A collection of some of our best fish dinner ideas to inspire seafood lovers and fish-cooking beginners alike! Get a nutritious supper on the table fast with fish soup recipes for cold days, grilled shrimp recipes for warm ones, and our best fish recipes for anything from baked salmon to seafood pasta!
Loaded with important nutrients, including protein, vitamins, and Omega-3 fatty acids (which are good for the heart and the brain), fish is one of the healthiest foods you can eat and is an essential element in the Mediterranean diet.
Luckily, fish and shellfish are versatile ingredients and there are many ways to cook them—grilled, baked, sautéed, or simmered—to ensure they turn out beautifully.
In some recipes, I prefer light flavors, seasoning seafood simply with the classic combination of lemon and garlic (which I love over baked cod) with tender fresh herbs. But hearty types of fish are equally wonderful with more daring combinations like tangy lime and spicy harissa with salmon or the warm flavor of Ras El Hanout in Moroccan fish.
Something else to love about cooking seafood is that most fish dinners can be ready in about 20 minutes, so they’re perfect for weeknights when you want something fast, easy, and healthy. For this reason, I like to prepare any sides or salads ahead of time to serve the fish as soon as it has finished cooking. If you’re open to some fresh ideas for the best fish dishes, you’ll find something tasty here to help you in the kitchen!
6 Fan Favorite Easy Fish Recipes
I cook these fish dinners on repeat for a reason: They’re easy, quick, and delicious! Here are my top 5 favorite fish dinner ideas to get you through the week:
Easy Baked Salmon with Vegetables and Feta
Sumac-spiced salmon and tangy feta cubes roast together with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and strips of bell pepper until everything is tender and juicy. The cheese doesn’t melt, but it does get luxuriously soft. Serve this easy baked salmon dinner with crispy smashed potatoes or brown rice.
Baked Cod Recipe with Lemon and Garlic
Tender, perfectly flaky cod with very little effort! You’ll love the lemon-garlic sauce. You can use this recipe to cook any flaky white fish fillets (such as red snapper and halibut). Serve lemon-garlic cod with crispy broccoli, oven fries, or fattoush salad.
Mediterranean-Style Baked White Fish
This flavorful fish dinner is seasoned with oregano and garlic and a mixture of tomatoes, olives, and red onions. Use any white fish fillet you like: cod, halibut, grouper, and sea bass would all be excellent choices! The fresh tomato and olive flavors of baked white fish pair beautifully with lemon rice, and a big Greek salad or Mediterranean Couscous Salad.
Easy Pesto Salmon with a Crispy Breadcrumb Crust
Layering salmon with pesto and topping it with olive oil bread crumbs gives this incredibly fast and easy recipe lots of crunch. I love the fresh lemon and basil flavor of the final drizzle! Serve this light fish dinner with a colorful, juicy salad such as Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad or Marinated Cherry Tomato Salad.
20-Minute Fish Piccata
Can dinner get any more delicious than pan seared trout in buttery lemon and caper sauce? I thought chicken piccata and chicken piccata meatballs were good until I tried the sauce with tender trout filets. Now I think this is my favorite version of all! Add a little cooked angel hair pasta to the sauce for a real treat or, for something a little lighter, a refreshingly crunchy Fresh Fennel Orange Salad.
Sheet Pan Shrimp
Who doesn’t want a dinner that takes only 10 minutes? This is one of my best fish recipes, well seafood, for busy weeknights. Succulent shrimp seasoned with lemon, garlic, Aleppo pepper and a few more herbs and spices go from the fridge to perfectly-cooked in minutes thanks to the oven’s even heat. Serve sheet pan shrimp with quick-cooking sautéed asparagus and couscous, two equally fast side dishes, to soak up the sauce.
6 Favorite Salmon Recipes
Confession: I don’t eat salmon when I go out (I always think it’s overcooked), but it’s my favorite fish to cook at home! I keep it simple and make broiled salmon, pan-seared salmon, or poached salmon anytime I need an easy fish dinner, but salmon can also handle big, bold flavors. Jazz things up at your house with these Mediterranean-style salmon recipes everyone will love:
Stuffed Salmon with Spinach, Capers, and Greek Yogurt
You won’t believe how amazing this stuffed salmon is! It’s like a party in your mouth; flaky fish filled with a vibrant mix of spinach, capers, and preserved lemon. Greek yogurt binds the creamy filling together (and adds an extra bit of protein). Serve stuffed salmon with lemony Greek potatoes or our recipe for sweet and savory Middle Eastern Rice Pilaf.
Salmon Tacos: Mediterranean-Style!
A cultural mash-up in the best way, this simple salmon supper is a Mediterranean reimagining of Baja’s fish tacos. Using Aleppo pepper and cumin-spiced salmon and tzatziki sauce on top is my take on the corn tortilla-wrapped classic. Need an appetizer? Shrimp Ceviche and a Limonada to sip would be perfect!
Salmon in Parchment Paper (Salmon en Papillote)
So easy, yet so elegant, salmon cooked in parchment paper with vegetables is a weeknight lifesaver, but it’s also special enough to serve to company. Seal it up, and the oven does the work. You’ll have a healthy, delicious meal in under 20 minutes! Serve it with Greek Lemon Rice and a crunchy Celery Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing.
Salmon Burgers
Everyone loves burger night and making them with salmon instead of beef makes them a way healthier meal. The patties are packed with flavor thanks to a quick blitz in the food processor with Dijon mustard, fresh parsley, and coriander. You’ve got to have creamy tzatziki sauce on top and either Greek-Style Oven Fries or Baked Eggplant Fries on the side!
Baked Lemon Garlic Salmon
This bright, perfectly cooked salmon is ready in under 20 minutes, and my special technique ensures you get flaky, tender baked salmon every time! Because the salmon cooks so quickly, have all your sides ready before it comes out of the oven. Serve this citrusy salmon is over cooked pasta, Greek Lemon Rice or with French Lentil Salad with Cucumber, Bell Pepper, and Fresh Herbs.
Crispy Homemade Fish Sticks
Kids and adults alike adore the crispy outsides and juicy insides of tender baked fish sticks! I like to use salmon, but cod, halibut, or any other thick and meaty fish fillets will work. We build in a lot of flavor by sprinkling the fish with a spice blend of black pepper, oregano, and paprika and then coating them in Parmesan bread crumbs. Serve them with tahini sauce or garlic aioli for dipping!
12 Easy Baked Fish Recipes
Baking or roasting fish is hands-down the easiest way to guarantee it comes out buttery-tender in record time. Simply season beautiful fish filets (or whole fish!), put them in a hot oven, and they come out juicy and perfectly flaky. These are some of my favorite baked and roasted fish recipes:
Turkish-Style Marinated Salmon
I was inspired by the smoky and spicy flavor of the lamb kebabs of Southern Turkey when I came up with this recipe. Because rich salmon can handle spice without being overwhelmed, I think it’s an ideal match for an overnight marinade with a bright red Turkish red pepper paste (Tatli Biber Salçasi). Enjoy it with a cooling Mediterranean Cucumber Salad and use the leftovers as a replacement for canned tuna in Tuna White Bean Salad with Spinach, Olives, and Basil.
Baked Red Snapper with Zhoug
It can be easy to overcook thin fillets of tender red snapper in a pan, which is why I love baking them on a bed of lemon slices. The meaty, clean flavor of the fish is wonderful with zhoug, a bright and spicy condiment similar to pesto, but made with cilantro, parsley, and hot green chiles. Cool things off by serving it with something creamy like Creamy Cucumber Salad or Borani Kadoo (Roasted Zucchini and Tomatoes with Garlicky Yogurt).
Baked Trout with Lemon, Garlic, and Fresh Herbs
Who says healthy can’t be delicious? In this easy fish dinner, rainbow trout filets get a Mediterranean glow-up from a vibrant lemon-garlic marinade seasoned with urfa biber, an earthy, sun-dried chili pepper from southern Turkey. I love this simple dish with Greek Potato Salad and roasted asparagus or Asparagus Salad.
Baked Halibut with Lemon and Dill
Need a weeknight dinner as light and bright as Mediterranean sunshine? Try halibut scattered with tart sumac and sauced with fresh lemon and dill. Sweet, meaty halibut has a mild flavor that shines with delicate seasonings and it couldn’t be easier to make! Serve it with Greek Green Bean Salad or Fresh Fennel Orange Salad for more citrus and herb goodness.
Lemony Dukkah-Crusted Sea Bass with Smashed Peas
Get ready to impress your dinner guests! Sea bass stands up to a fragrant crust of dukkah, a crunchy Egyptian sprinkle of nuts, seeds, and spices. It’s as elegant as something you’d get in a restaurant, especially since it’s served on a bed of parsley and peas, but so easy to put together. I like to serve it with an appetizer of Eggplant Bruschetta and crunchy Lebanese Rice.
One-Pan Baked Halibut Recipe with Vegetables
If you’re looking for a bright and quick sheet pan dinner that will deliver on flavor and nutrition, this baked halibut recipe with vegetables is the ticket. I like serving Avocado Hummus as a light appetizer to this fish dinner.
Easy Garlic Parmesan Baked Flounder
A one-pan fish dinner you can make in about 20 minutes! This baked flounder is so simple yet so flavorful, thanks to a lemony Mediterranean sauce and some Parmesan cheese. Serve this elegant baked white fish with some Boiled Potatoes with Garlic and Herbs or roasted broccoli.
Baked Grouper with Tomatoes and Olives
One of my favorite fish dishes! Ready in just over 20 minutes, this baked grouper is a healthy, low-carb fish dinner with a bold Mediterranean kick from garlic, fresh tomatoes, olives, and lemon juice. I can think of more than a dozen sides and salads to go along with it. Here are a few ideas: Shirazi salad, Mediterranean Lentil Salad, or Italian Roasted Veggies.
Baked Sole Fillet
Simple baked sole fillets, spiced Mediterranean-style and baked in a buttery lime sauce with green onions, dill, and capers. This is one of my family’s favorite seafood recipes, and it’s perfect for when I’m short on time. Any other thin, white fish fillets would work. Keep in mind that sole fillets are quite thin and cook very quickly, so you will need to adjust cooking time for a thicker fish fillet. Serve it with a colorful Bell Pepper Salad with Mini Sweet Peppers.
Whole Baked Red Snapper with Bell Peppers
This easy baked red snapper recipe with bold Mediterranean flavors of cumin, coriander, and sumac, fresh herbs, and bell peppers is a must-try! To make things easy, ask the fishmonger to clean the fish for you so it’s ready for you to work with once you get home. Serve this snapper with a side of rice or roasted potatoes and a big Fattoush Salad.
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Chilean Sea Bass Recipe with Basil Pesto
With just 7 ingredients, you can have a gorgeous fish dinner that packs a Mediterranean flavor punch! Chilean sea bass has a buttery, flaky texture that is perfect with the fresh basil flavor of pesto and sweet roasted tomatoes. If you can’t find Chilean sea bass, any other white fish will work just as well. Serve it with Baked Zucchini with Thyme and Parmesan or Crispy Brussels Sprouts.
Easy Lime-Harissa Spicy Salmon Recipe
The secret to this spicy fish is the tantalizing sauce made of fresh lime juice, harissa, garlic, and honey. It’s next level delicious, and so quick and easy to put together! Be sure to cover the salmon with foil while it bakes for tender, flaky fish. A bright and refreshing vegetable side, such as sautéed asparagus or crispy lemon broccoli, balances out the big flavors.
8 Saucy Fish Stew and Soup Recipes
To me, fish soups and stews or a big pot of tender, brothy shellfish are just comfort in a bowl. Don’t forget the bread! Here are some of my favorite shellfish sautées and seafood soups and stews:
Cioppino (Seafood Stew)
This hearty Italian-American seafood stew is bursting with flavor. Dive into the pot brimming with clams, mussels, cod, shrimp, and scallops, all simmered in a rich tomato and white wine broth. Parsley-olive gremolata with orange zest adds a punch of freshness at the end. It’s perfect for a special occasion meal or a cozy night in, guaranteed to warm you up from the inside out. All you need with this one is a spoon, and maybe a simple Lemon Parmesan Lettuce Salad.
Greek Fish with Tomatoes and Onions (Psari Plaki)
This beautiful dish of tender, tomato-braised fish starts with making a quick tomato and onion sauce in a pan on the stove, then tucking in fish filets to braise in the oven. It’s perfect with some good crusty bread and Greek olive oil, or some rice or barley for soaking up the sauce.
Sicilian-Style Fish Stew Recipe
I know, I know — this recipe is not as short as the others on this list, but I simply could not leave it out! Sicilian fish stew is one of those must-try fish recipes. It’s made of tender sea bass in tomato and wine broth with the classic Sicilian savory, salty, and sweet combination of garlic, capers, and raisins. Follow up these big flavors with refreshing Sicilian Strawberry Pudding (Gelo di Fragole), another delight from Sicily!
Easy Salmon Soup
Think of this salmon soup as a lighter take on chowder, without the dairy, and with the zip of fresh dill instead. It’s more refreshing, but just as comforting, nutritious, and satisfying. You can make a bright salmon soup with potatoes, carrots, and fresh dill in just about 20 minutes from start to finish. The trick is slicing the potatoes and carrots super thinly so they cook in a flash. You’ll still have room for a little slice of Lemon Ricotta Cake afterwards.
Mediterranean-Style Fish Soup
Make this quick and easy fish soup with warm Eastern Mediterranean spices on an evening when you want something hearty, but not heavy. It’s loaded with flavor from tomatoes, vegetables, loads of fresh herbs, and a splash of lemon juice. It’s the perfect one-pot warm-your-belly meal! Serve this soup as soon as it’s done so the fish doesn’t overcook. I like adding some rustic bread or couscous to sop up the rich broth.
Mediterranean Shrimp Orzo Soup
This flavor-packed shrimp soup with vegetables, baby spinach, and loads of fresh herbs is satisfying and nutritious! I add some whole wheat orzo to give it some heft, but feel free to use another pasta or a quick-cooking grain of your choice. It’s a full meal on its own, but would be great with a springy Cucumber Radish Salad or a protein-rich Pea Salad with Feta and Mint.
Steamed Mussels in Garlic White Wine Broth
Mussel magic in minutes! These tender beauties steam up in a garlicky white wine broth with shallots and herbs. Mussels, although not fish, speak to the spirit of the sea! They take a minute to clean, but they cook fast! So easy, so flavorful—it’s a perfect fun weeknight meal with friends. Broil up slabs of some crusty bread or Oven Fries for dipping in the broth.
Moroccan Fish Kofta in a Spicy Harissa Sauce
Okay, you’ve got me. This is more of a saucy simmer than a soup, but I would absolutely eat this spicy North African-style fish kofta recipe with a spoon. Boldly seasoned halibut “dumplings” (what else do you call meatballs that aren’t made of meat?) poach gently in in a fiery harissa-tomato sauce with a blend of cozy spices and fresh herbs. Add some rice or couscous, or just go for it with your spoon!
4 Ways to Make a Meal of Tinned Fish
Canned fish isn’t just economical, it’s also some of the healthiest seafood you can eat! Canned sardines, anchovies, tuna, mackerel, and trout are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, high in protein, and a great source of vitamin D. I love that it’s so easy to open a can to toss with pasta or as an easy way to make any salad a nutritional powerhouse. Here are four easy ways to make tinned fish dinner:
Tuna White Bean Salad
A couple of pantry superstars—canned olive oil-packed tuna and cannellini beans—team up with fresh spinach, tomatoes, and green olives to make a protein-packed salad fit for dinner. Adding lots of lemon and handfuls of herbs make it zippy and refreshing. To round out the meal, serve it with Rosemary Focaccia with Roasted Garlic or irresistibly crunchy Kritsinia (Crispy Sesame Breadsticks).
Sardine Toast with Pickled Sumac Onions and Chermoula
Turn a can of olive oil-packed sardines into a super fast and light supper in less than 10 minutes! Load up smashed sardine toasts with juicy tomato, crunchy cucumber, and quick-pickled sumac onions. The fresh flavors balance out the ocean richness of these super good-for-you little fish. I especially love this paired with Easy Blistered Tomato Bruschetta for a casual, snacky summertime dinner.
Tuna Pizza with Onions and Black Olives
Olive-oil-packed tuna, creamy fresh mozzarella, briny black olives, and sweet red onions capture the flavor of Southern Italy on a crispy crust. Make our Neapolitan-style pizza crust from scratch or pick up a ball of dough ready-to-go from the store to make an easy pizza dinner everyone will love. Both Radicchio Salad with citrus and pear and a classic Aperol Spritz have bitter and sweet flavors that contrast the savory richness of the pizza beautifully.
Stuffed Tomatoes with Tuna
When you strike gold and come home with some beautiful tomatoes, crack open a couple cans of olive oil-packed tuna to make this homey recipe. You’ll stuff the hollowed-out tomatoes with a sautéed mixture of sofrito, tuna, parsley, and olives. Making them is a little bit hands-on, but not difficult. Serve them as a starter or add vibrant saffron rice or Spanish rice and beans to build up a meal.
5 Favorite Grilled Fish and Shellfish Recipes
When the weather is warm, nothing is better than grilling seafood outside! Grilling salmon and other fish tends to intimidate people, but it’s easier than you may think. When it’s chilly, these grilled fish recipes work just as well on a hot cast-iron grill pan, griddle, or skillet on the stovetop. Here are a few delicious grilled fish recipes to try:
Grilled Cod with Pistachio-Herb Salsa
Skip the marinade and instead top tender fillets of smoky grilled cod with fresh mint and pistachio salsa. It bursts with big flavors and because it’s not cooked it keeps a vibrant color, especially alongside something pink like Watermelon Salad with Feta, Cucumber, and Mint.
Easy Mediterranean Shrimp Kabobs
Pair these simple shrimp kabobs with a big, bold Grilled Romaine Salad with Corn, Tomatoes, and Tahini for a smoky, satisfying supper. Grill the corn and make the tomato mixture first, and then you can grill the shrimp and lettuce right next to one another. They both cook in just moments!
Grilled Swordfish with a Mediterranean Twist
This quick grilled swordfish recipe has a delicious Mediterranean flavor thanks to a simple olive oil marinade with fresh garlic and a trio of warm spices. The swordfish steaks take 15 minutes to marinate and about 8 minutes to grill to juicy perfection. Serve with a big salad like Summer Pasta Salad with Corn, Zucchini, and Basil Vinaigrette and call it dinner!
Grilled Shrimp Foil Packets with Vegetables
Let’s have a round of applause for delicious dinners with minimal clean-up! Grilling foil packets of fresh veggies and shrimp in garlicky, lemony white wine sauce is a dead-simple summer supper. Add a little warm pita bread and some corn on the cob and dinner is ready to go.
Grilled Salmon with Mango Salsa
Between the marinade and the mint mango salsa on top, this grilled salmon recipe is next-level delicious. Follow my simple tips for perfectly grilled salmon every time. Bad weather? An indoor grill or griddle pan work just fine! Add some crunchy Red Cabbage Salad for even more irresistible color.
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Can i buy the 25+ fish recipes cookbook? I don’t want to print it.
Hi, Jan. Unfortunately we don’t have this article in a published cookbook format.
Your recipes are fail safe.
I have never made a recipe that you have created that doesn’t taste fantastic. I love fish and I love olives like never before.
Absolutely delicious!
Recipe is easy and flavorful as long as you include the olives.
Yummy good
This is the heaven recipe. I will be making my favorite whitefish on grand party of my friends. Just like always I will be ordering my whitefish with whitefish mail order service and will enjoy your delicious recipe.
Are the 25 fish recipes a book that we can buy? I already have your other book on pre-order … absolutely love everything you make, shakshuka has been revelation! Thank you so much!
Hi, Linda. You are very sweet. Unfortunately, I haven’t compiled all of these fish recipes into one single book. My cookbook coming out in September will have a great seafood chapter, though! Thank you so much for already placing an order :).
We’re trying to incorporate more fish recipes into our diet. This list is so helpful! Thank you!
My family has tried so many of these. The baked halibut with veggies is probably our fav. I see some new ones on here I can’t way to make!
That is a super popular one! Hope you can find more to love on this list :).