Tortilla Crusted Tilapia (with 3 Cooking Methods)

When I need a quick and easy dinner, this crispy tortilla crusted tilapia is often my go-to! One night, I was craving crunchy, breaded fish, but I had no breadcrumbs. So, I grabbed a bag of tortilla chips, crushed them up, and mixed in some spices to create a golden-crispy crust. This dish comes together in under 30 minutes using simple pantry staples, and offers multiple cooking methods to suit you needs.

I serve this easy tilapia recipe with a squeeze of fresh lime, jalapeno tartar sauce, and mango pico de gallo, making every bite feel like a flavorful escape to the beach!

Ingredients

• Tilapia is a mild, white flaky fish that cooks fast, and goes with just about anything. I always keep tilapia in my freezer for those nights when I need a quick dinner like this or air fryer frozen tilapia dipped in my Cajun tartar sauce recipe.
• Corn tortilla chips are used instead of breadcrumbs or panko to create a crunchy, flavorful crust. I especially love cooking this recipe as a way to use leftover tortilla chips.
• Spices like chili powder and cumin are used to season the tortilla chip breading and give it a Tex-Mex twist.
• A standard breading procedure is used to coat the tilapia with all purpose flour, egg, and crushed tortilla chips in place of a breadcrumb mixture.

Don't worry, you can still use those panko breadcrumbs in your pantry to make pan fried panko chicken and panko crusted cod.

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1: Dredge seasoned tilapia fillet in a shallow bowl with flour. Press lightly to coat on all sides.

Step 2: Dip fish into the beaten egg, ensuring it's fully coated.

Step 3: Press fish into the crushed tortilla crumbs, gently press to help the coating adhere.

Step 4: Arrange the tilapia fillets in a single layer in air fryer basket. Air fry until the crust is golden and crispy and the fish is cooked through. It should flake easily with a fork.

Serve tilapia with mango pico de gallo and a tartar sauce for dipping, if desired.

3 Cooking Methods

To make it more accessible, I tested this recipe 3 ways-baked in the oven, pan-fried in a skillet on the stovetop, and in the air fryer. However you make it, this tortilla crusted tilapia is light, crispy, and absolutely delicious. I've detailed each cooking method in the recipe card so you can pick the one that works best for you.

Air Fryer (my personal favorite): Tortilla crusted tilapia cooked in the air fryer is the crispiest option with minimal oil and less cleanup.

Stovetop: Pan frying this crusted tilapia recipe in a skillet requires more oil and effort, but the end result is crispy and flavorful.

Bake in the oven: Although this option is slightly easier, I notice the breading doesn't stick as well and the fish is not as crisp.

Expert Tips

• Pat the fish dry before breading-this helps the coating stick better and prevents it from becoming soggy.
• Crush tortilla chips finely for the best texture. Large chunks won't adhere as well. Use a food processor for a quick, even consistency, or place the chips in a Ziplock bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
• Season every layer for maximum flavor. Sprinkle salt and pepper on the fish and flour, and make sure the tortilla chip breading is well-seasoned with spices.
• Use a meat thermometer to ensure the tilapia is cooked through-it should reach an internal temperature of 145°F for safe and tender results.

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If you try this recipe or any recipe from Happy Honey Kitchen, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below! Enjoy!