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    Home » Main Dishes » Spicy Tilapia Recipe with Pasta

    Published: Jan 5, 2023 by Lisa · This post may contain affiliate links, which means we make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.

    Spicy Tilapia Recipe with Pasta

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Tilapia with tomato sauce and noodle in bowl.
    Cooked tilapia with tomato sauce and pasta.
    spicy tilapia recipe with pasta.
    Tilapia with tomatoes and pasta in bowl.

    This Spicy Tilapia recipe with Pasta is made with just a handful of easy-to-find ingredients and can be on the table in just 30 minutes. Need we say more? An easy dinner recipe that makes weeknight cooking easy (and delicious) is always a win!

    Tilapia with tomatoes and pasta in a bowl with crushed red pepper. this recipe

    Weeknight dinners are always rushed. Anyone else feel my pain?

    I'm always looking for an easy meal that is tasty, comes together quickly and the whole family will eat on busy weeknights. That's why I love this Spicy Tilapia with Pasta. It's my go-to when time is tight, and I want something delicious and healthy for dinner.

    This Spicy Tilapia with Pasta is so flavorful even non-fish eaters devour it. Plus tilapia is a great source of protein and a delicious way to incorporate more fish into your diet. Make an arugula salad to serve with it and dinner is done.

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this Spicy Tilapia recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • FAQs
    • Expert Tips for the best Spicy Tilapia
    • More Great Recipes
    • Recipe

    Why you'll love this Spicy Tilapia recipe

    ✔︎ It's affordable! Tilapia is readily available at the grocery store (fresh and frozen) and won't break the bank making this a fabulous option for a weeknight meal.

    ✔︎ It's fast! From prep to table in just 30 minutes, this spicy tilapia is a great weeknight meal choice that comes together quickly and is packed with flavor.

    ✔︎ It's easy to customize. Don't stress if you have a non-fish eater as this pasta tastes great without the fish, too. Want to add even more color and nutrition? Stir in a couple of handfuls of fresh spinach leaves when you add the fish.

    Ingredients

    You only need a handful of ingredients for this spicy fish recipe.

    Ingredients needed to make spicy tilapia with pasta.

    Ingredient Notes:

    Tilapia: Fresh or frozen tilapia fillets can be used for this recipe.

    Crushed red pepper: It is essential for this recipe (it wouldn't be spicy tilapia without it!). Start with ½ teaspoon and add more based on how spicy you like your food.

    Tomatoes: This recipe uses both diced tomatoes and San Marzano tomatoes. The San Marzano tomatoes add great flavor to this dish and are worth the few extra dollars.

    White wine: The white wine adds depth to the flavor of the sauce. If you avoid alcohol or don't have any on hand, you can substitute chicken broth in its place.

    Basil: Fresh is best but dried basil can be used in a pinch. It won't have the same punch of flavor but will still be delicious.

    Instructions

    This fish dish is ready to eat in less than 30 minutes.

    Tilapia chunks in bowl with garlic and olive oil.

    1. Place fish in a glass bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of minced garlic and ¼ teaspoon of crushed red pepper and toss to coat. Refrigerate while making sauce.

    Dutch oven with olive oil and sauteéd shallots, garlic and crushed red pepper.

    2. Heat olive oil in large dutch oven and add shallots, garlic and crushed red pepper. Cook until shallots are softened.

    Cooked shallots with white wine in dutch oven.

    3. Add wine and reduce the liquid by half.

    Finished dish of tomato sauce and cooked tilapia chunks in dutch oven.

    5. Add tilapia chunks and cook for 3-5 minutes or until fish is cooked through. Toss with cooked pasta, garnish with remaining basil and serve.

    Tomato sauce in dutch oven with fresh basil.

    4. Add tomatoes, water, and half of basil to pan. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until sauce is reduced and slightly thick.

    FAQs

    Is tilapia a good fish to eat?

    Yes! Fish is an excellent source of lean protein. Although tilapia has fewer omega-3s than salmon, it has more heart-healthy nutrients than ground beef, chicken, steak and pork, making it a great choice for healthy eating.

    What if my tilapia smells fishy?

    An easy fix for tilapia that smells fishy is to soak it in milk for 20 minutes and then rinse it before seasoning. The casein in milk will bind to the fishy smell and when rinsed takes the fishy smell and taste away.

    What temperature is tilapia considered done?

    Tilapia is considered done when it reaches a temperature of 145°F. Cooking it in the hot sauce speeds up the process which is why it only takes 3-5 minutes to cook through.

    Pasta twirled around a fork with tilapia and tomatoes.

    Expert Tips for the best Spicy Tilapia

    ✘ I love the frozen tilapia filets from Costco and keep them on hand just for this recipe. Fresh tilapia also works great!

    ✘ Use tilapia that is firm, smells fresh, and springs back when pressed on. If you don't have any tilapia, use a firm white fish in its place. Cod, halibut, or Mahi Mahi are great choices.

    ✘ Splurge and buy the San Marzano tomatoes. The rich tomato flavor they add to the dish is worth it. When a recipe has a short ingredient list, use the best possible.

    ✘ Bucatini pasta is my favorite noodle to use with this dish. Bucatini is a thick spaghetti noodle with a hole in it that holds the sauce really well. Don't have any on hand? You can easily use linguine or spaghetti noodles.

    Cooked tilapia with tomato sauce, crushed red pepper and pasta in a bowl.

    More Great Recipes

    Quick and easy dinner recipes are always a hit! Try these Baja Fish Tacos or some of our other weeknight favorites.

    • Easy Shrimp Tacos
    • Italian Grilled Sausage Wraps
    • Easy Feta Chicken recipe with fresh chives
    • Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs with Capers
    
    
    Did you make this recipe? We'd love to hear your thoughts! 
    
    Please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Your feedback helps us and your fellow readers! 
    
    
    

    Recipe

    Spicy tilapia in bowl with basil.

    Spicy Tilapia Recipe

    Garnish With Lemon
    A spicy red sauce coats tender chunks of tilapia and is tossed with bucatini for a quick and easy dinner that is fast enough for a weeknight meal and fancy enough for company!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 23 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Main Dishes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 518 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Mixing Bowls
    • Dutch Oven
    • Cutting Boards

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pound tilapia fillets, cut into small chunks
    • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
    • 2 teaspoons minced garlic, divided
    • ½-1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, divided
    • 1 shallot, diced
    • ½ cup dry white wine
    • ½ cup water
    • 15 ounces canned diced tomatoes
    • 28 ounces canned San Marzano tomatoes, crushed by hand
    • ½ cup chopped fresh basil, divided
    • 10 ounces bucatini pasta, cooked al dente
    • Salt to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Place the tilapia, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon minced garlic and ¼-½ teaspoon red pepper flakes in a medium bowl. Toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate while making the sauce.
      1 pound tilapia fillets,, 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil,, ½-1 teaspoon red pepper flakes,, 2 teaspoons minced garlic,
    • In a large dutch oven, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped shallot, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, and ¼-½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (depending on the amount of spice you want) and cook, stirring, until the shallot and garlic soften.
      2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil,, 2 teaspoons minced garlic,, ½-1 teaspoon red pepper flakes,, 1 shallot,
    • Add the wine and simmer for about 3 minutes (or until liquid is reduced by half)
      ½ cup dry white wine
    • Next, add the diced tomatoes, crushed San Marzano tomatoes, ¼ cup basil and ½ cup water. Stir until combined and bring mixture to a boil. Cook until sauce is slightly thickened, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.
      ½ cup water, 15 ounces canned diced tomatoes, 28 ounces canned San Marzano tomatoes,, ½ cup chopped fresh basil,
    • Add the tilapia to the dutch oven with the tomato sauce and simmer, stirring gently, until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt.
      Salt to taste
    • Add the cooked pasta and ¼ cup basil to pan and toss to coat. Divide among bowls and top with more basil. Serve with additional crushed red pepper, if desired.
      10 ounces bucatini pasta,, ½ cup chopped fresh basil,

    Notes

    Ingredients: 
    • You can use fresh or frozen tilapia in this recipe. Choose fish that is firm, smells fresh, and springs back when pressed on. If you don't have any tilapia, use a firm white fish in its place. Cod, halibut, or mahi mahi are great choices.
    • Does your tilapia smell "fishy"? An easy fix for tilapia that smells fishy is to soak it in milk for 20 minutes and then rinse it before seasoning. The casein in milk will bind to the fishy smell and when rinsed takes the fishy smell and taste away.
    • Crushed red pepper is essential for this recipe. Start with ½ teaspoon and add more based on how spicy you like your food.
    • San Marzano tomatoes add great flavor to this dish and are worth the few extra dollars.
    • White wine adds depth to the flavor of the sauce. If you avoid alcohol or don't have any on hand, you can substitute chicken broth in its place.
    • Fresh basil is best but dried basil can be used in a pinch. It won't have the same punch of flavor but will still be delicious.
    • Bucatini pasta is my favorite noodle to use with this dish. Bucatini is a thick spaghetti noodle with a hole in it that holds the sauce really well. Don't have any on hand? You can easily use linguine or spaghetti noodles.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 518kcalCarbohydrates: 68gProtein: 35gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 366mgPotassium: 1135mgFiber: 6gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 589IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 136mgIron: 5mg

    Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.

    Did you make this recipe?Tag us on Instagram or leave a comment!
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    About Lisa

    Hi, I’m Lisa! Looking for the party? It’s probably at my house. Nothing brings me more joy than sharing good food with friends and family. That and a seriously good cocktail.

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    We're the creative juices behind Garnish with Lemon. In the past 8 years, millions of people have sipped & snacked on our recipes. Need easy, delicious party food and drinks for your next shindig? You’ve come to the right place.

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