What to Serve with Tilapia: 28 Best Sides

Mashed potatoes are always a welcomed side dish with seafood! But when you add egg-enriched potatoes piped into a casserole and baked to a crispy, golden brown. Add a simple salad or Lemon Garlic Green Beans and you've got a fancy fish Friday menu!

Wehther you're serving a classic fish fry or blackened tilapia, pairing your fish with coleslaw will be a popular pick! This savory napa slaw is a perfect way to add crunchy cabbage, tomatoes, radish and peppers to your main dish. This cole slaw is also a pretty healthy option and it’s especially delicious with Middle Eastern Yellow Rice, if that’s on the menu!

I could give you a thousand reasons to adore this Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese. But bottom line: it’s the kind of recipe that brings together rich flavors, creamy textures, and cozy nostalgia. It's a flawless option for your seafood dinner!

Simple and delicious Baked Balsamic Asparagus is an easy side dish made with tender stalks of asparagus roasted with cherry tomatoes in olive oil and seasonings. This roasted veggie dish is then finished with shaved parmesan cheese, balsamic glaze, and fresh herbs. Ready to enjoy in just 15 minutes and the perfect pairing to for your fresh fish dinner.

Crispy French fries are one of the most popular side dishes for any kind of fish dinner. And if you really want to take your fish and chips over the top, go for Parmesan Truffle French Fries, and bring sophisticated flavor to one of the best side dishes for seafood!

Any simple green salad adds freshness to a seafood dinner. But this Mediterranean Tossed Salad with Homemade Dressing adds a little something extra. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for an all-in-one veggie side with leafy greens, tomatoes, pickled veggies, garbanzos, parmesan and pumpkin seeds. It's the salad that begs for second helpings!

Creamy, tangy, and loaded with crunchy veggies, this classic macaroni salad is sure to become a family favorite! Whether you’re a fan of traditional macaroni salad or looking to try something new, this recipe is a must-try. It's easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time, making it a perfect addition to any potluck or party.

If tilapia fish tacos are on the menu, this Mexican Street Corn Casserole should be on the table, too! Grilled corn, creamy lime mayo, fresh herbs and spices and tangy cheese bring big, South-of-the-border flavor to this simple side dish.

When I'm making Fajita-Spiced Tilapia with Creamy Avocado Sauce, I always whip up a batch of these grilled peppers and onions on the side. They're the perfect easy and fresh dish to compliment the fish, and you can use pre-sliced peppers to make it even easier!

This rich and creamy side dish is basically a shortcut risotto. All the fancy flavors and textures, none of the standing and stirring. Top it with lemon zest and fresh herbs and your upscale side dish is ready to serve!

This simple, creamy kale recipe is going to become one of your go-to side dishes for busy nights! The creamy lemon sauce takes this bowl of greens from ho-hum to exciting without a ton of extra work. The perfect side for a light Baked Tilapia dish, save this one to your favorites!

This eye-catching recipe contains just a handful of simple ingredients to create a rich and delicious side dish. Using a few French techniques, the potatoes are seasoned and parboiled, then sauteed in butter and topped with fresh herbs and grilled onions. It's a flavorful crowd-pleaser!

Fresh dill and bright lemon bring beautiful Mediterranean flavors to this fluffy basmati rice dish. Serve this stunner with grilled fish and your favorite green veggie for a classic, coastal dinner.

This is the perfect spring and summer side! Fresh asparagus spears are marinated and grilled, then topped with a flavorful creamy dressing and grated hardboiled eggs. It will be an amazing side for any tilapia dish you put on the table.

Tiny potatoes are roasted until crispy, tossed with fresh herbs and roasted garlic, then served over a plate of fluffy, whipped feta cheese. This all-star potato side dish will be the recipe all your friends are begging you to share.

Your taste buds will throw a party with this Persian-inspired pasta salad, the perfect side dish for your tilapia fillets. Full of tangy feta, fresh herbs, caramelized zucchini and citrus, this is one of the most delicious recipes I've tasted this year. Make a double batch so you have leftovers!

Rice is a lot like fish – it’s a simple ingredient that takes on almost any flavor or twist you throw at it. This Mexican red rice is deeply flavorful and well spiced, the perfect companion for Mexican beans and pickled onions at your next Taco Tuesday Tilapia party.

Are tilapia fish tacos on the menu this week? If you’re looking for a full menu of sides to pair with the tacos, look no further than these delicious, creamy Mexican beans. A hearty, savory, satisfying side that’s about as frugal as they come, and you can use either pinto beans or creamy black beans!

This fresh veggie salad is the best way to bring the cool, refreshing flavors of gazpacho soup to the table, but in a fresh, crunchy salad! The fresh basil leaves, sweet bell peppers and pumpkin seeds all add the perfect balancing flavors and crunch, making it a great light side for a healthy tilapia dinner.

If you love a great baked potato, wait until you get your fork into these seafood stuffed potatoes. A cross between a fancy steakhouse jacket potato and your favorite neighborhood bar’s stuffed potato skins, these taters bring all the flavors of a summertime shrimp boil stuffed into a crispy potato skin.

Air fryer smashed brussel sprouts are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Ready in 30 minutes, these craveable sprouts are the perfect side dish for a quick tilapia dinner. Serve them with Spicy Aioli and even your pickiest eaters will love this recipe!

This nutrient-dense, garlicky bowl of goodness brings amazing flavor to the party with just a few simple ingredients. If you’re looking for a vegan option for your party guests, this will be your new favorite! Based on the popular ready-made grain pouches at your favorite superstore, this recipe brings even more flavor at a fraction of the cost.

This sweet and spicy salsa is perfect with a simple grilled or blackened tilapia! Mango habanero salsa brings a lovely sweet heat to tilapia fish tacos. You can substitute a milder pepper option like a jalapeño or even poblano pepper, if you want a milder spice level.

If Asian Tilapia with Ginger and Soy is on the menu, add this simple cucumber salad to the lineup! This copycat recipe from the famous Taiwanese restaurant uses a handful of pantry staples and fresh cukes to create an unforgettably delicious salad.

When tilapia is on the menu, this amazing yellow rice is one of the best side dishes to add to your repertoire. The cumin, coriander, turmeric and fresh garlic make a deeply flavorful rice recipe that is ideal with any Middle Eastern or Mediterranean dish.

Green beans are one of my favorite healthy side dish options to serve with fresh tilapia. In this simple recipe, parmesan cheese adds beautiful richness and the toasted almonds bring a rich, nutty flavor. This side dish is everything you're looking for in a memorable recipe to go with your seafood dinner.

Gorgeous green cauliflower, roasted and topped with olive oil, anchovies, pine nuts and a squeeze of lemon. This veggie dish is a great side for your favorite tilapia recipes. Sophisticated enough to serve for a special occasion, but quick enough to dress up a simple baked fish dish on a Tuesday night after work.

If Asian Tilapia is on the menu, this Chinese eggplant in oyster sauce is the perfect side dish for your dinner. With just a handful of ingredients, eggplant is transformed into a sweet, sticky, savory veggie that the whole family will enjoy.