45 Simple Seafood Suppers for Dinner Tonight

By Kaitlyn Yarborough and Zoe Denenberg
August 21, 2018
Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Anna Hampton
Make a big splash with your weekend crowd with these no-fuss dinners. Cooking seafood at home can be intimidating, but with these easy recipes, it’ll become a staple in your dinner rotation. From simple pan-seared salmon to an abundant crawfish boil, this collection of seafood recipes suits every occasion. On warm summer nights, there’s no better way to celebrate the season than covering the patio table in newspaper and diving into a feast of boiled clams, crawfish, and potatoes. Or maybe opt for a low-key dinner packed full of fresh catches and bursting with flavor. From buttery sauces to crispy sandwiches, seafood dishes gives us seasonal tastes without being too hard to make for a crowd. Whether you’re hosting a backyard grill-out or a beachside bake (or an at-home weeknight!), all you need is some great ingredients for a deliciously easy meal. Here are some of our favorite seafood suppers.
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Best-Ever Crab Cakes

Flavored with fresh herbs, lemon, and a hint of hot sauce, and coated with crunchy panko breadcrumbs, these crab cakes truly live up to their name.

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Crab Cakes with Creamy Fennel-and-Radish Slaw

Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

Recipe: Crab Cakes with Creamy Fennel-and-Radish SlawSpringing for the jumbo lump crabmeat makes these crab cakes stick together well and makes sure you’ll get plenty of flavorful crab with every bite.

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Simple Salmon Croquettes

William Dickey / Styling Buffy Hargett / Food Styling Angela Sellersc

Recipes: Simple Salmon Croquettes

These salmon croquettes are oh-so-easy to whip up for a sophisticated weeknight dinner. Drizzle with lemon-caper cream for an all-star pairing.

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Grilled Scallop-and-Mango Salad

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Grilled Scallop-and-Mango Salad

Light scallops meet tropical, fruity mango in this summertime salad meant for beachside dining.

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Buttery Garlic Shrimp

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Buttery Garlic Shrimp

Nobody can resist shrimp that’s been basted in butter and garlic. Serve this easy shrimp as an appetizer or atop pasta or rice as a main course.

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Shrimp Boil Vegetable Bowls

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Shrimp Boil Vegetable Bowls

Channel the spirit of a shrimp boil with these simple weeknight dinner bowls.

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Shrimp and Bacon Salad Sliders

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Shrimp and Bacon Salad Sliders

Shrimp and bacon? This unlikely combination may just be our new go-to party dish.

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Fish Fry

Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Fish Fry

The art of the Southern Fish Fry is one worth mastering. This simple meal is great for summer days spent with family and friends.

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Best-Ever Crab Cakes with Green Tomato Slaw

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Best-Ever Crab Cakes with Green Tomato Slaw

These "best-ever" crab cakes live up to their name. A green tomato slaw brings tang to these crab cakes, rounding out the dish.

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Molasses-Soy Glazed Salmon and Vegetables

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food styling: Karen Rankin

Recipe: Molasses-Soy Glazed Salmon and Vegetables

Salmon is one of the easiest weeknight suppers, and this molasses-soy glaze is loaded with flavor. Cook with your favorite vegetables for a fuss-free dinner.

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Herbed Shrimp-and-Rice Salad

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton;

Recipe: Herbed Shrimp-and-Rice Salad

With only 15 minutes of prep time and a few ingredients, this balanced salad may be the easiest healthy dinner ever.

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Southern-Style Clam Bake

Southern Living

Recipe: Southern-Style Clam Bake

You can’t go wrong with a big pot of seafood, and this Southern-Style Clam Bake will feed the whole family.

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Shrimp Perloo

Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

Recipe: Shrimp Perloo

This one-pot shrimp and rice dish serves 6, so it’s a great weeknight family dinner option. Plus, you’ll probably have leftovers to eat tomorrow!

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Chef Andy Little's Swordfish Steaks

Southern Living

Recipe: Chef Andy Little's Swordfish Steaks

Swap out the heavy red meat for a lighter, leaner Swordfish Steak. This elegant fish entrée will leave you feeling great and satisfied.

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Toasted Israeli Couscous and Shrimp

Photo: Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Israeli Couscous and Shrimp

Be sure to toast your Israeli couscous before boiling to achieve a golden-brown color and fuller flavors.

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Gulf Crab Cakes with Lemon Butter

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Gulf Crab Cakes with Lemon Butter

We all know that the secret to great seafood is a generous splash of butter. You’ll want to make an extra batch of this bright lemon butter to keep around.

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Skillet Shrimp Chilaquiles

Stephen DeVries

Recipe: Skillet Shrimp Chilaquiles

Reinvent taco night with this creative skillet seafood dish. If you’re feeling fancy, try your hand at making homemade corn tortillas.

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BBQ-Glazed Cedar-Plank Slamon

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: BBQ-Glazed Cedar-Plank Salmon

We love to cook salmon on a cedar plank, as it imparts the ideal amount of smoke while not overpowering the fish’s light briny flavor.

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Shrimp and Okra Gumbo

Southern Living

Recipe: Shrimp and Okra Gumbo

There’s no better weeknight dinner solution than a big pot of gumbo. Serve this Louisiana seafood stew over rice for a hearty meal.

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Shrimp Cakes

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Shrimp Cakes

This new take on the crab cake will be a fan favorite at your summertime potluck cookout.

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Honey-Mustard Salmon with Vegetables

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Honey-Mustard Salmon with Vegetables

Top the salmon fillets with panko breadcrumbs for a salty, crunchy crust.

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Shrimp Stir Fry with Bacon

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Shrimp Stir Fry with Bacon

A quick stir fry is a great weeknight dinner solution, and this shrimp dish is full of flavor, with extra richness from added bacon.

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Salmon with Lemony Greens and Grains

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Salmon with Lemony Greens and Grains

It doesn’t get much easier than this. When pan-seared, salmon develops a beautiful golden crust that pairs well with bright citrusy greens and grains.

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Easy Catfish Tacos with Slaw

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Easy Catfish Tacos with Slaw

We’ll trade our tired ground beef for this flaky, succulent catfish any day.

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Teriyaki Salmon Bowls with Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Teriyaki Salmon Bowls with Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Light salmon pairs well with salty soy sauce, and this teriyaki salmon takes the dish to a new level.

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Easy BBQ Shrimp

Southern Living

Recipe: Easy BBQ Shrimp

Running short on time? Throw some shrimp on the grill—it’s a faithful crowd pleaser and it’ll be ready in a flash.

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Fried Catfish Tacos

Southern Living

Recipe: Fried Catfish Tacos

Don’t have time for a full fish fry? Whip up these easy fried catfish tacos.

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Easy Shrimp Scampi with Basil

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Easy Shrimp Scampi with Basil

Really impress those dinner guests with an elegant pasta dish, like this shrimp scampi. It may look complicated, but it’s oh-so-easy to prepare.

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Fried Delacata Catfish

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Katelyn Hardwick

Recipe: Fried Delacata Catfish

Serve with charred lemons and, of course, a side of hush puppies.

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