15-Minute Fish Dinners

Updated February 11, 2008
Credit: Johnny Autry and Randy Mayoy; Styling: Cindy Barr and Lindsey Lower

Serving a hearty meal fresh from the sea is easier than you think. Pick from our favorite grilled, blackened, pan-fried, or even microwaved fish recipes.

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Parmesan Crusted Baked Fish

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Missie Crawford

Parmesan Crusted Baked Fish Recipe

Parmesan, mayonnaise and breadcrumbs may seen an unlikely pairing for fish, but they create a flavor-packed crust that helps keep the fish deliciously moist while it bakes. Goes well with sautéed spinach! Tilapia, catfish, whitefish, striped bass, haddock or scrod are good choices for the fish. This recipe also works well with chicken.

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Roasted Salmon with Kale-Quinoa Salad

Credit: Colin Price; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Roasted Salmon with Kale-Quinoa Salad Recipe

Fresh salmon in its simplest form, roasted with salt and pepper. Serve it over a kale salad with citrus dressing.

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Pan-Fried Shrimp with Creole Mayonnaise

Pan-Fried Shrimp with Creole Mayonnaise Recipe

Serve a lighter version of fried shrimp with a creamy Creole dipping sauce. Fresh, seasonal veggies make the perfect accompaniment for this 15-minute dinner.

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Seared Tuna with Shaved Vegetable Salad

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanches; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Seared Tuna with Shaved Vegetable Salad Recipe

Sushi-grade tuna is your best bet, here. Shaving raw root veggies into a side-dish salad is a fantastic approach; it's fast, they're crunchy, and the flavors stay vibrant.

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Sheet-Pan Shrimp Scampi with Broccoli and Tomatoes

Credit: Time Inc. Video Studio

Sheet-Pan Shrimp Scampi with Broccoli and Tomatoes Recipe

Shrimp Scampi, a no-fail family favorite, has legitimately never been easier—oh, and we upgraded it with veggies, too. All the flavorful magic of this recipe happens on the sheet pan: Roasting shrimp, cooking broccoli and tomatoes, and creating a vibrantly mouthwatering lemon-butter sauce. Once you pull all of the saucy scampi goodness from the oven, simply serve over cooked pasta  or polenta with crusty bread. And there you have it, only 2 pans to wash (your sheet pan and the pot you boil your starch in) and a well-rounded, delicious dinner that only took a matter of minutes to make. This, my friends, is how you win a weeknight. 

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Salmon with Potatoes and Horseradish Sauce

Credit: Romulo Yanes; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen

Salmon with Potatoes and Horseradish Sauce Recipe

You can't go wrong when you start with salmon and a sour cream sauce, especially if the sauce is flavored with dill and horseradish. Fill out the plate with a side of steamed green beans (you can even use steam-in-a-bag if you're crunched for time!)

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Perfectly Seared Scallops

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Perfectly Seared Scallops Recipe

Scallops may be a little intimidating to cook at home—but trust us, once you nail the perfect sear once, you’ll be gunning to cook them any chance you get. Follow this foolproof method for perfectly seared scallops to nail the technique. 

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Tuna-Quinoa Toss

Credit: Colin Price; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Tuna-Quinoa Toss Recipe

This recipe is popular for lunch, but who says it can't be dinner? Canned tuna and pre-roasted spaghetti squash make this dish super fast.

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Everything Bagel Roasted Salmon

Credit: Time Inc. Video Stuidos

Everything Bagel Roasted Salmon Recipe

Everything bagel seasoning is an easy but unexpected way to add punch to salmon; the onion flavor is subtle, and the added crunch provides a nice textural contrast to the tender fish. Brushing on honey and mustard adds the perfect sweet and tangy kick.

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Cod with Herbed Pea Relish

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Cod with Herbed Pea Relish Recipe

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Pacific Northwest Smoked Salmon Tacos

Credit: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Torie Cox: Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Pacific Northwest Smoked Salmon Tacos Recipe

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Roasted Cod with Almond-Thyme Breadcrumbs

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Roasted Cod with Almond-Thyme Breadcrumbs Recipe

Mild-flavored, flaky cod is delicious with this crispy topping. Serve with lightly dressed greens.

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Herbed Shrimp-and-Rice Salad

Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton;

Herbed Shrimp-and-Rice Salad Recipe

This light, bright 15-minute recipe is the answer to your last-minute luncheon prayers. Our Herbed Shrimp-and-Rice Salad might look fancy, but this pretty lunch recipe is so easy. This salad has Mediterranean flavor from basmati ready rice, fresh parsley and dill, homemade lemon vinaigrette, and crumbled feta cheese. Prepare the ready rice according to package instructions, and you’re halfway done. Chopped red and yellow peppers and green onions add color, crunch, and good-for-you benefits. Shrimp is an ideal light protein for this salad, and you can buy steamed shrimp fresh from the seafood section at the store or use frozen, thawed shrimp. The homemade lemon vinaigrette that this salad is tossed with is so simple but delicious. All you need is olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper, and we’re guessing you have those already. Serve the rice mixture over mixed greens, and you’ve got a beautiful, wholesome plate. Since this salad can be served cold or at room temperature, it would be so easy to make the night before or morning of a luncheon. You could even make this meal ahead and bring it to work for lunch or have it as a light dinner. It’s the perfect fresh, guilt-free dish. Go ahead, cross lunch off your list—with 15 minutes and a few simple ingredients, this one’s on you.

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Simply Steamed Salmon and Corn With Dill Yogurt

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Simply Steamed Salmon and Corn With Dill Yogurt Recipe

Steaming is a gentle cooking method that preserves the natural flavors of all the components of this 15-minute meal.

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Tuna Melt

Credit: Time Inc. Video Studio

Tuna Melt Recipe

The tuna melt… you either love it or hate it. However, if you happen to be one of the few on the fence, you should definitely give this one a try. Our take on a classic tuna melt offers an element of childhood nostalgia, but with a layer of grown-up flavor. The incorporation of capers, Dijon, and fresh lemon juice give the tuna salad brightness and complexity to balance the buttery, toasted bread and rich, melty Swiss cheese. This classic sandwich is also delightful when served open-faced, so feel free to lose the second slice of bread if you’d prefer. 

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Halibut with Balsamic Cherry Tomatoes

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Halibut with Balsamic Cherry Tomatoes Recipe

Sustainable Choice. For a more budget-friendly option, try substituting a similarly textured fish, such as cod, for the halibut fillets.

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Roasted Salmon with Dijon-Dill Sauce

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Claire Spollen

Roasted Salmon with Dijon-Dill Sauce Recipe

Pungent Dijon and fragrant dill are classic pairings for salmon. The creamy coating helps keep the fish moist.

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Panko-Crusted Fish Sticks

Credit: Time Inc. Video Studios

Panko-Crusted Fish Sticks Recipe

Elegant dinners don't have to take a long time and a ton of effort—this one only takes 10 minutes. 

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Seared Arctic Char with Cucumber Relish

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Seared Arctic Char with Cucumber Relish Recipe

These arctic char filets bake to a beautiful golden brown and go perfectly with a side of quinoa or a rice pilaf.

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Flounder en Papillote

Flounder en Papillote Recipe

Flaky flounder fillets are baked inside parcels of parchment paper. This process allows the fish to steam as it bakes, developing a delightful, fresh flavor.

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Cod Poached in Spicy Tomato Broth

Credit: Photography: Karry Hosford

Cod Poached in Spicy Tomato Broth Recipe

Make a one-pan meal that's big on flavor and light on clean up. The bright sauce, a spicy combination of crushed red pepper, white wine, and capers, simmers for two minutes to combine the flavors, then cooks the fish. Cod, a firm white fish, works well in the recipe. Try it with flounder or sole for variety.

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Pan-Fried Sole with Cucumber and Tomato Salsa

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Lydia DeGaris-Pursell

Pan-Fried Sole with Cucumber and Tomato Salsa Recipe

This simple pan-fried filet cooks in less than two minutes per side. While it cooks, stir together the eight-ingredient salsa, made with fresh herbs and veggies, and let it sit so the flavors meld before serving.

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Asian Flounder

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Mary Catherine Muir

Asian Flounder Recipe

Cooking fish in the microwave may seem a bit retro, but it's actually a tasty method of cooking and a huge time saver. Plus, unlike baked or pan-cooked filets, the fish will steam without overcooking. Fold the fish as directed in the recipe to ensure uniform cooking.

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Praline-Glazed Salmon

Credit: James Carrier

Praline-Glazed Salmon Recipe

Serve a sweet New Orleans-inspired dish of meaty salmon topped with pecans in a dark brown sugar and melted butter sauce. A mild rice pilaf and steamed green veggie round out the dinner plate.

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Baked Salmon with Dill

Baked Salmon with Dill Recipe

Dress up rich salmon with a few simple ingredients for a dinner-worthy occasion. Sprinkle fresh dill, kosher sald, and ground black pepper over the filets and bake for 10 minutes, or until the fish flakes with a fork. Serve with steamed asparagus and quick-cooking rice.

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Seafood Cataplana

Seafood Cataplana Recipe

A cataplana is an item of cookware used to prepare Portuguese seafood dishes. If you don't have one, a large saucepan will do just fine. Clams and shrimp are the shellfish of choice in this authentic dish.

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Mustard and Herb-Crusted Trout

Credit: Photography: Randy Mayor; Styling: Katie Stoddard

Mustard and Herb-Crusted Trout Recipe

Lightly coat trout filets in sourdough bread crumbs, Dijon mustard, dried tarragon, and paprika, then bake for ten minutes for a tasty and quick meal. Add a lemon drizzle and serve with steamed veggies on the side.

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Swordfish with Cilantro-Lime Cream

Credit: Norman A. Plate

Swordfish with Cilantro-Lime Cream Recipe

Swordfish steaks make for a hearty main dish, so go light on the sides. The cool Cilantro-Lime Cream sauce pairs nicely with the crispy breadcrumb coating of the steaks, and also jazzes up steamed veggies.

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Blackened Yellowtail Snapper with Mango Salsa

Credit: Howard L. Puckett

Blackened Yellowtail Snapper with Mango Salsa Recipe

The cool-and-spicy flavors of this Caribbean-inspired dish come complements of the ripe mango, fresh cilantro, and zesty jerk seasoning. Serve with potato wedges, a green salad, and a crisp white wine.

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Hoisin Flounder

Credit: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Cindy Barr

Hoisin Flounder Recipe

This Asian-inspired flounder dinner features flounder fillets brushed with a homemade sauce and served with quick-cooking brown rice.

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Baked Herbed Fish Fillets

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Gerri Williams

Baked Herbed Fish Fillets Recipe

Drizzle baked white fish fillets with a delicious butter sauce for a quick weeknight entree.

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Snapper with Zucchini and Tomato

Credit: Johnny Autry and Randy Mayoy; Styling: Cindy Barr and Lindsey Lower

Snapper with Zucchini and Tomato Recipe

Lemon juice and rind brighten this Snapper with Zucchini and Tomato dinner for two. Don't leave out the vermouth—it adds a nice hit of flavor to the vegetables.

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