Breaded Tilapia with Pizza Sauce and Mozzarella (“Pizza Fish”)
Sneak Preview: This 15-minute skillet dinner tops breaded tilapia with pizza sauce, mozzarella, and fresh basil. We call it “Pizza Fish”—pizza toppings on fish, not fish on pizza.
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When I demonstrated recipes for a fish company, this one flew off the sampling table. Adults loved it, but the enthusiastic response from children surprised me most.
We call it “Pizza Fish” because it isn’t fish on pizza—it’s pizza toppings on fish. The familiar sauce and melted cheese can make mild white fish more approachable, especially for somebody whose usual fish dinner comes from a drive-through.
Ingredients & Substitutions
• TILAPIA: Use thin tilapia fillets or another mild white fish of similar thickness. Thicker cod fillets will require more cooking time.
• BREAD CRUMBS: Plain, Italian-seasoned, or panko crumbs work. Panko produces the crunchiest coating.
• PIZZA SAUCE: Marinara or another tomato-based pasta sauce may be substituted.
• MOZZARELLA: Provolone or an Italian cheese blend also works.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Tilapia with Pizza Flavors
⬇️ See the recipe card for exact amounts and complete instructions.
Breaded Tilapia with Sauce & Cheese
Ingredients
- 1-2 tablespoons avocado or olive oil
- 6 (680 g) tilapia filets (4-ounces each)
- ½ teaspoon table or sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ⅔ cup (72 g) dry bread crumbs
- ½ cup (122 g) pizza sauce
- 2 ounces (56 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fresh basil, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the skillet: Heat 1-2 tablespoons avocado or olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
- Prepare the fish: Pat dry 6 (680 g) tilapia filets (4-ounces each) with paper towels. If frozen, thaw first. Season with ½ teaspoon table or sea salt and ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
- Bread the fillets: Pour ⅔ cup (72 g) dry bread crumbs onto a plate. Press both sides of each fillet into the crumbs to coat.
- Sauté: Cook for 2–3 minutes per side until golden brown and nearly cooked through.
- Add the toppings: Divide ½ cup (122 g) pizza sauce among the fillets and sprinkle with 2 ounces (56 g) shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Melt the cheese: Reduce the heat to low and cover the skillet. Cook briefly, until the cheese melts and the thickest part of the fish reaches 145°F (63°C).
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with fresh basil and serve immediately.
Equipment
Nutrition
All images and text ©️ Paula Rhodes for SaladinaJar.com
What To Serve with Pizza Fish
Serve Pizza Fish with a green salad, steamed vegetables, or roasted potatoes. For a casual meal, tuck a fillet into a toasted bun and serve it as a fish sandwich.
Final Thoughts
I still remember how quickly these samples disappeared when I demonstrated the recipe for a fish company. The name may sound quirky, but the idea is practical: familiar pizza flavors make a mild fish dinner feel a little less fishy. And if melted mozzarella helps somebody discover that they actually enjoy tilapia, I’m all for it.
Prefer salmon? Try my salmon with toasted almonds.
— Paula, Home Economist
Homemade Food Worth Sharing
Need help troubleshooting?
Email me: Paula at saladinajar.com — photos help!
Pretty good idea, but not gonna help my kids eat more fish… Best thing that worked for me was using freshly caught fresh water fish properly cleaned, do a flour egg and breadcrumbs preferably corn meal and fry that in a little butter. I remember trying it for the first time as a kid when my dad made it, and it was love at first bite. Nothing better than a bluegill or walleye served up this way in my personal opinion…
I used you “Goofproof Chicken Cutlets” recipe last night (which I use often) with fish. That was before I read your post this morning about the pizza sauce. I pulled out my usual honey-mustard sauce last night, but next time I will try the pizza sauce. Sounds good.
Hi, I just got an e-mail about my comment on this recipe – I’d love to post it to Pinterest, your site apparently doesn’t allow?? I think allowing it would increase your traffic, and it is so great to share. Only six years later, but I’m going to check the rest of your site to see if you’ve posted other genius recipes like this!! Thank you for the reminder!!
Hi Vicki,
Yes, normally you can post anything on this site to Pinterest. I’ll check to make sure nothing has gone wrong. paula
I recently tried a similar recipe, but with salsa, rather than pizza sauce. It was very good, we’ll try the pizza sauce, next time! It is so great to find new recipes for fish, it is something we all need to learn to eat more of, and recipes such as this make it so much easier – the fact that it is a really quick meal makes it more likely that folks will want to work it into their rotation, too.
I just made this and it didnt look like this but it was good . Wasnt even for my son, i was just hungry
I made this on Saturday. We ALL loved it!!! Mike told me to add it to our list of “regular” meals 😉
I’m thrilled y’all liked it.
What a lot of neat jobs! I wasn’t too sure about this one, but I think you sold me on it. I don’t need to be tricked into eating fish, but this really does sound tasty.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen you make this recipe before. Sounds yummy! I’ll take a new idea on how to prepare tilapia. And you know my hubby…he is a pizza lover! BTW, don’t share this with anyone at Fuzzy’s…they may just steal it!
Definitely gonna have to try this one on my family!
Ok, this is just fishy. Something about it reeks…. of fish. =) What a wonderfully creative idea! It’s no wonder you’ve had such a varied and somewhat “unique” career. I honestly can’t wait to try this! I agree – the pizza topping sold me!
Oooo! It’s like a fish parmegian sub. Brilliant!
Yum! I’ll have to give this a try. My kids and husband LOVE fish… It’s me that needs the pizza topping! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!