25 Best Seafood Recipes - Cooking Light

Photo: Gentl and Hyers

Grilled Halibut with Peach and Pepper Salsa

Fish and shellfish can be quick cooking, tasty, and super healthy. The trick to incorporating more seafood into your diet is knowing how to cook it and finding recipes that you love. In honor of our 25th anniversary, we compiled a collection of our editors' and readers' favorite seafood recipes from the past 25 years. Based on research from MyRecipes.com, we pulled the Cooking Light recipes that received the most votes and highest star ratings.

First Up: Heat up the grill; our Grilled Halibut with Peach and Pepper Salsa is its most delicious cooked this way. Halibut is hailed by fish lovers for its firm texture, flaky white meat, and accessibility. A flat fish, similar to flounder, halibut fresh catches have been recorded at over 600 pounds – a lot to go around! The fresh, sweet-and-spicy salsa pairs perfectly with the smoky flavor offered by the grill.

View Recipe: Grilled Halibut with Peach and Pepper Salsa

Photo: Randy Mayor

Bourbon-Glazed Salmon

Brown sugar and bourbon combine to create the perfect sweet and smoky flavor that infuses this already-flavorful fish. Omega-3 fatty acids in this fish have many health benefits, including protecting against heart disease. Cooking time can vary, depending on the thickness of salmon. As a general rule, cook 10 minutes for each inch of thickness. Then check the center and make sure it’s light pink and opaque.

View Recipe: Bourbon-Glazed Salmon

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Southwestern-Style Shrimp Taco Salad

Cilantro, chipotle hot sauce, corn, black beans, and green onion lend fantastic south-of-the-border flavor to this shrimp-topped taco salad.

View Recipe: Southwestern-Style Shrimp Taco Salad

Photo: Randy Mayor

Salmon Croquettes

"We have made this twice and both times it was outstanding. My five year old loves it! Very easy to put together and fairly quick. This time I made it with 2 pouches of salmon rather than raw filets. We couldn't tell a difference. If your bell peppers are really wet, drain them first. This time I didn't and the patties didn't want to stick. Will definitely make this again!! One of our new favorites!" -jennday1

View Recipe: Salmon Croquettes

Photo: Randy Mayor

Seared Scallops with Warm Tuscan Beans

Pair this one-dish seared scallops meal with a side of garlic bread. It's perfect for sopping up every last drop of the delicious sauce. The iron in spinach and protein in the beans and scallops make this a perfect alternative to a red meat meal.

View Recipe: Seared Scallops with Warm Tuscan Beans

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Tuna Noodle Casserole

The expression “goes together like peas and carrots” doesn’t even do this casserole justice; although, those two ingredients help to make the creamy casserole a delectable comfort food.

View Recipe: Tuna Noodle Casserole

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Pan-Grilled Halibut with Chimichurri

Chimichurri is a fresh herb-lemon sauce made with cilantro, basil, and shallots. Pan-frying this dish gives the fish a crispy outer layer, which is the perfect texture for topping with the fresh herb mixture.

View Recipe: Pan-Grilled Halibut with Chimichurri

Photo: Randy Mayor

Lemon Pepper Shrimp Scampi

For budget cooking, this is perfect. This recipe only requires 6 ingredients (plus salt and pepper) and shrimp is an affordable type of seafood, fresh or frozen. Zesty and a bit spicy, this Mediterranean dish is one of our favorite no-fuss recipes.

View Recipe: Lemon Pepper Shrimp Scampi

Photo: Randy Mayor

Fish Tacos with Lime-Cilantro Crema

Crunchy cabbage combines with flaky white fish and smoky cumin in this Latin-style dish. Crema is a fresh and creamy sauce that is the perfect thing to cool off the smoky spiced snapper.

View Recipe: Fish Tacos with Lime-Cilantro Crema

Photo: Johnny Autry

Crab Cakes with Spicy Rémoulade

You don’t have to be in Maryland to enjoy delicious crab cakes. You can make them in your own kitchen and serve over mixed greens with a side of this must-have rémoulade. Succulent crab, combined with crunchy panko crumbs, and crisp onions and peppers are the secret to our signature crab cakes. Cooking Light Editor Scott Mowbray raves, "These are the best crab cakes we've ever made!"

View Recipe: Crab Cakes with Spicy Rémoulade

Photo: Randy Mayor

Scallop Piccata with Sautéed Spinach

Serve these quick-cooking scallops over a bed of whole-grain pasta or brown rice for a filling (and impressive) meal.

View Recipe: Scallop Piccata with Sautéed Spinach

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Sesame-Crusted Tuna with Wasabi-Ponzu Sauce

This dish utilizes many Asian ingredients such as sesame seeds, wasabi, and ginger to give the tuna steaks a unique depth of flavor. Fresh tuna is like the beef of the seafood world, with a meaty texture, red color, and thick steak presentation. Yellowfin tuna steaks are great for this recipe. They tend to be less fatty and have a perfect pink color.

View Recipe: Sesame-Crusted Tuna with Wasabi-Ponzu Sauce

Mussels in Tomato-Wine Broth

The people of Belgium dine on moules-frites, a staple dish of mussels and French fries. Try your hand at this international favorite. Steam mussels and place them in this savory broth. Lighten up the traditional way by having some plain toasted bread handy to soak up the broth. A glass of chilled white wine goes nicely with this dish.

View Recipe: Mussels in Tomato-Wine Broth

Photo: John Autry

Pan-Fried Trout with Tomato Basil Sauté

Pancetta lends a smoky flavor to this Italian-style seafood dish. The sauce makes this fish moist and tender and infusing with basil tops it all off with a fresh herb kick.

View Recipe: Pan-Fried Trout with Tomato Basil Sauté

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Jerk-Rubbed Catfish with Spicy Cilantro Slaw

This southern favorite lends its flavor to the spicy jerk rub that transforms this fish from ordinary to tastefully elite. A creamy cilantro slaw blends with the spice and balances out the hot habanero pepper.

View Recipe: Jerk-Rubbed Catfish with Spicy Cilantro Slaw

Photo: Levi Brown

Blackened Tilapia Baja Tacos

Make food truck-style fish tacos at home using fresh tilapia, avocado, cilantro, and corn tortillas; top with a creamy onion-jalapeño mixture for amazing flavor.

View Recipe: Blackened Tilapia Baja Tacos

Photo: Randy Mayor

Baked Grouper with Chunky Tomato Sauce

The grouper is seared to give it a slightly crisp crust that can hold up to the moisture from the tomato topping. Use a heavy oven-proof skillet that can go from stovetop to oven. To seed a tomato, cut it in half, hold each half in the palm of your hand, and squeeze gently.

View Recipe: Baked Grouper with Chunky Tomato Sauce

Photo: Lee Harrelson

Cioppino-Style Seafood Stew

Inspired by the famed San Francisco meal-in-a-bowl, this comes together with minimal fuss. Serve it with Parmesan toast. Three different types of seafood make this warming treat a protein-packed, healthy alternative to creamy, high-fat soups and stews.

View Recipe: Cioppino-Style Seafood Stew

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Sautéed Tilapia with Lemon-Peppercorn Pan Sauce

This piquant sauce is perfect over mild-flavored tilapia. Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the brightest flavor. Serve with white rice.

View Recipe: Sautéed Tilapia with Lemon-Peppercorn Pan Sauce

Photo: John Autry

Shrimp-Stuffed Shells

Adding shrimp to this already-delicious Italian classic just makes it that much better. Shrimp get tender when marinating in the shells. Potato starch keeps them from overcooking.

View Recipe: Shrimp-Stuffed Shells

Simple Lobster Risotto

Cooking with lobster can be a beautiful thing – it is truly tasty, tender, and surprisingly easy. Lobster shines in this 5-ingredient meal and isn’t drowned out by any other robust flavors.

View Recipe: Simple Lobster Risotto

Photo: Randy Mayor

Easy Baked Fish Fillets

Looking for a simple fish dinner? Try this easy recipe for baked fish fillets. You can use any firm white fish: cod, haddock, or grouper work well.

View Recipe: Easy Baked Fish Fillets

Photo: John Autry

Spicy Corn and Crab Chowder

Claw meat tends to be slightly darker than pristine lump crab, but it lends a robust flavor to this hearty soup. Serve with corn muffins. Purchase a boxed corn muffin mix for maximum efficiency.

View Recipe: Spicy Corn and Crab Chowder

Paella Valencia

Valencia is a Spanish coastal city where this dish is particularly revered. Sausage and chicken combine with seafood and veggies in this traditional gourmet production.

View Recipe: Paella Valencia

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Broiled Tilapia with Thai Coconut-Curry Sauce

Tilapias's mild flavor allows the bold flavors of the coconut and curry to shine. Serve this dish with rice, which will absorb the brothy sauce.

View Recipe: Broiled Tilapia with Thai Coconut-Curry Sauce