Quick and Easy Fish Recipes The Whole Family Will Love

March 11, 2009
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos
Fish is delicious for dinner, and these recipes make it easy to have fantastic seafood suppers on the table in a flash. Whether you prefer your fish light and flaky or rich and full, these dinner recipes make every meal mouthwatering. The easy fish recipes for Teriyaki Salmon Bowls, Tortilla-Crusted Tilapia, and Snapper Baked in Parchment make weeknight dinners a breeze. For more Southern tastes, grab a bite of Classic Fried Catfish or  Simple Salmon Croquettes, dinners that will remind you of old-fashioned comfort food. However you love your fish, these quick fish recipes will show you that having a fresh catch every night is easy.
Start Slideshow

1 of 28

Pan-Seared Trout With Italian-Style Salsa

Photo: Ralph Anderson; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Recipe: Pan-Seared Trout With Italian-Style Salsa

The Italian-Style Salsa can be made a day ahead or whipped together in just 10 minutes; the fish itself needs only four minutes per batch.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 28

Citrus-Salmon Salad

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

Recipe: Citrus-Salmon Salad

Our homemade citrus vinaigrette is the key to this sunny salad that couldn’t be further from a “sad desk lunch.”

3 of 28

Classic Fried Catfish

Recipe: Classic Fried Catfish

For an extra-crispy crust, use stone-ground yellow cornmeal, if available.

Advertisement

4 of 28

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

This tasty one-bowl meal starts with tender salmon from the slow cooker and ends with a savory glaze on top.

5 of 28

Lemon-Dill Tilapia

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Lemon-Dill Tilapia

Tilapia gets a twist with lemon and dill. Aluminum foil can be substituted for parchment paper.

6 of 28

Pan-Seared Salmon with Lemony Greens and Grains

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

Recipe: Pan-Seared Salmons with Lemony Greens and Grains

Southern-favorite black-eyed peas and collard greens get the healthy treatment in this quick skillet supper.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 28

Almond-Crusted Tilapia

Photo: Ralph Anderson

Recipe: Almond-Crusted Tilapia

This seafood supper has only six ingredients. If you don't have a skillet large enough to hold all the fillets comfortably, we recommend cooking them in batches. You can substitute catfish, flounder, or orange roughy for tilapia.

8 of 28

Fresh Salmon Cakes with Buttermilk Dressing

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Fresh Salmon Cakes with Buttermilk Dressing

Mama’s salmon croquettes from your childhood got a grown-up makeover with this fresh salmon cakes recipe.

9 of 28

Tortilla-Crusted Tilapia with Citrus Slaw and Chipotle Tartar Sauce

Stephen DeVries

Recipe: Tortilla-Crusted Tilapia with Citrus Slaw and Chipotle Tartar Sauce

Leave your traditional coating behind and try crispy tortilla chips for pan-frying fish. Refreshing slaw and spicy tartar sauce finish this meal off perfectly.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 28

Poached Salmon Salad with Pickled Snap Peas

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Poached Salmon Salad with Pickled Snap Peas

This light, bright salad showcases fresh salmon and springy peas with a tangy homemade green goddess dressing.

11 of 28

Fish Fry

Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Fish Fry

A classic fish fry should focus on three key elements: the slice, the soak, and the seasoning. This no-frills recipe uses pantry staples to do just that.

12 of 28

BBQ Cedar Plank Salmon

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

Recipe: BBQ Cedar Plank Salmon

Cedar planks add a welcome smokiness to grilled salmon, and you’ll want to soak every bit of this sauce up.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 28

Snapper Baked in Parchment with Spring Vegetables

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Snapper Baked in Parchment with Spring Vegetables

If you’re not in the mood to do dishes tonight, don’t! This parchment-wrapped meal makes cleanup (and portioning) so simple.

14 of 28

Salmon Bagel Sandwiches

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

Recipe: Salmon Bagel Sandwiches

This isn’t your everyday lox bagel from the shop down the street. With slow-cooked salmon and homemade herby cream cheese, you can enjoy these hearty sandwiches from brunch until dinner.

15 of 28

Skillet Orzo with Fish and Herbs

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Skillet Orzo with Fish and Herbs

This easy one-dish dinner is prepared paella-style, so it’s pretty enough for company. Ready in less than an hour, though, it’s quick enough for weeknights.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 28

Honey-Mustard Baked Salmon with Vegetables

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

Recipe: Honey-Mustard Baked Salmon with Vegetables

A panko breadcrumb-topping adds a nice bit of crunch to this easy sheet pan salmon recipe that even the youngest family members will enjoy.

17 of 28

Fish Tacos and Toppings Bar

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Fish Tacos and Toppings Bar

Gather the family: It’s time for Taco Tuesday! These fresh fish tacos are finished with Asian slaw and chipotle cream for more flavor than your usual toppings.

18 of 28

Grilled Salmon Panzanella Salad

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Grilled Salmon Panzanella Salad

Light up the grill for this summery, colorful take on panzanella that only uses a few ingredients.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 28

Tuna Pasta Salad

Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Tuna Pasta Salad

This light, bright recipe will update your idea of “tuna pasta salad” from potlucks of the past.

20 of 28

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

Your kids are going to love the tangy sauce that’s paired with this good-for-you supper.

21 of 28

Fried Delacata Catfish

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

Recipe: Fried Delacata Catfish

Soaking the catfish in buttermilk before frying neutralizes fishy odors and helps bind your spice coating for a crisp, even finish. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 28

Simple Salmon Croquettes

William Dickey / Styling Buffy Hargett / Food Styling Angela Sellersc

Recipe: Simple Salmon Croquettes

This Southern classic is on the table to the rescue in less than 20 minutes. Top them with lemon-caper cream for an easy addition that feels fancy.

23 of 28

New Tuna Casserole

Greg Dupree

Recipe: New Tuna Casserole

We added more fresh veggies to Mama’s old-school tuna casserole, but the kids won’t tell the difference.

24 of 28

Easy Grilled Salmon

Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Recipe: Easy Grilled Salmon

If you’re on the hunt for a no-fuss grilled salmon recipe to use as the base for countless dinners this summer, you’ve found it.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 28

Easy Catfish Tacos with Slaw

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

Recipe: Easy Catfish Tacos with Slaw

Get crispy “fried” catfish flavor you love lightened up (and with less mess) straight from the oven. 

26 of 28

Honey-Soy-Glazed Salmon with Veggies and Oranges

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Honey-Soy-Glazed Salmon with Veggies and Oranges

A simple sheet pan supper that comes together in one dish is already a weeknight winner, but add “healthy” to the front of that, and it’s a total keeper.

27 of 28

Classic Trout Amandine

Southern Living

Recipe: Classic Trout Amandine

Treat your guests to a beautiful, classic fish dinner that they’re used to seeing on fine dining menus (just don’t let them know how easy it was).

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 28

Crispy Oven-Fried Catfish

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Crispy Oven-Fried Catfish

You only need a handful of ingredients to bring your classic fish fry indoors with this go-to recipe.

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next