21 Best Grilled Fish Recipes for Fast and Flavorful Dinners
Salmon, shrimp, swordfish―the gang's all here!
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When it's cookout season, you want any and every excuse to fire up the grill. And while burgers and hot dogs are easy ideas, sometimes you want to mix it up a little. That's where grilled fish recipes come in! They're fresh and flavorful, and best of all, they cook fast. You can make them any night of the week and know you'll have dinner on the table in no time. 30-minute meals to the rescue!
Name a fish and you can probably grill it. Salmon recipes, shrimp, and basically every kind of white fish make this list, as do several types of shellfish. If you're worried about thin fillets flaking through the grates, stick with thicker cuts with firm flesh like swordfish. Or do yourself a favor and invest in a grill basket which holds flaky fish in place as it cooks. Another option is to rely on skewers. Have you ever met a kebab recipe you didn't like? Exactly!
While fresh seafood is often best, don't panic if you live in a landlocked area or worry that you won't find what you're looking for at the market. Most of these recipes can be made with frozen fish―just make sure you defrost them first before proceeding. (The good news is that defrosting fish is fast, too.) Then season accordingly and pop 'em on for flavor in a flash. It'll give you just enough time to whip up your favorite summer side dish and then dinner is served!
Grilled Salmon
You don't need to add a lot to salmon fillets to make them flavorful. Here, you use a little apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Then sprinkle with some fresh parsley once grilled.
Get the Grilled Salmon recipe.
Grilled Mahi Mahi
Mild and flaky yet firm, mahi mahi is easy to season and grill. A little sprinkle of paprika, garlic powder, and fresh thyme is all you need, which would also work well with snapper or grouper, too.
Get the Grilled Mahi Mahi recipe.
Grilled Lobster Tail
What feels so luxurious to serve and eat is actually quite easy to cook! Lobster tails get a quick bath in marinade and need less than 15 minutes to cook on a grill. Use fresh or defrosted frozen tails!
Get the Grilled Lobster Tail recipe.
Chipotle Caesar Salad with Grilled Salmon
So much flavor is packed in this bowl thanks to adobo sauce in both the dressing and the marinade. Ree even makes the croutons from scratch, giving the finished salad added crunch and texture.
Grilled Shrimp Skewers
Shrimp only takes two or three minutes per side to cook. And oh boy, do they taste so shrimpin' good in a lemony, garlicky marinade. If you don't have skewers, you can cook them in a grill basket.
Get the Grilled Shrimp Skewers recipe.
Grilled Shrimp Panzanella
Panzanella is the perfect salad to celebrate summer. It's bursting with fresh tomatoes and basil that work so well with grilled shrimp. It's also a great way to use up stale bread!
Get Ree's Grilled Shrimp Panzanella recipe.
Grilled Salmon Caesar Salad
Want a 30-minute meal that's an upgrade to a boring ol' salad? Try this! You even make the dressing from scratch.
Get the Grilled Salmon Caesar Salad recipe.
Grilled Shrimp Ceviche
Though traditional ceviche recipes use raw fish, grilling your shrimp first will add another level of flavor to an already tasty dish. It will also convince those raw fish skeptics to try a bite since it's clearly cooked!
Get the Grilled Shrimp Ceviche recipe.
Grilled Fish Tacos
For a simple yet flavorful meal, top grilled fish with crunchy cabbage, a squeeze of lime, and a tangy homemade fish taco sauce. You can use halibut, cod, tilapia, snapper or mahi mahi.
Cajun Shrimp Boil Foil Packs
Grilling in foil packets makes clean up so easy! Here, you'll find shrimp, andouille sausage, potatoes, and corn all smothered in Cajun spices and garlic butter. They make perfect individual servings!
Get the Cajun Shrimp Boil Foil Packs recipe at Butter Be Ready.
Nicoise Salad with Grilled Fish
Baby potatoes, olives, roasted peppers, green beans, and white beans are tossed in a lemony, mustard seed dressing and topped with a grilled fish of your choice. Try salmon, tuna, or any white fish!
Get the Nicoise Salad with Grilled Fish recipe at Feasting at Home.
Cajun Grilled Cod
All you need is a jar of Cajun seasoning to spice up this flaky fish. Then as it grills, spend a little time making the bell pepper slaw on the side for a contrast in flavor and texture.
Grilled Swordfish
A quick ten-minute marinade of olive oil, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, oregano, and lemon results in a bright and flavorful swordfish steak. Grill a few more lemons to squeeze on top and add a sprinkle of parsley to finish.
Grilled Oysters
Don't be afraid of shucking oysters! Learn how to clean, open, and grill them in a few easy steps and then serve them with a garlic butter sauce. Serve with crusty bread on the side.
Grilled Scallops
Butter, garlic, fresh thyme, and lemon add richness to creamy scallops. You can grill them outside or inside in a grill pan any time of the year. Serve over a simple arugula salad.
Grilled Halibut with Tomato Avocado Salsa
Flaky halibut is simply seasoned with salt and pepper, grilled, then topped with a fresh tomato and avocado salsa. It's an easy three-step process to get dinner on the table fast.
Get the Grilled Halibut with Tomato Avocado Salsa recipe at Foodie Crush.
Lemon Salmon Skewers with Herb Oil
These juicy salmon skewers have a sweet and tangy marinade made of honey and teriyaki sauce. Then a simple herb oil is drizzled on top after they are grilled.
Get the Lemon Salmon Skewers with Herb Oil recipe at Sweet & Sorrel.
Creamy Lemon Grilled Tilapia
These delicate white fish fillets cook up super fast, and the tangy, creamy piccata sauce is surprisingly easy to make. You'll have an impressive dinner on the table in less than half an hour!
Get the Creamy Lemon Grilled Tilapia recipe at Little Sunny Kitchen.
Grilled Cod, Gyro-Style
Let's be honest, everything tastes better when it's stuffed inside fluffy pita bread. This simple-to-assemble dish comes with a tangy lemon-basil sauce to drizzle on top.
Get the Grilled Cod, Gyro-Style recipe at The Mediterranean Dish.
Grilled Haddock
Use wild haddock if you can find it. If not, you can purchase frozen haddock and just thaw it before topping with a lemon and herb sauce. That's a lot of flavor in each bite!
Get the Grilled Haddock recipe at Chisel and Fork.
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