Creamy Tilapia and Spinach with Cherry Tomatoes

Name: Creamy Tilapia and Spinach with Cherry Tomatoes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup butter, cubed (($0.38)); 3 handfuls spinach leaves, (4 ounces) (($1.32)); 4-5 tilapia fillets, depending on size, *See note (($5.47)); 1/2 cup mayo (($0.63)); 1/2 cup sour cream ((0.46)); 1/2 tsp salt (($0.05)); 1/4 tsp black pepper (($0.02)); 1 tsp onion powder (($0.10)); 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded (($0.93)); 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, shredded (($0.23)); 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (($1.24))

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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 it became such a huge favorite around here.

aerial view of a baking dish filled with creamy tilapia with cherry red tomatoes

A while back I was looking for recipes to use up a few odds and ends that I had in the house and I came across a Creamy Baked Tilapia and Spinach Casserole on Alyona's Cooking. I adapted it to what I had on hand and what I thought would go well together and it was an instant success.

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.

This baked tilapia casserole so easy and quick to throw together that it's perfect for a simple dinner after a long hectic day. The flavors are also comforting and simple making it a welcomed meal to come home to.

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🥘 Ingredients
🍽 Equipment Needed
🍴 Recipe Tips
💭 FAQs
🔪 Instructions
📖 Recipe

an upclose angled view of the baking dish filled with baked creamy tilapia and cherry tomato halves

🥘 Ingredients

Butter
Fresh Spinach
Tilapia Fillets
Mayo
Sour Cream
Salt
Black Pepper
Onion Powder
Mozzarella Cheese
Parmesan Cheese
Cherry Tomatoes

🍽 Equipment Needed

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9x13 baking dish
Small bowl
Rubber spatula

first 3 steps to make the tilapia dinner, add spinach to baking dish, top with butter, and then add tilapia fillets

🍴 Recipe Tips

I have made this tilapia with spinach and tomatoes recipe with slight variations and found that it still turns out pretty great regardless of what you do. For example, if you do not have mozzarella cheese on hand, adding extra parmesan cheese or asiago blend works great.

The cherry tomatoes can be left off if you're truly not a tomato fan, but I honestly think the acidic flavor adds something to the dish and the bright colors really make it look great too. I'm not sure how sun-dried tomatoes would turn out but I think they could be great in this recipe as well.

step 4 and 5 for making creamy tilapia, make the cream sauce and spread it over the fish fillets

💭 FAQs

What goes well with spinach and tilapia casserole?

Because this baked tilapie 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.

Can I make tilapia and spinach casserole in advance?

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.

How long are creamy tilapia leftovers good for?

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.

steps 6, 7, and 8 for makeing tilapia. top with cheese, add tomatoes and bake.

🔪 Instructions

Check out how to make creamy tilapia and spinach with cherry tomatoes with these simple step-by-step instructions:

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
Lay 3 handfuls of washed spinach leaves in the bottom of the baking dish.
Top with pads of cubed cold butter.
Top the butter with your tilapia fillets, trying to avoid as much overlap as possible.
In a small bowl, mix together the mayo, sour cream, and seasonings until well mixed.
Spread the mixture over the top of the tilapia fillets, evenly with a rubber spatula.
Sprinkle your shredded cheeses on top of the cream mixture.
Top it off by sprinkling the halved cherry tomatoes over the cheese.
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.

a serving plate filled with spinach, tilapia, tomatoes and pasta with more of the creamy tilapia in a baking dish in background

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📖 Recipe

a serving of creamy tilapia with spinach and cherry tomatoes on a plate with pasta noodles

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5 from 1 vote