Instant Pot Tilapia with Veggies and Lemon Garlic Sauce

Instant Pot Tilapia with Vegetables is a healthy, light, and easy pressure-cooker dinner featuring flaky white fish and colorful vegetables.

This Instant Pot tilapia recipe is a great choice when you want a nutritious weeknight meal that’s quick to prepare. Lean tilapia and crisp vegetables provide protein, vitamins, and bright flavor, while the pressure cooker makes the whole dish ready in minutes.

If it’s your first time cooking fish in an electric pressure cooker, you’ll appreciate how fast and tender the results are.

About Instant Pot Tilapia

This simple recipe relies on a few quality ingredients so their natural flavors can shine. Lightly seasoned tilapia steamed in the Instant Pot stays moist and pairs perfectly with quickly cooked vegetables.

You can keep the dish minimalist or dress it up — serve with your favorite dipping sauce or a squeeze of lemon to customize the flavor.

Recipe Ingredients

• Tilapia fillets — about 1 pound (approximately two fillets); fresh or frozen both work.
• Dried basil — about 1 teaspoon; you can substitute oregano, parsley, or dill.
• Olive oil — 1 tablespoon; omit for oil-free cooking.
• Salt and pepper — to taste (recipe uses 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper).
• Chopped vegetables — roughly 4 cups total for two servings. Good choices are broccoli florets, sliced zucchini, yellow squash, and carrots. Other quick-cooking vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, cauliflower, or bok choy will also work.
• Water — 1 cup for the Instant Pot to generate steam.

How Long to Cook Tilapia in the Instant Pot

Tilapia fillets are thin and delicate, so they cook very quickly under high pressure. This recipe takes about five minutes to prep, and the total pressure-cook time for fish and vegetables is just a few minutes: 3 minutes for the fish, then an additional short cycle to finish the vegetables.

A quick pressure release works fine here — there’s no need to wait for a natural release.

If using frozen fillets, add 2–4 minutes to the cook time depending on thickness.

How to Make Instant Pot Tilapia with Vegetables

You will need the trivet that comes with most pressure cookers to steam the fish. Place the trivet in the inner pot and add 1 cup of water.

Brief method overview:

1. Wash and pat the tilapia dry, then cut each fillet lengthwise if desired.
2. Toss fillets with dried basil, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Let sit 15 minutes to marinate if time allows.
3. Add 1 cup water to the Instant Pot, set the trivet, and arrange the seasoned fillets on the trivet. Close the lid and pressure cook on high for 3 minutes, then perform a quick release.
4. Open the lid, layer the sliced vegetables over the cooked fish, close the lid again, and set to pressure cook for 0 minutes (this uses the steam already in the pot to finish the vegetables). Quick-release pressure when the cycle ends.
5. Carefully remove the fish and vegetables to a plate and serve immediately.

Equipment

This recipe is written for a 6-quart Instant Pot but will work in any brand of electric pressure cooker of similar capacity. You’ll also need a trivet or steamer rack to keep the fish above the water.

Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently to avoid overcooking the fish.

Serving Suggestions

This tilapia pairs well with a variety of sauces — try a creamy jalapeño-style sauce, chili-lime dressing, or a simple lemon-butter drizzle. For a more substantial plate, add a whole grain such as cilantro-lime brown rice or quinoa.

Related Recipes

• Blackened Shrimp
• Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts: Spicy Cajun Snack
• Instant Pot Tomato Basil Soup: Savory & Creamy

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see your results — tag @foodlovecooks on social media to share your photos.

Instant Pot Tilapia with Vegetables

A quick, easy, and healthy pressure-cooker dinner with flaky white fish and crisp vegetables.

4.16 from 13 votes

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 4 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 2 servings

Equipment

6-quart electric pressure cooker (Instant Pot or similar)

Trivet/steamer rack

Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh tilapia (about 2 fillets)
• 1 teaspoon dried basil or herbs of your choice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 1 medium zucchini, sliced
• 1 medium yellow squash, sliced
• 1 medium carrot, sliced
• 1 cup water

Instructions

1. Wash and pat dry the tilapia fillets. Cut each fillet lengthwise if desired.
2. In a bowl, mix the fillets with dried basil, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Let them marinate for about 15 minutes if you have time.
3. Pour 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot and place the trivet. Arrange the marinated fillets on the trivet. Close the lid, set to Pressure Cook/Manual on high for 3 minutes, and ensure the valve is set to sealing.
4. When the cooking cycle ends, perform a quick release by moving the valve to vent. Open the lid carefully once pressure is released.
5. Place the sliced vegetables on top of the cooked tilapia. Sprinkle the vegetables with a little salt. Close the lid again, set the valve to sealing, and pressure cook for 0 minutes to steam the vegetables briefly.
6. Quick-release the pressure, remove the lid, and transfer the tilapia and vegetables to a serving plate.
7. Serve with your favorite sides or sauces.

Notes

The vegetables will finish cooking with a 0-minute pressure cook cycle, so avoid extending that time. When removing fillets, handle them gently to prevent breaking.

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