Spicy Roasted Pepper Tilapia Skillet (Printable View)

Vibrant tilapia with spicy roasted peppers, smoked paprika, and lime. Ready in 35 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 tilapia fillets (about 6 oz each)
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1/2 tsp salt
04 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Roasted Peppers

05 - 2 large red bell peppers, roasted, peeled, and sliced
06 - 1 large yellow bell pepper, roasted, peeled, and sliced
07 - 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced (seeds removed for less heat, if preferred)

→ Aromatics & Sauce

08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
10 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
11 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
13 - 1/2 tsp chili flakes (adjust to taste)
14 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
15 - Juice of 1 lime

# How-To Steps:

01 - Pat tilapia fillets dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper on both sides.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear tilapia fillets for 2-3 minutes per side until just opaque and lightly golden. Remove fillets from the pan and set aside on a plate.
03 - In the same skillet, add a little more olive oil if the pan seems dry. Sauté thinly sliced onion and minced garlic until soft and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
04 - Add roasted red and yellow peppers, sliced jalapeño, smoked paprika, ground cumin, and chili flakes to the skillet. Stir well and cook for another 2 minutes to toast the spices.
05 - Pour in drained diced tomatoes and cook for 4-5 minutes, allowing excess liquid to evaporate and the flavors to meld together.
06 - Return tilapia fillets to the skillet, nestling them among the pepper mixture. Spoon the sauce over the fish, cover the skillet, and let simmer on low heat for 5 minutes until the fish is cooked through.
07 - Remove the skillet from heat. Drizzle fresh lime juice over the top and sprinkle with chopped fresh cilantro. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The roasted pepper sauce transforms simple fish into something restaurant worthy
  • Its a one skillet meal that comes together in under 40 minutes
  • The spice level is completely adjustable to your taste
02 -
  • Pat the fish extremely dry before searing or it will steam instead of getting that golden crust
  • Drain the canned tomatoes well to prevent the sauce from becoming too watery
  • The fish continues cooking in the sauce so do not overcook it during the initial sear
03 -
  • Roast your own bell peppers ahead of time and store them in olive oil for even more flavor
  • Let the fish come to room temperature before cooking for more even results

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