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.
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Pan-Seared Trout With Italian-Style Salsa

Credit: 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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Citrus-Salmon Salad

Credit: 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.”

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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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Teriyaki Salmon Bowls with Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Credit: 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.

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Lemon-Dill Tilapia

Credit: 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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Pan-Seared Salmon with Lemony Greens and Grains

Credit: 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.

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Almond-Crusted Tilapia

Credit: 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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Fresh Salmon Cakes with Buttermilk Dressing

Credit: 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.

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Tortilla-Crusted Tilapia with Citrus Slaw and Chipotle Tartar Sauce

Credit: 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.

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Poached Salmon Salad with Pickled Snap Peas

Credit: 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.

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Fish Fry

Credit: 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.

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BBQ Cedar Plank Salmon

Credit: 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.

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Snapper Baked in Parchment with Spring Vegetables

Credit: 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.

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Salmon Bagel Sandwiches

Credit: 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.

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Skillet Orzo with Fish and Herbs

Credit: 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.

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Honey-Mustard Baked Salmon with Vegetables

Credit: 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.

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Fish Tacos and Toppings Bar

Credit: 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.

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Grilled Salmon Panzanella Salad

Credit: 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.

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Tuna Pasta Salad

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Tuna Pasta Salad

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

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Molasses-Soy Glazed Salmon and Vegetables

Credit: 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.

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Fried Delacata Catfish

Credit: 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. 

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Simple Salmon Croquettes

Credit: 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.

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New Tuna Casserole

Credit: 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.

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Easy Grilled Salmon

Credit: 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.

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Easy Catfish Tacos with Slaw

Credit: 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. 

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Honey-Soy-Glazed Salmon with Veggies and Oranges

Credit: 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.

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Classic Trout Amandine

Credit: 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).

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Crispy Oven-Fried Catfish

Credit: 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.

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