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This easy smoked tilapia recipe includes just a few simple spices and fresh lemon slices for a simply delicious fish dish! Prep is a breeze and the whole tilapia fishes smoke to moist, fork-flaky and flavorful perfection in only 2 hours. For this recipe i used my Traeger Ironwood XL smoker but any smoker will work.
It’s easy to WOW dinner guests with little effort when you bring whole cooked fish to the table. This smoked tilapia recipe takes only a few minutes to prep and is practically effortless to cook hands-off. But the exciting presentation and delicious taste are sure to impress!
We love to prepare whole fishes, both for family meals and more elevated dinner parties. There is no need to remove the scales or filet the fish when cooking whole; simply clean, season, and smoke!
Whole tilapia is a terrific fish to cook in the smoker: Not only is it very budget-friendly, this smoky fish dish pairs well with all sorts of sides from practically any style of cuisine.
In this recipe we use just a handful of basic pantry staples, like lemon and a seasonings. These ingredients enhance the taste of the fish without taking over. But what really gets the credit here is the smoker!
After quickly seasoning the whole tilapia is placed in the smoker to cook for only about 2 hours, with no need to baste or interfere with the process. So it’s great to get going in the early evening after work or anytime on a relaxing weekend!
Use your choice of wood chips and let the Traeger work its magic – before you know it the meat is infused with an incredible combination of lightly sweet, citrusy, smoky and scrumptious flavor in every bite.
Recipe ingredients
Tilapia. 3 whole fish, cleaned and scales removed. You can make this recipe with fresh fish, or previously frozen and thawed in the fridge overnight. Pat the outside of the fish dry with a clean towel.
Spices. A generous pinch of salt, black pepper, thyme, onion and garlic powders adds a nice savory flavor to the mild fish.
Lemon. The whole fish smoke directly on top of fresh lemon slices. This keeps the tilapia skin from resting right on the wood plank or metal grate and adds a nice pop of citrus flavor that’s not overpowering.
Ok so in this recipe i am teaching you how to smoke tilapia, but a also have a great recipe for smoked chicken wings that has raving review on Pinterest and in comment section!
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Do you eat the skin
If you have thoroughly cleaned the skin then yes, you can technically eat it. Smoked tilapia skin texture will be soft and chewy, with a slightly bitter and smoky taste.
What are the best wood chips for smoking tilapia
Use whatever wood chips you like! Tilapia meat is mild and will take on the flavor of the wood, so choose chips that best fit your meal. This can be savory and smoky wood like hickory, mesquite, or oak. Or try fruiter wood chips to compliment the lightly sweet taste of the fish. Apple, cherry, and maple are all great options!
Frequently asked questions
Fish needs to reach an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees to be considered safe to eat. I suggest using an internal meat thermometer to check for doneness to be sure.
Yes, it is possible to overcook fish on a smoker. Smoking tilapia for more than 2 hours or so will dry out the meat and make it tough. Use an internal meat thermometer to see if the whole fish is done at around 1 hour and 30-45 minutes. Remove from the smoker as soon as it reaches 145 to keep the meat moist and flaky.
The flavor of the fish will depend mostly on what kind of wood chips you use. Whole tilapia is a bit sweet but more on the fishy side. Smoking tilapia in a Traeger for a couple of hours will really get whatever flavor of chips you use deep into the meat.
Storage and reheating
Place cooked tilapia in a large container or plastic bag and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for about 1 minute or until heated through.
More smoker recipes
I have a bunch of smoker recipes on my site and you can find them in my electric smoker recipes section. Here are some of my favorite:
Hope you will like this smoked tilapia recipe as much as we do. Rate the recipe if you made it and leave a comment below if you have any questions or suggestions.
Smoked tilapia
Equipment
- Traeger smoker or any other
Ingredients
- 3 whole tilapia cleaned
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme each
- 1 lemon sliced
- 2 tablespoon oil
Instructions
- Preheat smoker to 250 degrees. Rub each fish with oil or spray with oil spry. Season fish from all sides.
- Slice lemon and lay them on top of either wooden plank or some sort of grill metal tray. Place fish on top. Also put some lemon inside each fish.
- Place fish in the smoker and cook for about 1,5-2 hours. Watch the internal temperature, it should be at 145 degrees Fahrenheit for a fully cooked fish. Do not overcook!