10 Fish And Seafood Dinners For Weeknights
Fish and seafood are great choices when you want an easy weeknight meal with high protein. Most of these recipes use simple seasoning, quick heat, and easy sides like rice, slaw, vegetables, or tortillas.
I’ve included a sampling of tacos, salmon, shrimp, cod, mahi mahi, swordfish, and tilapia. Some cook in a skillet. Others go in the oven, under the broiler, or in the air fryer.
Table of Contents
Quick Look
| If You Want | Recipe To Try |
|---|---|
| Fish Tacos | Fish Tacos With Sauce |
| Scallop Tacos | Pan-Seared Scallop Tacos |
| Simple Salmon | Oven Baked Salmon |
| Skillet Fish | Blackened Mahi Mahi |
| Crispy Baked Fish | Panko Crusted Baked Cod |
| Air Fryer Salmon | Air Fryer Honey Soy Salmon Bites |
| Broiled Salmon | Broiled Salmon |
| Shrimp Dinner | Blackened Shrimp |
| Meaty White Fish | Baked Swordfish Recipe |
| Budget-Friendly Fish | Baked Tilapia |
Why These Recipes Fit Weeknight Dinners
► Fish and seafood are good weeknight choices because they cook quickly with simple methods. Use a skillet for shrimp, scallops, and mahi mahi. Use the oven, broiler, or air fryer for salmon, cod, tilapia, and swordfish.
► The main thing is to stay nearby once the fish starts cooking. For example, shrimp only takes a few minutes to cook. Thin fillets, shrimp, scallops, and salmon pieces can go from tender to dry quickly. Check early and pull them when they turn opaque and flake easily.
► These recipes also give you different ways to serve seafood. Tacos work well with slaw and sauce. Salmon can go with rice, vegetables, or salad. Shrimp, cod, tilapia, mahi mahi, and swordfish all make a full dinner without a lot of extra steps.
Cook’s Tip: Before you start cooking your fish or seafood, prepare the sides and sauces first. Having the tortillas warm, the slaw mixed, or the vegetables ready makes sure everything can be served at the same time.
10 Fish And Seafood Dinners For Weeknights
1. Fish Tacos With Sauce
Total Time: 30 minutes | Serves: 4
These fish tacos use mild cod, cabbage slaw, warm tortillas, and a lime sauce. The fish is mild, the slaw adds crunchiness, and the lime sauce gives the tacos enough flavor without covering up the cod.
Get the Fish Tacos With Sauce recipe
2. Pan-Seared Scallop Tacos
Total Time: 17 minutes | Serves: 6
These scallop tacos use tender scallops, crisp slaw, and avocado sauce in warm tortillas. Scallops are naturally sweet, so they work well with a spicy avocado sauce, crunchy cabbage, and a softened tortilla.
Get the Pan-Seared Scallop Tacos recipe
3. Oven Baked Salmon
Total Time: 25 minutes | Serves: 2
Oven baked salmon gives you rich, buttery and flaky fish with a lightly seasoned surface and a moist center. It is easy to serve with rice, potatoes, vegetables, or salad.
Get the Oven Baked Salmon recipe
4. Blackened Mahi Mahi
Total Time: 18 minutes | Serves: 4
Blackened mahi mahi gives you firm, flaky fish with a smoky, garlicky crust and light peppery heat. The fish stays mild inside, so the seasoning adds flavor without covering up the clean taste of the mahi mahi.
Get the Blackened Mahi Mahi recipe
5. Panko Crusted Baked Cod
Total Time: 20 minutes | Serves: 4
This baked cod has mild, flaky fish under a crisp panko topping. It is a good choice when you want fish with texture and crispness, but do not want to fry it.
Get the Panko Crusted Baked Cod recipe
6. Air Fryer Honey Soy Salmon Bites
Total Time: 30 minutes | Serves: 4
These salmon bites have a sweet, salty glaze from honey and soy sauce, with lightly browned edges from the air fryer. They are cut into cubes before glazing and cooking. This step makes them easy to serve in rice bowls, lettuce cups, or warm tortillas.
Get the Air Fryer Honey Soy Salmon Bites recipe
7. Grilled or Broiled Salmon
Total Time: 15 minutes | Serves: 4
Grilled or broiled salmon gives you tender fish with light browning on the outside and rich salmon flavor inside. It is a good choice when you want more color and texture than baked salmon without adding a heavy sauce.
Get the Grilled or Broiled Salmon recipe
8. Blackened Shrimp
Total Time: 15 minutes | Serves: 5
Blackened shrimp gives you juicy shrimp with a dark, peppery crust and enough heat for rice, grits, tacos, or salad. The shrimp stay sweet inside, which keeps the seasoning from taking over.
Get the Blackened Shrimp recipe
9. Baked Swordfish Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes | Serves: 4
Baked swordfish gives you thick, firm fish with a mild flavor and a steak-like texture. Lemon, garlic, and herbs add enough flavor for elevated flavor without covering up the fish.
Get the Baked Swordfish recipe
10. Baked Tilapia
Total Time: 20 minutes | Serves: 2
Baked tilapia gives you tender white fish with a crisp topping and a clean, mild flavor. It is a good recipe for anyone who wants fish for dinner but does not want anything strong or rich.
Simple Tips For Better Fish And Seafood Dinners
- Pat the seafood dry. Dry fish and shrimp brown better.
- Preheat the pan, oven, broiler, or air fryer. Recipe times are calculated assuming you have a preheated cooking surface.
- Use an instant-read thermometer when needed. Fish should reach 145°F for food safety, especially thicker pieces like swordfish.
- Look for visual signs too. Shrimp turns pink and opaque and curls into a “C” shape. Fish should be opaque and flake easily with a fork when it is done.
- Check fish or seafood early.
- Prep sauces and toppings first. Once seafood starts cooking, you do not have much extra time.
More Questions Answered
What fish is easiest to cook for dinner?
Cod, tilapia, and salmon are some of the easiest fish to cook for dinner. They are easy to season, easy to pair with sides, and done when they turn opaque and flake with a fork.
How do you keep fish from drying out?
Do not overcook it. Use enough oil, butter, or sauce to protect the surface, and pull the fish as soon as it flakes. Thin pieces need close attention.
What seafood recipes are best for tacos?
Cod, scallops, shrimp, and mahi mahi all work well in tacos. Keep the toppings crisp and use enough sauce to balance the fish without covering it up.
