Recipe Roundup

23 Grilled Fish Recipes for Your Next Cookout

Like cedar-plank salmon, fish tacos al pastor, and grilled halibut Niçoise.
A plank of grilled swordfish on a platter cut into slices and topped with a relish or burst cherry tomatoes and olives.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jaime

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 Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
    5/23

    Brochetas de Pescado

    Cut tuna or swordfish into cubes, then marinate with a garlicky mix of chipotle, tomato, annatto, cumin, and lime for fish skewers you’ll want to make at every party this summer.

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  • Photo by Caleb Adams, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    6/23

    Cedar-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.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou
    7/23

    Crispy-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.

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  • Tara Donne, food styling by Chelsea Zimmer
    8/23

    Linguine 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.

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  • Photo by Kamil Bialous
    9/23

    Halibut With Spicy Sausage, Tomatoes, and Rosemary

    Foil packets are a simple way to cook fish fillets on the grill, ideal for the busy weeknight chef or anyone new to cooking fish. Add cherry tomatoes, paprika-loaded sausages, and fresh rosemary sprigs to each packet for maximum flavor with minimal work.

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  • Photo by Laura Murray, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Simon Andrews
    10/23

    Grilled Flatfish With Pistachio-Herb Sauce

    Flatfish, such a turbot, sole, and flounder, is ideal for grilling if you cut it into wide planks but leave the skin and bones intact. The skin insulates its tender meat during grilling, and the bones help keep the pieces together.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Judy Mancini
    11/23

    Fish 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.

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  • Photo by Andrew Purcell, Food Styling by Carrie Purcell
    12/23

    Sweet 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.

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  • Photo by Eva Kosmas Flores
    15/23

    Grilled Salmon With Peach Curry and Coconut Cream

    Juicy, ripe peaches and beautiful pink salmon fillets scream summer. A little red curry paste and Thai basil keep this sweet and spicy curry squarely in the savory realm, and a drizzle of reduced coconut cream cools things off.

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  • Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jaime
    16/23

    Grilled Swordfish With Tomatoes

    This forgiving grilled swordfish recipe is great for a dinner party. Serve with lemon wedges and hunks of bread for sopping up the sauce.

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  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kendra Vaculin, prop styling by Gözde Eker
    17/23

    Grilled Party Salmon With Green Romesco

    If cooking a whole side of salmon sounds daunting, consider this: You won’t have to turn a bunch of individual fillets. Plus, folks who like their salmon well done can take portions from the sides of the fish, while those who like it a little more medium can go for the center.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou
    18/23

    Grilled Salt-and-Pepper Black Bass With Curry Verde

    With a dish this simple, you want pristine fish—ask your fishmonger what came in today. Snapper, black sea bass, or branzino will all be great. Serve with a big bowl of steamed rice.

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  • Photo by Peden & Munk
    19/23

    Grilled Halibut Niçoise With Market Vegetables

    Turn your overzealous farmers market haul into a gorgeous catch-all salad topped with flaky halibut, hot off the grill. Any mix of veg will work with this grilled fish recipe; we love a mix of scallions, garlic scapes, Romano beans, halved small eggplants, and halved baby potatoes.

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  • Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott
    20/23

    Snapper Escabèche With Charred Scallions

    For this dish, the snapper is simply rubbed with olive oil and cooked quickly on a hot grill, then topped with a tangy marinade of white wine vinegar, olive oil, and red onion.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    21/23

    Grilled Swordfish With Charred Leeks and Citrus

    Firm, thick swordfish steaks can handle being cooked over medium-high heat like a steak. An even higher temp chars the leeks until they’re smoky outside and sweet and juicy inside.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    22/23

    Grilled Spiced Snapper With Mango and Red Onion Salad

    Grilling a whole fish might feel daunting to some home cooks, but you can do it! This recipe walks you through turning the fish on the grill grate step-by-step (hint: Using two spatulas is key).

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Emily Storms is a writer and educator in San Francisco. She teaches elementary school students by day and loves finding simple meals for busy weeknights. On weekends, you can find her taking on elaborate baking projects or hosting a dinner party.   ... Read More
Contributor
Sheela Prakash is a food and wine writer and recipe developer, as well as a registered dietitian. A longtime editor at Kitchn, she has also been on staff at Epicurious and Food52. Her writing and recipes can be found in numerous online and print publications, including Serious Eats, Tasting Table, ... Read More
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