Quick-Fix Fish Recipes

By Southern Living

Fish is delicious for dinner, and these quick fish recipes make it easy to have fantastic fish 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. Our Pan-Seared Trout with Italian Style Salsa easy. You can prep the salsa up to a day ahead, and the fish is ready in four minutes a batch. The quick fish recipes for Pecan-Crusted Tilapia, Sizzling Flounder, and Tuna Cornbread Cakes make weeknight dinners a breeze. For more Southern tastes, grab a bite of the Classic Fried Catfish, or Natalie’s Cajun-Seasoned Pan-Fried Tilapia, dinner recipes that will remind you of old-fashioned, down-home, country cooking. However you love your fish, these quick fish recipes will show you that having a fresh catch every night is easy.

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Burk's Farm-Raised Catfish Fry

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Burk's Farm-Raised Catfish Fry

It’s no secret: we love our catfish around here. If you do, too, you’re in for a treat. This farm-raised catfish fry is our new favorite way to season up and serve the Southern staple. The secret? A nice, long bath in buttermilk for the fish filets. Then, it’s as simple as self-rising cornmeal mix and a quick bath in peanut oil. Don’t be tempted to skip the draining step–that makes the difference crispy, golden catfish that’s tender but not greasy, and a heavy, sodden mess. Follow our simple instructions, and delicious catfish is in your future.

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Grilled Grouper with Watermelon Salsa

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Grilled Grouper with Watermelon Salsa

This delicious dish is ready in less than 30 minutes! Cool watermelon salsa pairs perfectly with hot-off-the-grill fish. For a sandwich option, serve fish and salsa in pita pockets.

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Roasted Salmon with Lemon and Dill

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Roasted Salmon with Lemon and Dill

Serve up this easy roasted salmon recipe with a Creamy Lemon Horseradish Sauce and basmati rice with peas, parsley, and mint. Just cook 2 (8.8-oz.) pouches ready-to-serve basmati rice according to package directions. Stir in 1 cup frozen sweet peas, thawed; 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley; 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh mint; and salt and pepper to taste.

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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.

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Pecan-Crusted Tilapia

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Recipe: Pecan-Crusted Tilapia

Try this tasty tilapia with a simple squeeze of lemon or, if you a have a little more time, delicious Golden Rum-Butter Sauce.

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Pan-Seared Salmon Nuggets

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

Recipe: Pan-Seared Salmon Nuggets

Here is a terrific low-fat technique for pan-frying almost any type of fish. You can cook a single serving or several batches—just be sure not to overcrowd the skillet, or the fish will steam rather than crisp and brown.

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Sizzling Flounder

Photo: Jim Franco

Recipe: Sizzling Flounder

While flounder is a Charleston favorite, use any firm-fleshed fish, such as tilapia, grouper, or catfish. Adjust the cooking time according to the thickness of the fish.

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Tuna Cornbread Cakes

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Tuna Cornbread Cakes

If you like tuna fish and are looking for a new way to serve it, you will love this recipe. They resemble crab cakes but call for pre-packaged light tuna chunks which make for quick and easy prep. Serve cakes with homemade Lemon Aïoli for a flavorful condiment or dipping sauce.

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Crispy Baked Cod

Photo: Ralph Anderson

Recipe: Crispy Baked Cod

This 6-ingredient fish recipe is ready in less than 30 minutes and perfect for busy weeknights. Coat the fish in panko breadcrumbs for a crispy coating. You can substitute mahi mahi, grouper, catfish, salmon, or tilapia for cod.

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Tuscan Catfish With Sun-dried Tomato Aïoli

Recipe: Tuscan Catfish With Sun-dried Tomato Aïoli

This deceptively simple recipe elevates the humble catfish to international cuisine.

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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.

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Mediterranean Salmon With White Beans

Recipe: Mediterranean Salmon With White Beans

Any fish fillet may be substituted in this mediterranean salmon dish with white beans. However, the salmon is packed with heart-healthy omega-3 fats and has great flavor.

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Classic Fried Catfish

Recipe: Classic Fried Catfish

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

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Poached Salmon

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

Recipe: Poached Salmon

Parsley, garlic, lemon, and mint lend flavor to this simple poached fish. You won't believe how quickly this recipe comes together—just 10 minutes! Serve with a side of rice and simple green salad for a complete meal.

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Seared Halibut With Herbed Tomato Sauce

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Seared Halibut With Herbed Tomato Sauce

Shave even more minutes off of this quick recipe by using frozen fish and pre-chopped onion.

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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.

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Fried Fish Sandwiches

Recipe: Fried Fish Sandwiches

This superb fried fish sandwich is inspired by the Black Grouper Sandwich served at Dockside Dave's in St. Pete Beach, Florida. Any firm white fish, such as tilapia, snapper, or grouper, works well.

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Greek Snapper on the Grill

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Food Styling: Lyda H. Jones

Recipe: Greek Snapper on the Grill

We serve this quick grilled fish with our homemade Dot's Tartar Sauce, but you can also use prepared sauce.

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Parchment-Baked Fish and Tomatoes

Photo: Melina Hammer

Recipe: Parchment-Baked Fish and Tomatoes

Aluminum foil can be subbed for parchment to make the packets.

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Fried Catfish with Pickled Peppers

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Fried Catfish with Pickled Peppers

Rethink store-bought sauce: Spoon spicy, Pickled Peppers and their kicky brine over fish to add flavor, color, and crunch.

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Natalie's Cajun-Seasoned Pan-Fried Tilapia

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Natalie's Cajun-Seasoned Pan-Fried Tilapia

Make sure your frying oil is hot enough by dropping breadcrumbs into it. If they sizzle and crisp up, then the oil is ready

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Delta-Style Catfish

Recipe: Delta-Style Catfish

This tasty catfish is broiled, not fried. For an extra kick, borrow the spicy rémoulade from our Shrimp Rémoulade over Fried Tomatoes.

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