Baked to perfection every time, Orange Tilapia Foil Packets are a quick and easy dinner. At only 245 calories, it’s also a healthy meal. The delicious orange marmalade sauce gives a zesty flavor to the tilapia and veggies, which are baked in the same packet. The tilapia is moist and flaky, just as it should be. And the best part, sealed in a foil packet, there won’t be any pots or pans to scrub after dinner.
Keeping a bag of frozen individually wrapped tilapia fillets in your freezer make easy dinners like this possible. The fillets thaw out quickly, so not much thought has to go into it on those busy nights.
My veggies of the day, for that day anyway, was baby bok choy and zucchini. Also great is yellow squash, broccoli florets, and peas. Carrots and water chestnuts are also great additions.
Don’t limit yourself, though. Lots of veggies do great in these foil packets; just make sure they aren’t put in the foil packet frozen. Frozen veggies can be used, although they would need to be thawed first.
How do I start?
Lay out a long piece of aluminum foil, long enough that you can fold it in half with the food inside and still fold the ends to seal it. Spray one side with a non-stick spray and begin layering your veggies.
Depending on which veggies you use, they may need to be prepped first. For instance, the baby bok choy needs to have the root end chopped off and the leaves separated. Zucchini and yellow squash would need to be sliced first, and so on.
Next, put the tilapia on top of the veggies. Sprinkle the tilapia with some salt, pepper, and paprika to taste. This also adds a bit of color to an otherwise ordinary-looking white fish.
Now for the zesty orange flavoring…
Giving that zesty orange flavor to the tilapia.
In a small bowl, mix together some orange marmalade (I used a sugar-free) with the teriyaki marinade. Pour this over the fillet, which also flavors the veggies underneath.
Such a win win.
Last to go in, thinly slice some lemon and lay a couple on top of the tilapia (I only had a lime that day, but it works). Save the rest of the lemon (or lime HA!) and cut it into wedges, which can be served on the side once it’s baked.
How to fold a foil packet.
First off, bring the empty half of the foil over the food and match up the edges. Then, holding the edges together, fold them 2 -3 times (about 1/2″) and pinch with your fingers to really seal it. Now do the same thing to the remaining 2 sides.
Place the foil packets on a jelly-roll pan, or glass baking dish, just in case a little fluid leaks out. This can happen after it’s baked and you open the foil.
Bake the sealed packets in a preheated oven at 375° for 20 minutes. Perfect every time!
Due to the steam inside, be very careful when you open the packet, which is extremely hot. What works for me is I grab 2 forks to unroll the sealed edges, keeping my hands far enough away that the steam doesn’t get me.
What should I serve with my Orange Tilapia Foil Packets?
Orange Tilapia Foil Packets are great by themselves, but also with your favorite rice or over chow mein noodles.
If you love the idea of cooking with foil packets, here are some other recipes to chose from:
- Tilapia and Asparagus Foil Packets
- Onion Chicken and Veggies Foil Packets …I could eat this one 8 days a week. lol
As a result, just look at those chunks of orange and pepper over that perfectly baked fillet of tilapia. The veggies are steamed to crisp-tender perfection inside the foil and the flavors all blend and compliment each other. Delicious.
Orange Tilapia Foil Packets
Materials
- 1/2 lb. baby bok choy, (approx. 2 small)
- 1/2 cup zucchini, sliced
- 6 oz. tilapia fillet
- sprinkle salt, pepper, paprika to taste
- 1 Tbsp. orange marmalade, low- or sugar-free
- 1 tsp. teriyaki marinade
- 2 slices lemon or lime
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°. Lay a long sheet of foil over a jelly-roll pan. Spray one side of foil with non-stick spray.
- Remove root end of bok choy and separate leaves. Spread leaves and zucchini on sprayed side of foil. Lay fillet on top of veggies.
- Sprinkle fillet with salt, pepper, and paprika to taste.
- In small bowl mix marmalade with marinade, Pour over fillet and top with lemon slices.
- Fold half of foil over food. Fold and seal 3 sides to form packet. Bake 20 minutes.
- Very carefully open foil packet, steam will be very hot. Enjoy!
Nutrition
I hope you enjoy this tasty low-calorie recipe. Furthermore, I have more ideas for future foil packet recipes so stay tuned.
In the mean time, have a blessed day and thanks for stopping by.
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