When dinner needs to be quick but you still want something that feels special, this pan-seared tilapia with bacon and spinach hits the mark. It's healthy, hearty, and comes together in about 20 minutes-perfect for weeknights in the RV or at home when you'd rather relax than spend all night cooking.

If you've ever stared into the fridge trying to come up with something quick but still worth sitting down for, this recipe is for you. Tilapia is one of those easygoing fish that takes on whatever flavors you throw at it. Get a nice sear in a hot pan, and it turns golden and crisp on the outside while staying tender and flaky inside.

Then comes the good part-bacon and spinach. The bacon adds that salty crunch we all love, and the spinach wilts right into the pan juices, soaking up every bit of flavor. It's simple, fast, and satisfying without feeling heavy. The kind of dinner you can pull off on a weeknight and still feel like you treated yourself.

~ Holly ❤️

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Fast and flavorful: A 20-minute meal that tastes like you worked way harder than you did.

Minimal cleanup: Everything cooks in one pan, including the spinach.

Balanced and healthy: The tilapia keeps things light, the bacon adds richness, and the greens round it all out.

Perfect for two: Whether you're cooking in a tiny RV kitchen or just keeping things simple, it's easy to scale.

Let's Gather Up the Ingredients

Organizing all of your ingredients ahead of time not only streamlines the cooking process but also ensures you have everything required to complete the dish successfully. You can find the exact ingredient amounts in the recipe card below.

Tilapia Filets- Fresh or frozen and defrosted

Bacon- diced

Salt

Pepper

Fresh Spinach

Shallots- diced

Garlic- fresh garlic sliced thinly

Sherry Vinegar- can substitute red or white wine vinegar

Lemon- for serving

How to Make Pan-Seared Tilapia with Bacon and Spinach

This meal comes together in just a few simple steps:

Cook the bacon until crispy, then set it aside.

Chopped bacon rendering in a skillet for Quick and Delicious Pan Seared Tilapia with Crispy Bacon and Wilted Spinach

Crispy bacon bits in the skillet for Quick and Delicious Pan Seared Tilapia with Crispy Bacon and Wilted Spinach

Season the tilapia fillets and sear them in the same pan.

Add the spinach and let it wilt down.

Make the vinaigrette and add it to the spinach.

Plate the tilapia along with the bacon and spinach.

That's it! In under 30 minutes, you have a delicious and nourishing seafood dinner that is perfect for busy weeknights. The combination of the crispy fish, savory bacon, and tender greens makes for a truly mouthwatering meal.

I like to serve this tilapia with a side of Rice Pilaf or Roasted Beets for a complete and satisfying plate. But it's also fantastic on its own. Give this quick and easy recipe a try - I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by how much flavor you can pack into such a simple dish.

White bowl with rice pilaf garnished with scallions — **Rice Pilaf**

Roasted beets with goat cheese and chives — **Rice Pilaf**

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

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As always, I will be back next week with more delicious recipes from my RV kitchen to yours!

Finished dish. Tilapia filet on a bed of wilted spinach with crumbled bacon and a lemon wedge

Pan Seared Tilapia with Bacon and Spinach

Tilapia Filets seared in bacon fat until golden and crispy around the edges and then served over a bed of wilted spinach with garlic and shallots.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Main Course, seafood

Cuisine American

Servings 2 people

Ingredients

2-4 tilapia filets depending on size
4 bacon slices, cut into a ½-inch dice
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 cups baby spinach
1 shallot, finely chopped
1-2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1½ tablespoons sherry vinegar you could substitute red or white wine vinegar

Instructions

Season the tilapia filet on both sides with ½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper.
In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until crisp, about 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain. Reserve the bacon fat.
Add the tilapia filets to the pan with the reserved bacon fat. Sear until golden and the edges start to get crispy, about 3 minutes per side.
Remove the filets from the pan using a spatula. Set aside and tent with foil to keep warm while you prepare the spinach.
Add the shallots to the skillet and saute until they become soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and saute for about 1 minute. Stir in the vinegar.
Put the spinach in a large bowl. Sprinkle with the remaining salt and pepper. Pour the warm vinagarette over the spinach and toss to coat. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Divide the spinach between two serving plates, top each with one fillet, and sprinkle with the reserved bacon bits.
Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

Notes

Trout or salmon could both be used in place of the tilapia in this recipe. If you can find golden trout, try them. They have gorgeous colored flesh and a wonderful flavor that goes perfectly with the bacon and spinach.

Keyword bacon, dinner, fish, healthy, pan seared, spinach, tilapia