This easy dinner dish can go from prep to table in under 30 minutes. Made with Tilapia fillets, a creamy sauce, cheese, fresh spinach, and cherry red tomatoes, every bite is an explosion of flavor. It's no wonder how Tilapia with Spinach and Tomatoes became such a huge favorite around here.
Recipe: $11.98 | Per Serving: $3.00 | Servings: 4
I have since made this baked tilapia with spinach recipe a few times, and every time I make it, I get rave reviews from the family. I have even learned the hard way that I have to double the amount and use two 9x13's instead of one because everyone wants second helpings... or thirds.
From the soft tilapia to the creamy cheesy sauce, tangy acidic tomatoes, and earthy spinach, every bite is a symphony of flavors. It's perfect for a "lighter" dinner option and it pairs perfectly with cooked yellow rice or Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta and Zucchini Penne Pasta.
For more fishy recipes, check out my Not So Smoked Trout Dip.
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🍯 Why This Recipe Works
- It's fast and simple. This baked tilapia casserole is so easy and quick to throw together that it's perfect for a simple dinner after a long hectic day.
- A comfort meal like no other. The flavors are also comforting and simple, making it a welcomed meal to come home to. I love to serve it up with a side of rice or pasta, to keep things simple.
- It's adaptable. You can swap out some of the cheeses, add more or fewer tomatoes, or switch up the seasonings a bit too. I've found this dish to be pretty forgiving when I'm mixing things up.
🥘 Ingredients
Ingredient Notes:
Fresh Spinach- Using fresh spinach is ideal because it's a lot easier to portion and place around the pan. Frozen/thawed/canned spinach doesn't turn out nearly as well.
Use up leftover spinach in our Smoked Salmon and Spinach Quiche, Easy Spinach Bacon Quiche, or Scrambled Eggs with Spinach and Tomatoes.
Tilapia Fillets- You can use room temp or frozen tilapia fillets for this recipe because they cook pretty quickly.
Mayo- I recommend using a good mayo brand like Hellman's or Dukes, but any of them will work fine. Do not use a miracle whip.
Cherry Tomatoes- I LOVE the bright red color these bring to the dish, but even more than that, they bring an acidic kick of flavor that helps to really bring the flavors full circle.
For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.
📖 Variations
This tilapia with spinach and tomatoes recipe is quite forgiving, allowing for slight variations without sacrificing flavor. For instance, if you're out of mozzarella cheese, feel free to substitute extra parmesan cheese or an asiago blend – both work wonderfully.
Tomato Options- While cherry tomatoes lend a burst of acidity and vibrant color to the dish, you can omit them if you're not a fan. However, I find that their flavor enhances the overall dish. If you're feeling adventurous, you might even consider trying sun-dried tomatoes for a different twist on the recipe.
🔪 Instructions for Tilapia with Spinach and Tomatoes
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
Step 2: Lay 3 handfuls of washed spinach leaves in the bottom of the baking dish.
Step 3: Top with pads of cubed cold butter.
Step 4: Top the butter with your tilapia fillets, trying to avoid as much overlap as possible.
Step 5: In a small bowl, mix together the mayo, sour cream, and seasonings until well mixed.
Step 6: Spread the mixture over the top of the tilapia fillets evenly with a rubber spatula.
Step 7: Sprinkle your shredded cheeses on the top of the cream mixture.
Step 8: Top it off by sprinkling the halved cherry tomatoes over the cheese.
Step 9: Bake in the oven at 450 degrees F for 20 minutes or until the tilapia's internal temperature has reached 145 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.
🍴 Recipe Tips
- Cooking Time- The cooking time for your tilapia fillets may vary lightly depending on their thickness. If your fillets are thicker, you may need to adjust the cooking time by a few minutes.
- Fresh vs. Frozen Tilapia- Whether you use fresh or frozen tilapia, the recipe will turn out delicious. Just ensure that the scales have been removed, as they're not typically desired in the final dish.
💭 Recipe FAQs
Because this baked tilapia and spinach recipe already contains veggies and protein, I think the only thing missing is a nice carb. Serving this casserole up with simple garlic and parmesan pasta or buttered noodles is a great way to accompany the dish without overpowering it.
Yes, you can make this dish in advance, simply place it into a baking dish as instructed and then cover the pan with a lid or foil until ready to bake. Let the pan sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking so that you aren't sticking a cold baking dish into the hot oven. You can use this time to preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
Your fish leftovers are good for about 3 days. Simply reheat in the oven or in the microwave until warmed through before eating. The leftovers for this recipe taste almost as good as the day they were first made.
❤️ More Delicious Main Dish Recipes
If you tried Creamy Tilapia and Spinach with Cherry Tomatoes, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Tilapia with Spinach and Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 3 handfuls spinach leaves, (4 ounces) ($0.79)
- ¼ cup butter, cubed ($0.50)
- 4-5 tilapia fillets, depending on size, *fresh or frozen ($5.29)
- ½ cup mayonnaise ($0.45)
- ½ cup sour cream ($0.50)
- ½ teaspoon salt ($0.01)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper ($0.02)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder ($0.08)
- 1 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded ($0.99)
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded ($0.37)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved ($2.98)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F and grease inside of a 9x13 baking dish.
- In the bottom of the baking dish, lay 3 handfuls of clean spinach leaves. Evenly space the pads of butter over the spinach.
- Lay the tilapia fillets over the top of the butter, avoiding as much overlap as you can. Some is okay and unavoidable, but less overlap is best.
- In a small bowl, mix together the mayo, sour cream, and seasonings.
- Spread this mixture over the top of the tilapia fillets evenly with a rubber spatula.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top of the creamy mixture. Top with the halved cherry tomatoes.
- Bake at 450 degrees F for 20 minutes or until internal tilapia temperature reaches 145 degrees F with an instant read thermometer.
Notes
- Variations: Substitute mozzarella with extra parmesan or asiago blend, and consider adding cherry tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor and color.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the dish in a baking dish, cover, and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.
- Reheating: Leftovers can be reheated in the oven or microwave for up to three days while retaining their flavor.
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