If you've never attempted it before, cooking fish and seafood at home can be intimidating, but we're here to tell you—you don’t have to let restaurants have all the fun! It’s actually quite easy to cook everything from salmon to shrimp, scallops to lobster, and everything in between, all at home. Whether you're new to it or are an old pro looking for inspiration, these 75 weeknight seafood dinners include everything from basic staples to wild flavor combos to guarantee you'll never get bored.
If you’re unsure of swapping seafood in for your regular chicken and red meat dishes, consider this: Seafood contains a ton of nutrients like omega-3s, iron, protein, and vitamins B and D (more than any other meat, according to the FDA!). The best part? Most fish take less than 15 minutes to cook, meaning you can have dinner on the table FAST.
If you’re new to cooking seafood, try one of our easy whole fish recipes, like baked cod, garlicky lemon baked tilapia, or our baked Chilean sea bass. They’re not super-fishy tasting and are impossible to mess up. Want something a bit more involved? Try our Cajun stuffed salmon, our jerk shrimp pineapple bowls, or our Nashville hot fish & chips. Looking for a more low-key weeknight meal? Try our fish taco bowls, our feta & herb crusted salmon, or our garlic butter shrimp & asparagus. We’ve also got tons of pasta dishes that come together quickly, like our roasted red pepper shrimp linguine, our shrimp pasta Alfredo, our smoked salmon pasta, and our lobster ravioli. Use these as jumping-off points for adding seafood to all your favorite weeknight dinners.
For more dinner ideas, check out our top chicken weeknight dinners, our favorite summer dinner recipes, and our best quick, healthy, cost-effective meals too.
Everything Bagel Crusted Salmon
It’s time to bring the brunch vibes to dinnertime with everything bagel seasoning-crusted salmon and a refreshing salad that’s reminiscent of the toppings on your favorite bagel & lox. And if you’ve never turned cream cheese into a salad dressing, now is the time to start.
Pad Thai
We've got all the top tips to get this Thai stir-fry just right. Best part? Making this dish at home means you can have it exactly the way you like it, so feel free to swap or add to the shrimp or eggs with chicken, tofu, or stir-fried veggies.
Get the Pad Thai recipe.
Fish Taco Bowls
Crispy fish and a creamy, spicy cabbage slaw are the base of these veggie-packed takes on everyone’s favorite taco. The sweetness from the diced mango and creaminess from cool avocado blends perfectly with the drizzle of a spicy crema, making this summer salad an instant staple.
Get the Fish Taco Bowls recipe.
Blackened Shrimp Bowls
Filled with whole grains, protein, and fresh veg, these are the perfect grain bowls if you're looking for an easy, healthy lunch or satisfying weeknight dinner to enjoy all summer long.
Get the Blackened Shrimp Bowls recipe.
Spicy Tuna Roll
In restaurants, spicy tuna sushi rolls usually involve raw, sushi-grade fish. But if raw fish is out of reach, this recipe uses humble canned tuna. That’s not to say you can’t use the basic skeleton of this recipe for raw tuna if you can find it—just substitute in sushi-grade fish, finely chopped, and proceed onward!
Get the Spicy Tuna Roll recipe.
Pineapple Baked Salmon
Giving the salmon a quick broil at the end of cooking lets the pineapple marinade caramelize. Make sure to keep a close eye on it—a couple minutes is all you need under a hot broiler. Looking for more salmon recipes? This Greek salmon is another foolproof, quick dinner.
Get the Baked Pineapple Salmon recipe.
Salmon & Potato Skillet
We love a hands-off dinner, and this salmon and potato skillet is just that. In just 45 minutes, you’ll have an easy, delicious, and filling meal that can be customized every time you make it.
Get the Salmon & Potato Skillet recipe.
Lobster Ravioli
For this version of lobster ravioli, we used wonton wrappers instead of pasta dough. If you want actual pasta-encased lobster ravioli, then our pasta dough is great; otherwise, we promise you’re going to make these over and over again.
Get the Lobster Ravioli recipe.
Nashville Hot Fish & Chips
Fish & chips meet Nashville-style fried chicken. It’s a spicy match and a fun summer dinner idea. It’s not light-your-mouth-on-fire hot, but you’ll appreciate having a beer on hand to wash it down with.
Get the Nashville Hot Fish & Chips recipe.
Baked Scallops
Buttery, crispy, garlicky. What could be better? These scallops make for the easiest weeknight dinner and are ready in about 30 minutes. They're great for a last-minute dinner option, but also plenty good enough to serve at a dinner party. That’s the kind of balance we love.
Get the Baked Scallops recipe.
Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon
We could tell you everything we love about this honey-garlic salmon, but we think that the fact that this recipe was one of our top recipes of 2022 and an enduring, tried-and-true favorite of Delish readers speaks for itself.
Get the Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon recipe.
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Salmon & Orzo
When you’re in the mood for a one-pan dinner that delivers on the comfort food factor, this recipe with salmon, creamy orzo, and sun-dried tomatoes is the one to turn to.
Jerk Shrimp & Pineapple Bowls
Not only is a pineapple bowl a super-cute and fun way to serve dinner, but it also guarantees your meal is going to be loaded with plenty of fresh, delicious pineapple. In this case, we’ve got jerk marinated shrimp, bell peppers, and a sweet and spicy glaze you'll love.
Get the Jerk Shrimp & Pineapple Bowls recipe.
Shrimp Ceviche
If you’re a bit hesitant about the whole raw seafood thing, don’t be! We’ve provided two different ways to prepare the shrimp—poaching and the traditional method of solely curing it in citrus—so you can pick the preparation that’s most comfortable for you.
Get the Shrimp Ceviche recipe.
Feta & Herb-Crusted Salmon
For this Mediterranean-inspired version, you just arrange your salmon on a sheet tray (lined with aluminum foil for the easiest cleanup), sprinkle on the toppings, and bake it for 25 minutes. No flipping, no sticking, and no mess!
Get the Feta & Herb-Crusted Salmon recipe.
Shrimp Scampi
This dish is made using plump, pink shrimp and is usually served over a heaping bowl of pasta; however, sometimes the pasta can detract from the delectable simplicity of this dish. The shrimp is the main event, so in this recipe, it's treated as such.
Get the Shrimp Scampi recipe.
Coconut Curry Salmon
The coconut milk and spice go so well together here, making a rich, but not heavy, sauce that really tastes and feels far more complicated than it is. Spoon the sauce over the salmon a few times as it cooks to give it a nice coating.
Get the Coconut Curry Salmon recipe.
Coconut Curry Shrimp & Peas
Say goodbye to ho-hum weeknight meals. This coconut curry shrimp and peas recipe is a quick route to a delicious, crowd-pleasing dinner.
Get the Coconut Curry Shrimp & Peas recipe.
Lobster Risotto
Here, a simple combination of fresh aromatics, white wine, and seafood stock transforms humble Italian rice grains into the dreamy, cheesy, luscious rice porridge that we’ve all come to love. Adding fresh, faintly sweet lobster meat is all that’s needed to take your risotto over the top.
Get the Lobster Risotto recipe.
Creamy Cajun Stuffed Salmon
Blackened and stuffed, these salmon fillets are packed with Cajun flavor and are quite easy to prepare for a last-minute, weeknight dinner. Tip: Ask the fish counter for pieces of salmon from the head side of the fish (opposed to the tail side).
Get the Creamy Cajun Stuffed Salmon recipe.
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
24 Brilliant Buttermilk Recipes
25 Best Noodle Recipes
21 Sheet-Pan Chicken Recipes
40 Incredible Sausage Recipes
