Baked Tilapia Bowl (Printer-friendly)

Tender herb-seasoned tilapia over fluffy rice with crisp steamed vegetables for a satisfying, balanced meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 tilapia fillets, approximately 5.3 oz each
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
04 - 2 teaspoons dried Italian herbs
05 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Rice

07 - 1 cup long-grain white rice
08 - 2 cups water
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Vegetables

10 - 2 cups broccoli florets
11 - 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
12 - 1 tablespoon olive oil, optional for tossing
13 - Salt and pepper to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease with oil.
02 - Pat tilapia fillets dry with paper towels. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, dried Italian herbs, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Brush both sides of each fillet generously with the herb mixture and arrange on prepared baking sheet.
03 - Bake tilapia for 12 to 15 minutes until flesh flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.
04 - Bring 2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil in a saucepan. Add rice, reduce heat to low, cover with lid, and simmer for 15 to 18 minutes until tender and liquid is fully absorbed. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
05 - Place broccoli florets and carrot slices in a steamer basket over simmering water. Steam for 5 to 7 minutes until vegetables are crisp-tender. Transfer to a bowl and optionally toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
06 - Divide cooked rice evenly among four serving bowls. Top each portion with one baked tilapia fillet and an equal portion of steamed vegetables.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The fish cooks gently and stays impossibly tender without any tricky techniques or babysitting.
  • Everything finishes around the same time, so you're not juggling five different timers like some recipes demand.
  • One bowl contains real protein, greens, and grains—no side dishes required, just honest food.
02 -
  • Patting the fish dry is non-negotiable; I learned this the hard way when a soggy fillet steamed instead of baked, and the texture completely fell apart.
  • Don't cover the baking sheet with foil because it traps steam and essentially poaches the fish instead of baking it—parchment paper is your friend here.
03 -
  • Keep your oven thermometer in there because even small temperature variations affect whether the fish comes out tender or slightly tough.
  • Fluff the rice with a fork rather than stirring it vigorously—this keeps the grains separate and fluffy instead of turning into mush.
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