37 Weeknight Dinner Recipes That Prove Cooking Seafood Doesn't Have To Be Scary

    2021 resolution: eat more fish.

    Hannah Loewentheil
    by Hannah Loewentheil

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Raise your hand if you're a little intimidated by the idea of cooking seafood at home.

    Well, these easy, super flavorful, and high-protein pescatarian recipes might just convince you to give it a try. With just a few basic cooking techniques and fresh ingredients, cooking fish at home is easier than you think.

    1. Easy Shrimp Scampi

    Let The Baking Begin / Via letthebakingbegin.com

    Cooked in butter and wine with plenty of garlic and parsley, you'll want to serve this shrimp over linguine, rice, or orzo to sop up all the delicious sauce.

    Recipe: Easy Shrimp Scampi

    2. Pan Seared Scallops

    House of Nash Eats / Via houseofnasheats.com

    Here's a little tip for getting your scallops even crispier: Before pan-searing, lightly dust the scallops in all purpose flour. It will ensure they get golden brown on the outside and fork-tender on the inside.

    Recipe: Pan Seared Scallops

    3. Instant Pot New England Clam Chowder

    A bowl of thick and creamy New England style clam chowder.
    Garden in the Kitchen / Via gardeninthekitchen.com

    This creamy and decadent chowder gets its thickness from potatoes blended with broth and half and half. Use your Instant Pot to cut down on the hands-on cooking.

    Recipe: Instant Pot New England Clam Chowder

    4. Quick Fish Tacos

    Several fish tacos topped with slaw, lime, and cilantro.
    Gimme Delicious / Via gimmedelicious.com

    Start with a flakey white fish like tilapia, hake, or cod — then season it with chili powder, cumin, and lime. Top the tacos with slaw and an easy smoky chipotle crema made of Greek yogurt and adobo sauce.

    Recipe: Quick Fish Tacos

    5. Ginger Soy Fish

    Ginger soy fish with crispy scallions.
    Rasa Malaysia / Via rasamalaysia.com

    This Chinese-inspired recipe calls for halibut, but you can really use any semi-firm white fish like fluke or snapper. It's cooked with lots of ginger and scallions in a simple sauce made with soy sauce, sugar, and sesame oil.

    Recipe: Ginger Soy Fish

    6. Red Curry Salmon and Veggies

    Cooking For Keeps / Via cookingforkeeps.com

    This one-pan meal is ready in 30 minutes, making it an ideal weeknight dinner that tastes worthy of a special occasion. Salmon is seared until crispy, then simmered in a sweet-meets-spicy red curry and coconut milk sauce.

    Recipe: Red Curry Salmon and Veggies

    7. Pan Seared Halibut With Lemon Caper Sauce

    A plate of halibut with lemon caper garlic sauce.
    A Family Feast / Via afamilyfeast.com

    This sophisticated halibut recipe tastes like something you'd order at a restaurant, but it's actually easier than you think to make at home. The fish is cooked in sizzling butter and oil, then it's tossed in a pan sauce with lemon, capers, parsley, and garlic.

    Recipe: Pan Seared Halibut With Lemon Caper Sauce

    8. Drunken Clams with Italian Sausage and Polenta

    A bowl of polenta with clams and sausages.
    The Forked Spoon / Via theforkedspoon.com

    Creamy polenta is topped with sautéed spinach, juicy cherry tomatoes, saucy littleneck clams, and sweet Italian sausage in this one-bowl wonder.

    Recipe: Drunken Clams with Italian Sausage and Polenta

    9. Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas

    Killing Thyme / Via killingthyme.net

    Shrimp, peppers, and onions are seasoned in lots of spices and then baked on a single sheet pan. If you're feeling lazy, grab store-bought fajita seasoning. The result will still taste delicious.

    Recipe: Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas

    10. 30-Minute One-Pot Cheater’s Bouillabaisse

    A bowl of cheater's bouillabaisse with shrimp, cod, and mussels.
    PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL / Via purewow.com

    Loaded with cod, shrimp, and mussels in a seafood and tomato broth, this quick and simple fisherman's stew tastes like it's been simmering on the stovetop for hours.

    Recipe: 30-Minute One-Pot Cheater’s Bouillabaisse

    11. Crispy Garlic-Miso Glazed Salmon

    A plate of miso salmon with scallions.
    Honest Cooking / Via honestcooking.com

    Pro tip: Start with a thin fillet of salmon for the best results. The soy, honey, and miso marinade creates a crispy exterior while leaving the inside of the fish super moist and flaky.

    Recipe: Crispy Garlic-Miso Glazed Salmon

    Baker By Nature / Via bakerbynature.com, Baker by Nature / Via bakerbynature.com

    You can pretty much serve any kind of fish in this juicy, sweet, and tangy tomato basil sauce and it will be a guaranteed hit. It's made with garlic, blistered tomatoes, crushed red pepper flakes, white wine, and basil.

    Recipe: Pan-Seared Cod in White Wine Tomato Basil Sauce

    13. Seared Tuna Poke Bowls

    Olive and Mango / Via oliveandmango.com

    If you don't want to buy all the ingredients for poke bowls, serve this seared tuna over rice with something simple like steamed bok choy or seaweed salad. This recipe can be easily tailored to fit your preferences.

    Recipe: Seared Tuna Poke Bowls

    14. Flounder Milanese With Arugula

    A piece of fish Milanese topped with arugula.
    Skinny Taste / Via skinnytaste.com

    Start with a thin piece of fish such as skate, fluke, or sole to make this pescatarian take on a classic chicken dish. The fish is breaded and pan-fried until crispy, then it's topped with bitter arugula, fresh tomatoes, and a drizzle of lemon juice.

    Recipe: Flounder Milanese With Arugula

    Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com

    If you're intimidated by the idea of cooking fish, slow roasting it is a great way to build your confidence. Roasting salmon at a low temperature for about 30 minutes makes it basically impossible to overcook.

    Recipe: Slow Roasted Citrus Salmon With Fennel and Parmesan

    16. Chinese-Style Steamed Whole Fish

    The Woks of Life / Via thewoksoflife.com, The Woks of LIfe / Via thewoksoflife.com

    Cooking a whole fish seems scary, but let me fill you in on a secret: it's pretty much foolproof. The hardest part is determining how you'll steam the fish.

    Recipe: Chinese-Style Steamed Whole Fish

    17. Garlic Butter Fish in Parchment

    Salmon with veggies in parchment paper.
    Eat Well 101 / Via eatwell101.com

    Baking salmon enveloped in parchment paper (or en papillote, as it's called in French) is a clever cooking technique that ensures fish is cooked to perfection.

    Recipe: Garlic Butter Fish in Parchment

    18. Cajun Shrimp and Rice Skillet

    Le Creme de la Crumb / Via lecremedelacrumb.com

    This one-pot recipe is sort of like a Pescatarian jambalaya. Shrimp is cooked in butter and cajun seasoning, then it's tossed with rice and chicken broth and cooked until tender.

    Recipe: Cajun Shrimp and Rice Skillet

    19. Miso Soy Salmon Sashimi Bowls

    Salmon sashimi over rice with capers.
    Serving Dumplings / Via servingdumplings.com

    Grab some sashimi-grade salmon and whip up these fresh and zesty bowls. The best part is there's hardly any cooking required.

    Recipe: Miso Soy Salmon Sashimi Bowls

    20. Baked Scallops With Panko and Parmesan

    Skinny Taste / Via skinnytaste.com

    Seafood doesn't get much more comforting (or easy to make) than these buttery baked scallops topped with crispy panko Parmesan.

    Recipe: Baked Scallops With Panko and Parmesan

    21. 20-Minute Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon

    A skillet with salmon in a sticky honey garlic glaze.
    The Chunky Chef / Via thechunkychef.com

    You're just 20 minutes and one-pan away from your new favorite weeknight salmon recipe. Oh, and you'll want to put this sticky, sweet glaze made with Sriracha, honey, garlic, and soy sauce on everything.

    Recipe: 20-Minute Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon

    22. Instant Pot Shrimp Risotto

    Mom's Dinner / Via momsdinner.net

    Thanks to your Instant Pot you can say farewell to all that stovetop stirring. This handy gadget turns arborio rice into creamy risotto with almost zero effort.

    Recipe: Instant Pot Shrimp Risotto

    23. Easy Niçoise Salad

    The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com

    This protein-packed dish is an exciting way to spice up your usual salad routine. The main ingredient is tuna fish packed in olive oil but you can also use salmon. Load up your bowl with blanched green beans, buttery potatoes, soft boiled eggs, cherry tomatoes, and briny olives.

    Recipe: Easy Niçoise Salad

    24. Crab Fried Rice

    The Woks of Life / Via thewoksoflife.com

    This Chinese take-out classic gets a sophisticated little upgrade from jumbo lump crab meat. You can bulk up your fried rice with whatever veggies you have on hand.

    Recipe: Crab Fried Rice

    25. Spicy Seafood Tagliatelle

    I am a Food Blog / Via iamafoodblog.com

    This recipe calls for scallops and shrimps tossed in a creamy tomato sauce with your favorite pasta. It's so incredibly simple to make, yet it tastes so indulgent.

    Recipe: Spicy Seafood Tagliatelle

    26. Bang Bang Air Fryer Shrimp

    Munchkin Time / Via munchkintime.com, munchkintime.com / Via Munchkin Time

    The shrimp are coated in cornstarch and dipped in buttermilk and bread crumbs. A few minutes in the air fryer gets them seriously crispy. Then, they're served in a three-ingredient bang bang sauce made with mayonnaise, Sriracha, and sweet chili sauce.

    Recipe: Bang Bang Air Fryer Shrimp

    27. Chili Lime Baked Cod

    A plate of white rice topped with chili lime cod.
    The Roasted Root / Via theroastedroot.net

    You can marinate the cod in oil, lime, garlic, chili powder, and paprika for as little as 30 minutes or as long as overnight. Then, bake it in the oven for 15 minutes and serve over your favorite grains.

    Recipe: Chili Lime Baked Cod

    What's Gabby Cooking / Via whatsgabycooking.com

    You're going to want to serve this dish with some rustic country bread or sourdough to sop up all the extra sauce.

    Recipe: Steamed Clams with White Wine and Garlic

    29. Fish Florentine

    Skinny Taste / Via skinnytaste.com

    Possibly the most divine way to eat seafood, flaky white fish like halibut or bass is served in a creamed spinach made with cream cheese, half and half, and Parmesan cheese.

    Recipe: Fish Florentine

    30. Brazilian Fish Stew

    Feasting At Home / Via feastingathome.com, Feasting at Home / Via feastingathome.com

    This traditional Brazilian recipe is called moqueca in Portuguese. It can be made with pretty much any white fish simmered in coconut milk with onion, tomato, chili pepper, and lime.

    Recipe: Brazilian Fish Stew

    Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com

    There's something completely irresistible about the mingling of sweet and spicy flavors in this sheet pan recipe. Shrimp is marinated in garlic, chili powder, soy sauce, and sriracha and roasted with juicy pineapples. Then it's topped with a homemade sauce made by blending roasted jalapeños with yogurt, lime juice, honey, and cilantro.

    Recipe: Sheet Pan Hawaiian Pineapple Shrimp Tacos

    32. Air Fryer Fish and Chips

    Crispy air fried fish and French fries.
    Spend With Pennies / Via spendwithpennies.com

    This air fryer fish gets so delightfully crispy, and with no deep frying required.

    Recipe: Air Fryer Fish and Chips

    33. Garlic Parmesan Crusted Halibut

    Julia's Album / Via juliasalbum.com

    Cooked on a single parchment paper-lined baking sheet, this simple yet fancy-tasting halibut recipe requires minimal clean-up.

    Recipe: Garlic Parmesan Crusted Halibut

    34. Shrimp and Grits

    A bowl of creamy grits topped with shrimp.
    No Recipes / Via norecipes.com

    This southern soul food classic is perfectly appropriate for brunch or dinner. It's made with cheesy grits, spiced shrimp, onion, pepper, and your choice of ham or bacon.

    Recipe: Shrimp and Grits

    35. Crab Cake Sliders With Spicy Mayo

    The Comfort Of Cooking / Via thecomfortofcooking.com

    Serve these Maryland-style crab cakes over a salad or on sliders topped with homemade Sriracha mayo.

    Recipe: Crab Cake Sliders With Spicy Mayo

    36. Easy Lobster Scampi With Linguine

    Cooking For Keeps / Via cookingforkeeps.com

    Easy enough for any ordinary night but fancy enough for a special occasion, this buttery, garlicky lobster scampi over linguine tastes seriously restaurant-quality.

    Recipe: Easy Lobster Scampi With Linguine

    37. Mussels In Thai Coconut Curry Broth

    A bowl of mussels in coconut broth with chili and scallions.
    The Healthy Hunter Blog / Via thehealthyhunterblog.com

    This Thai-inspired recipe is made by simmering mussels in a sweet and zesty sauce. The sauce is dairy-free but gets its creaminess from a blend of coconut milk, curry paste, and vegetable stock.

    Recipe: Mussels In Thai Coconut Curry Broth