85+ Easy Seafood Dinner Ideas

2/21/21

Seafood recipes add a “splash” to dinnertime. These easy dinner ideas are a simple and healthy way to add more fish and shellfish to your diet. But many people just don’t know how to prepare seafood. Whether you are looking shrimp, salmon, or other favorite fish or shellfish there are plenty of seafood ideas for dinner in this delicious collection.

What is your favorite seafood? Do you prefer fish like salmon or tuna? Or do you go for shellfish like shrimp or crab?

Or maybe you are intimidated by seafood and don’t know where to start.

Whether you are novice or a pro when it comes to ocean fare, you are sure to find ideas to inspire you to cook more seafood recipes. This collection has everything from tacos and pasta to soups and sandwiches. Some are quick meals you can whip up in a flash. Others might be more of a meal to impress someone special, but I guarantee they are all simple and delicious.

Seafood Ideas for Dinner and More

CLICK ON THE TITLES TO GET THE RECIPES
GF – gluten free recipe
GFO – recipe with gluten free option

Salmon Recipes

Salmon is definitely one of the most popular fish. With its many health benefits, from being a good source of protein plus all the omega-3 fatty acids, everyone is trying to incorporate more salmon into their diet. You can cook an entire side of salmon, or cut it into fillets. It can be baked or grilled, pan-seared or smoked, and it lends itself to many flavors, from sweet stick glazy to spicy dry rubs, as well as Asian, Italian, or Tex Mex-inspired flavors.

Maple Sesame Glazed Salmon GFO

With a sweet and savory Asian-inspired marinade, this is a fish recipe that even the non-seafood eaters will love. Drizzle your perfectly broiled salmon with the flavorful sauce and serve it with broccoli and rice or cauliflower rice to make it a full meal. 

Strawberry Red Wine Glazed Salmon GF

A sweet and savory sticky glaze perfectly coats and balances the richness of the fish in this simple but tasty and healthy recipe. You won’t believe you can make this elegant dish with just five ingredients.

Pesto Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner GF

With potatoes and green beans is a simple and delicious dinner recipe that’s ready in less than forty minutes and leaves you with only one pan to clean up. This seafood sheet pan meal is a healthy addition to your weekly meal plan.

Smoked Salmon Tart

Simple to make but totally elegant and delicious, for your next special breakfast or brunch. A gorgeous dish that starts with frozen puff pastry to keep it easy.

More recipes for salmon:

• Pan-Fried Salmon with Green Sauce GF| Give Recipe
• Grilled Lemon Garlic Salmon GF| The Lemon Bowl
• Salmon Caesar Salad GFO| Two in the Kitchen
• Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs GF | Sweet & Savory By Shinee
• Savory Smoked Salmon ‘Cheesecake’ GFO | The View from Great Island
• Salmon Chowder GF | Self Proclaimed Foodie
• Salmon & Black Bean Nachos GF | The Weary Chef
• Simple 7-Minute Salmon GF | Bites of Wellness
• Easy Honey Glazed Salmon GF | Two Healthy Kitchens
• Poached Eggs Salmon with Cheese Sauce GFO | Diethood
• Hoisin Honey Glazed Salmon GFO | Joyful Healthy Eats
• Honey Salmon Baked in Foil GF | Embellishmints
• Chili Garlic Salmon and Broccoli Bowls GFO | Maebells
• Pan-seared Salmon with Asparagus GF | Magnolia Days
• Pistachio-Crusted Salmon | Simply Sated
• Agave Chipotle Glazed Salmon with Macadamia Cauliflower Rice GFO | With Salt and Wit
• One Pot Blackberry Glazed Salmon & Asparagus GF | Apron Strings
• Roasted Salmon Risotto GF | Life Currents
• Quick Curry Salmon GF | Cookin’ Canuck
• Salmon Linguine GFO | A Cedar Spoon
• Chili-Rubbed Salmon with Avocado Salsa GF | Sweet Peas & Saffron
• Miso Glazed Salmon GFO | All Ways Delicious

Other Fish Recipes

There are also many other types of fish. Tuna is available canned or fresh. You can get cod and other whitefish are fresh fillets or already made into fish sticks. And then there are less common, but equally delicious fish like swai, barramundi, and mahi mahi. These fish can be battered and fried, baked and topped with fresh salsas and sauces, or put into tacos.

Chili Lime Fish Stick Tacos GFO

A super fast and easy surefire way to get your kids eating seafood. This is a quicker way to make fish tacos with a little trick to jazz up those fish sticks and a simple, kid-friendly mango avocado salsa add tons of fresh flavor

More recipes for fish:

• Spicy Tuna Bites GF | Food Faith Fitness
• Tuna Melt Quesadillas GF | The Real Food Dietitians
• Tortilla Crusted Tilapia Salad GF | The Creative Bite
• Baked Bruschetta Cod | Life’s Ambrosia
• Sweet & Spicy Swai Fillets with Citrus Salsa GF | Renee’s Kitchen Adventures
• Mahi Mahi with Roasted Tomatoes & Fennel GF | One Sweet Mess
• Easy Fish Piccata with Roasted Asparagus | Belly Full
• Gluten Free Fried Fish Sticks GF | What the Fork
• Oven Baked Pesto Tilapia GF | Heather Likes Food
• Garlic Beer Butter Cod with Pale Ale Romesco | The Beeroness
• Asian Fish Tacos with Sriracha Crema | Simple Joy
• Hummus-Crusted Baked Fish | Cookin’ Canuck
• Fish Chowder GF | From Michigan to Table

Shrimp Recipes

I feel like I am having Forrest Gump flashbacks. Shrimp might just be one of the most versatile types of seafood. Fried shrimp, shrimp scampi, shrimp gumbo, barbecue shrimp, shrimp salads. It’s probably impossible for anyone to not be able to find a shrimp recipe they’ll enjoy. Heck, there are over thirty in this list alone.

Spicy Honey Lime Shrimp GF

A quick and easy recipe that packs a serious punch of flavor and can be served over rice or cauliflower rice, in tacos or lettuce wraps, or on top of a salad. But you only need a few ingredients, one skillet, and less than ten minutes.

BBQ Shrimp Quinoa Bowls GF

Quinoa bowls are a simple and versatile but satisfying dinner that comes together quickly for busy weeknights. Sauteed shrimp tossed in BBQ sauce is added to a bowl with quinoa and steamed broccoli for a healthy and kid friendly meal.

Shrimp Rice Paper Rolls GFO

Also known as summer rolls, these are a fresh and versatile appetizer or side, or a light lunch. Succulent shrimp and cool, crisp veggies are tossed in a simple sauce and rolled up in rice paper wrappers and served with your favorite dipping sauce. 

Home-style Shrimp Bowls GF

Quick and easy comfort food – spicy shrimp and corn on top of a bowl of creamy mashed potatoes. Classic flavors with a little kick.

Honey Walnut Shrimp GF

An easy but impressive seafood dinner with so many flavors and textures. This unexpectedly delicious combination will surprise your tastebuds.

More recipes for shrimp:

• Fruity Grilled Shrimp Salad GF | Cupcakes & Kale Chips
• Shrimp and Corn Chowder | Cook What You Love
• Island Shrimp Bowl GF | Lemons for Lulu
• Healthy Brown Rice Bowl with Shrimp & Avocado GF | Yummy Healthy Easy
• Mediterranean Grilled Shrimp Quinoa Salad GF | Spoonful of Flavor
• Shrimp Etouffee | Growing Up Gabel
• Jamie’s Shrimp Salad GF | Aggie’s Kitchen
• Shrimp & Asparagus Stir Fry with Lemon Sauce GFO | Home Cooking Memories
• Sweet & Spicy Mango Shrimp GFO | Running to the Kitchen
• Spaghetti Squash with Basil-Parsley Pesto & Sauteed Shrimp GF | The Roasted Root
• Shrimp Stuffed Mushrooms GF | Life Tastes Good
• Honeyed Shrimp with Crispy Kale & Gorgonzola Grits | Melanie Makes
• Shrimp Nachos with Creamy Garlic Cheese Sauce GF | Shaken Together
• Mediterranean Feta & Shrimp Pasta | Snappy Gourmet
• Caribbean Shrimp Burgers | A Spicy Perspective
• Shrimp Tacos GF | Chelsea’s Messy Apron
• New Orleans-Style Barbecue Shrimp GF | WonkyWonderful
• Grilled Shrimp with Avocado Butter GF | Tammilee Tips
• Shrimp Linguine | Cooking with Curls
• Easiest Weeknight Skillet Shrimp GF | Shockingly Delicious
• Shrimp & Grits Casserole GF | The Kitchen is My Playground
• Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup GF | Taste Love & Nourish
• Shrimp Fried Quinoa GF | Eating Bird Food
• Healthy Garlic Shrimp Pasta | Well Plated
• Shrimp Tostadas GF | Peas and Crayons
• Shrimp & Asparagus Pasta | Julie’s Eats & Treats
• Shrimp Chow Mein | The Little Ferraro Kitchen
• Baked Coconut Shrimp with Mango Jalapeno Dipping Sauce GF | Homemade in the Kitchen
• Shrimp and Garlic Pasta | CopyKat Recipes

Lobster, Crab, and Other Shellfish Recipes

Of course, there are plenty of other types of shellfish too. Lobster may be the granddaddy of all seafood. It’s rich and elegant and makes a meal extra special. Crab can be eaten simply steamed, or added into soups, sandwiches, crab cakes, and more. And let’s not forget about clams, mussels, scallops, and all the other delicious shellfish in the ocean.

Lobster Cobb Salad GF

A deliciously light and fresh dinner salad. It’s the perfect combination of seafood, vegetables, and let’s not forget the cheese, avocado, and, of course, bacon to make it totally satisfying.

More recipes for shellfish:

• Pan Seared Scallops with Lemon Caper Sauce GF | The Recipe Critic
• Cheesy Crab Bites GF | It’s Yummi
• Jumbo Lump Maryland Crab Cakes | Savory Simple
• Crocpot Clam Chowder GF | Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch
• Perfect Broiled Lobster Tails GF | Sweet C’s
• Lobster Tacos with Toasted Ancho Chili Sauce GF | Hola! Jalapeno
• Goan Crab Curry GF | Food, Life and Money

Mixed Seafood Recipes

When you can’t decide, just combine your favorite types of seafood into one dish. In cuisines all over the world, you’ll find soups and stews with multiple varieties of fish and shellfish. And pasta dishes often combine a few different types of seafood.

• Caldo de Camaron y Pescado | All Roads Lead to the Kitchen
• Manhattan Style Roasted Vegetable Chorizo Seafood Chowder GF | Rock Recipes
• New England Clam Chowder with Flounder | Courtney’s Sweets
• Shrimp & Crab Gumbo | Stephie Cooks
• Seafood Alfredo Stuffed Shells | Will Cook For Smiles
• Seafood Pasta Bake | Call Me PMc
• Brazilian Fish Stew GF | Dizzy Busy & Hungry

Join the email list and get the FREE Guide

Learn to make dinner in a snap with my 3 secrets!

Quick and delicious family meals without the stress!

Yes, I Need This!