23 Grilled Fish Recipes for Your Next Cookout
There are plenty of reasons to get excited for warmer weather, but grilling fish is pretty high on our list. The best grilled fish recipes are deeply flavorful—plus delightfully quick to make and easy on the cleanup.
A touch of char can make even the plainest fish fillet—one seasoned with nothing but salt and black pepper—taste extraordinary. But our favorite fish grilling recipes deliver even more. You’ll find marinades and sauces that help salmon, halibut, and snapper shine, plus smart ways to tackle fish skewers, cedar plank grilling, and whole fish too.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova1/23Easy Grilled Salmon in Foil With Lemon-Garlic-Herb Butter
A foolproof flaky grilled fish recipe with minimal cleanup? We’re sold. Serve with a simple salad and a refreshing summer cocktail.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich2/23Grilled Mahi-Mahi Tacos
Serve these flaky fish tacos with plenty of guacamole and pico de gallo, plus lime wedges for squeezing.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton4/23Grilled Swordfish Steaks With Whole-Lemon Dressing
This is the kind of grilled dinner recipe you’d gladly pay for at a restaurant. But we promise great swordfish is easy to make in your own backyard.
Photo by Caleb Adams, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell6/23Cedar-Plank Salmon
Salmon doesn’t need much to taste great, and this go-to Gourmet dinner proves it. Spicy mustard, sweetened with honey or maple syrup and flavored with lemon and herbs, gives this big fish fillet a boost.
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou7/23Crispy-Skinned Salmon With Whole Lemon–Sesame Sauce
Adding an entire lemon (yes, the whole thing—skin, pith, and flesh) gives brightness and texture to this sauce, far beyond what lemon juice alone would do. Any bitterness from the pith will be offset by the sesame oil and honey. Cook the salmon skin-side down on the grill, and you’ll end up with crispy salmon that pairs beautifully with the creamy, zesty sauce.
Tara Donne, food styling by Chelsea Zimmer8/23Linguine With Grilled Tuna, Capers and Parsley
Looking for a weeknight dinner you can make on the grill? Char some leeks and garlic cloves alongside the fish for this Mediterranean-inspired pasta.
Photo by Laura Murray, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Simon Andrews10/23Grilled Flatfish With Pistachio-Herb Sauce
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Judy Mancini11/23Fish Tacos al Pastor
Inspired by pork al pastor, these white fish fillets (use sea bass, halibut, or even tilapia) are soaked in a punchy marinade of chiles, garlic, orange juice, and lime juice. Plan ahead, as you’ll need to refrigerate them for at least one hour, but three is even better.
Photo by Andrew Purcell, Food Styling by Carrie Purcell12/23Sweet and Salty Fish Collars
Fish collars, the part between the head and the body, are one of the most flavorful cuts, no matter the variety. Try this sweet and salty sauce with the cod collars, or ask your fishmonger which collars they have in store the day you plan to fire up the grill.
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich14/23Grilled Salmon Steaks With Cilantro-Garlic Yogurt Sauce
Pro tip: You’ll want to drizzle this herby yogurt sauce over everything, so make a big batch to carry you through the week. Serve it on grilled veggies or even store-bought rotisserie chicken.
