flavor. 

Calories Per Serving: 256

Preparation Time: 30 Minutes

12. Classic Risotto

Classic risotto is a very delicious meal that is very easy and quick to prepare. You should try it if you haven’t before, and I promise it will be one of your best go-to meals. 

Don’t worry if you haven’t cooked before. As long as you follow the procedure on the recipe, you are good to go. 

Ingredients used for this recipe are onion, garlic, broth, kosher salt, butter, olive oil, arborio rice, white wine, parmesan cheese, fresh thyme, and pepper.

You can leave out the wine if you don’t like it. It is best to consume this dish the same day you prepare it. However, you can still store it in the fridge for about four days. You can enjoy this meal with potatoes and Tilapia. 

Calories Per Serving: 491

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes

13. Corn Casserole

I had to teach myself how to prepare corn casserole because it is my best meal since it’s delightful, tender in the center, and crispy around the edges. 

Ingredients used to prepare this delicacy are whole kernel corn, cream-style corn, sour cream, butter, muffin mix, and cheese. You can make casserole ahead of time. It tastes better when you make it before time.

Store the leftovers in a clean airtight container in the refrigerator for about four days.

 You can also reheat it using a microwave for about 10-20 minutes at 300 degrees F. Then, you can serve this delicacy with fresh mango juice alongside grilled Tilapia. 

Calories Per Serving: 131

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes

14. Cilantro Lime Rice

Cilantro lime rice is easy to make and can be a great side dish for Tilapia. You can prepare this dish in less than an hour, and you will need a few ingredients to prepare it. 

The ingredients used are also affordable and readily available. 

They include grain rice, water, garlic powder, mineral salt, cilantro leaves, and limes. To make the best lime rice, you should not add your cilantro to the rice when it is still hot. 

Instead, let it cool a little bit since the heat of the rice can make the cilantro dull. Then, add black beans to the rice to add more proteins and texture. 

Calories Per Serving: 64

Preparation Time: 5 Minutes

15. Roasted Golden Beets

Roasted golden beets are one of the most delicious tilapia side dishes. It is healthy and loaded with veggies as well. The cooking method is simple and easy to prepare. 

Before roasting, you don’t have to peel off the skin from the beets. It will pill itself. Ingredients needed are golden beets, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. 

The cooking time of the beets varies due to the different sizes of beets. You will know your beets are ready if you poke them with a fork, and they slip in easily. 

For about ten days, you can store your beets in an airtight container in the fridge. Then, you can serve this delicacy with fresh mango juice.

Calories Per Serving: 65

Preparation Time: 8 Minutes

16. Roasted Red Cabbage

What better way to prepare cabbage than roasting it? Roasting the cabbage makes it crunchy and brings out the best flavor. 

In addition, it’s a low-calorie meal loaded with vitamins and antioxidants. Roasted red cabbage is gluten-free, so people with gluten allergies can enjoy it. 

Ingredients used include; red cabbage, olive oil, and seasoning. Store the leftovers in the fridge for five to 10 days in an airtight container.

Always use parchment paper to prevent the cabbage from sticking to the baking sheet. The baking sheet should be rimmed to avoid oils from spilling into your oven. 

Serve it up with Mexican rice alongside fried Tilapia to have a delightful dinner treat. 

Calories Per Serving: 53

Preparation Time: 5 Minutes

17. Jasmine Rice

You can enjoy jasmine rice as a side dish for your Tilapia. This recipe doesn’t require a lot of cooking experience to make. It also takes less than one hour to prepare and cook this delicacy. 

The ingredients to prepare this delicacy include rice, salt, and water. It is up to you to rinse or not to rinse your rice. It’s also not necessary to soak your rice since it will lead to a gummier texture.  

This delicacy will go well with your Tilapia because of its light, sticky, fluffy, and floral aroma. If you want the texture of your rice to be softer, then you should increase the parboil time to five minutes. 

Serve this dish with potatoes or roasted cabbage.

Calories Per Serving: 293

Preparation Time: 1 Minute

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18. Tatsoi Salad

Tatsoi is an Asian green, also known as spoon mustard or spinach mustard. Tatsoi salad is made up of tatsoi as the main ingredients.

Other ingredients used are cucumber, radishes, hemp hears, furikake seasoning, canola oil, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, and ground ginger.

You can store this salad for about three days in an airtight container in the fridge. However, it would be best to serve it while fresh since cucumber will release water over time. 

Furikake seasoning is essential since it will add some savory, nuttiness, and salty flavor to the salad. Serve this mouth-watering salad with Mexican rice alongside grilled Tilapia.

Calories Per Serving: 120

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes

19. Artichoke And White Bean Salad

You can enjoy your Tilapia with artichoke and white bean salad as a side dish. This salad is flavorful, delightful, savory, and filling. In addition, it is gluten-free, which is a win for people with gluten allergies. 

You can take this salad to your workplace since it can be reheated and refrigerated perfectly. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for about four days and reheat it using a microwave for about 3 minutes.

The ingredients used to make this salad include artichoke hearts, olive oil, salt, black pepper, parmesan cheese, shallot, garlic cloves, white beans, Brussel sprouts, and lemon juice.

You can serve this salad with potatoes or rice. It is also the perfect salad for your Tilapia. 

Calories Per Serving: 463

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes

20. Italian Tomato Salad

This salad is simple and easy to make, and you can enjoy this summer side dish for Tilapia. It takes less than forty minutes to prepare and cook it. 

The ingredients used are affordable and readily available. They include tomatoes, salt, olive oil, shallot, garlic cloves, basil leaves, and oregano.

Once you finish preparing this Italian tomato salad, allow your tomatoes to marinate for about thirty minutes to two hours. 

Then, you can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Finally, you can enjoy this delicacy with Mexican rice and sweet potatoes alongside Tilapia.

Calories Per Serving: 133

Preparation Time: 12 Minutes

21. Melon Prosciutto Salad

This recipe is very delicious and surprisingly easy to make. Melon prosciutto salad will look gorgeous on any table, especially as a side dish for Tilapia. 

Ingredients for this recipe are cantaloupe, honeydew, prosciutto, ciliegine mozzarella balls, olive oil, balsamic glaze, sea salt, black pepper, and fresh herbs.

It would be best to use a melon baller to make adorable melon balls. You can buy it if you don’t have one, it is cheap and long-lasting. I have been using mine for the last 12 years. 

You can always store this salad in the refrigerator for about four days in an airtight container. Serve this delicacy with baked beans and roasted potatoes.

Calories Per Serving: 294

Preparation Time: 12 Minutes

22. Grilled Baby Bok Choy

This grilled baby choy can be an excellent side dish for Tilapia. This Asian sauce has a savory and zesty flavor and can be prepared in less than thirty minutes. 

In addition, it is very healthy because it has low-calorie content, is high in fiber, and is rich in vitamins A and C. Bok choy also has a lot of other nutrients and antioxidants. 

The ingredients include canola oil, baby Chok Boy, salt, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, chili oil, and a teaspoon of sesame seeds. 

I recommend serving and consuming this salad while still fresh but can still be stored in the fridge for two to five days. Ensure you oil your pan so your baby Bok doesn’t stick. Serve with brown rice.

Calories Per Serving: 112

Preparation Time: 2 Minutes

23. Sautéed Swiss Chard

This recipe tastes great, and it is easy to make. First, clean the Swiss chard by washing it thoroughly to remove any grit. 

Ingredients used are Swiss chard, olive oil, onion, garlic cloves, kosher salt, black pepper, and fresh lemon juice. You can store this delicacy in the fridge for about four days.

Keep an eye on your chard when cooking, so it doesn’t overcook. The chard will wilt if overcooked. 

The olive oil is must-have in the ingredients because it removes any bitter taste from the chard, making it a good side dish for your Tilapia. Serve with fresh mango juice.

Calories Per Serving: 98

Preparation Time: 5 Minutes

24. Mediterranean Grilled Vegetables

Mediterranean grilled vegetables are a perfect side dish you can make in an hour. It is straightforward to make, and you don’t have to be a master chef to prepare it. 

Follow the instructions on the recipe, and you are good to go. The ingredients used in this delicacy are easily accessible and affordable. 

They include zucchini, squash, tomatoes, onion, pepper, olive oil, kosher salt, oregano, garlic powder, dried thyme, lemon juice, and parsley.

Always preheat your pan to medium-high heat. Ensure your vegetables are cut to similar sizes to get cooked evenly. Then, you can enjoy this delicacy with grilled meat or fresh lemon juice.

Calories Per Serving: 113

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes

25. Beet Salad With Goat Cheese

My wife loves roasted beet salad with goat cheese since it is a very delicious, creamy, crunchy, and delightful salad. 

It would be best if you tried this side dish with Tilapia, and I promise you won’t regret having it. Ingredients used for this recipe are red beets, arugula, cheese, olive oil, pepitas, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper.

Always preheat your oven to 400 degrees F and clean your beets by washing them thoroughly before wrapping them in aluminum foil, then bake them for about an hour until they are very tender.

Next, run them under cold water and slice them into cubes. Finally, top with the pepitas and goat cheese. Enjoy this meal with baked beans and Tilapia.

Calories Per Serving: 353

Preparation Time: 20 Minutes

Frequently Asked Questions

What Veggies Go Perfectly With Tilapia?

Suppose you want a healthy meal to eat with your Tilapia. What better way to do so than having it with fresh veggies? 

The good thing is that you have many options to choose from. Some veggies you can have with your Tilapia are Mediterranean grilled veggies, tatsoi salad, roasted red cabbage, Italian tomato salad, etc.

Can You Pair Tilapia With Fruits?

Yes, you can. It might seem weird, but it is an excellent pairing. You can use fruits as natural sweeteners for your tilapia dish. 

Most people use citrus fruit in cooking as it helps counter most of the briny flavors in seafood. You can also add lemons, oranges, tangerines, limes, etc. 

Is Tilapia Served With Bones?

Some people think that frozen Tilapia is boneless. However, it is a myth that you should not fall for. It does not matter if the Tilapia is frozen or not. 

It always gets served with bones. Both fresh and frozen Tilapia have similar bone structures.