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Skillet Lemon Tilapia with Parmesan Macaroni

Pan-seared tilapia is seasoned with lemon, oregano, basil, cilantro, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper, then served over elbow macaroni coated with olive oil, lemon juice, and freshly grated Parmesan. The fish is light and herb-scented, while the pasta adds a creamy, cheesy accent, making this a fresh weeknight dinner or an easy meal for serving guests.

  • Prep5 mins
  • Cook15 mins
  • Serves2
  • DifficultyMedium
Skillet Lemon Tilapia with Parmesan Macaroni

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Skillet Lemon Tilapia with Parmesan Macaroni, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

41 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
53 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
15 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityPoor
36 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
2 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

64
Heart Health
76
Metabolic
59
Digestive
38
Inflammatory
43
Performance
45
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Start the pasta: Bring a saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil over medium heat. Stir in macaroni and return to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes.

  2. 2

    While the pasta is cooking, make the fish: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle tilapia on both sides with lemon juice, oregano, basil, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Place the fillets in the hot skillet, ensuring they do not touch. Sear until golden brown on the outside and opaque and flaky on the inside, 2 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.

  3. 3

    Finish the pasta: Drain the macaroni and return it to the saucepan. Add olive oil and stir to coat. Stir in Parmesan cheese, then stir in lemon juice, garlic powder, basil, oregano, cilantro, salt, and pepper.

  4. 4

    Divide the pasta between two plates and top each with a tilapia fillet.

About This Recipe

Skillet Lemon Tilapia with Parmesan Macaroni is made with 13 ingredients and serves 2. It takes about 20 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Dried Basil, Dried Cilantro, and Dried Oregano. Each serving provides about 1168.98 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Skillet Lemon Tilapia with Parmesan Macaroni made of?
The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Dried Basil, Dried Cilantro, Dried Oregano, Garlic Powder. The full list of 13 is above.
How long does it take to make Skillet Lemon Tilapia with Parmesan Macaroni?
About 20 mins in total: 5 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 1168.98 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Skillet Lemon Tilapia with Parmesan Macaroni easy to make?
This recipe is rated medium, with 13 ingredients and 4 steps.
Is Skillet Lemon Tilapia with Parmesan Macaroni healthy?
Skillet Lemon Tilapia with Parmesan Macaroni has an easyChef Pro health score of 41/100. Per serving, it provides 1168.98 calories and 57.03 g of protein, or 114% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, calcium, iron and potassium. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 289.93 mg (13% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 7.01 g (35% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Fish, Milk, Wheat, Gluten and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

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