26 Fish Recipes That Prove Lent is Secretly Delicious

Lent doesn’t have to mean giving up flavor just because you’re skipping the usual meat lineup. With the right fish recipes, dinner can feel just as indulgent without bending any rules. These ideas are proof that seafood nights can be fast, flexible, and way more exciting than another frozen pizza. They're also great when you're short on time but still want a meal that actually feels like dinner. If you're looking to shake up your routine and keep things meat-free without going full rabbit food, these fish recipes have you covered.

Salmon Pasta Alfredo

A plate of creamy salmon pasta garnished with lemon slices and parsley. — Salmon Pasta Alfredo. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

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Salmon Pasta Alfredo is the creamy chaos your weeknight needed. This one hits all the right notes for fish recipes that actually feel fun to eat, not fussy. If you've been bored with dinner, fish recipes like this one snap you out of it fast.
Get the Recipe: Salmon Pasta Alfredo

Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce

Grilled salmon fillet garnished with lemon slices and grated cheese on a white plate, accompanied by a red and white striped napkin. — Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce knows how to make butter and citrus show off. You’ll want this on repeat for fish recipes that bring the bold without making a mess. Of all the fish recipes that feel fancy without effort, this one wins.
Get the Recipe: Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce

Sheet Pan Salmon and Vegetables

A plate of baked salmon garnished with herbs, served alongside asparagus, zucchini, onions, and bell peppers. — Sheet Pan Salmon and Vegetables. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Sheet Pan Salmon and Vegetables keeps you from washing more dishes than you need to. This is one of those fish recipes that makes you feel like you have your life together, even if it’s chaos behind the scenes. When you're tired of boring dinners, fish recipes like this pull through.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Salmon and Vegetables

Panko Crusted Cod

Breaded fish fillet served with green beans and lemon slices on a white plate. — Panko Crusted Cod. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Panko Crusted Cod brings the crunch that soggy dinners forgot. If you're on the hunt for fish recipes with some attitude, this one's calling your name. And really, what other fish recipes can brag about being this crispy without frying?
Get the Recipe: Panko Crusted Cod

Baked Lemon Butter Fish

Baked Lemon Butter Fish is the lemony little number that doesn’t ask for too much. It joins the list of fish recipes that are simple, speedy, and actually worth turning the oven on. You’ll come back to this one long after your other fish recipes have flaked out.
Get the Recipe: Baked Lemon Butter Fish

Salmon Salad

Grilled salmon fillet on top of a fresh green salad with tomatoes and olives, served on a white plate with a fork on the side. — Salmon Salad. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Salmon Salad isn’t here to be sad or soggy—this one’s fresh, snappy, and full of crunch. Fish recipes like this keep lunch from being a total snooze fest. Trust me, not all fish recipes wear greens this well.
Get the Recipe: Salmon Salad

Pan-Seared Chilean Sea Bass with Lemon Caper Butter

A plate of seared fish topped with capers and drizzled with a yellow sauce, with a fork resting on the side. — Pan-Seared Chilean Sea Bass with Lemon Caper Butter. Photo credit: Mary's Whole Life.

Pan-Seared Chilean Sea Bass with Lemon Caper Butter is buttery in all the best ways and doesn’t need a restaurant to shine. Fish recipes that taste like a big deal but take under 30 minutes? Yes, please. This one’s got the flavor of five-star fish recipes without the reservation.
Get the Recipe: Pan-Seared Chilean Sea Bass with Lemon Caper Butter

Fish Taco Bowls with Mango Salsa

A bowl with grilled fish topped with mango salsa, surrounded by white rice, purple cabbage, lettuce, and lime wedges. Drizzled with creamy sauce. — Fish Taco Bowls with Mango Salsa. Photo credit: Mary's Whole Life.

Fish Taco Bowls with Mango Salsa are bright, bold, and just a little bit smug about it. Fish recipes this fun rarely come together this quickly. When taco night needs a makeover, this one’s got fish recipes covered.
Get the Recipe: Fish Taco Bowls with Mango Salsa

Baked Swordfish

Baked fish fillets topped with a breadcrumb mixture and surrounded by cherry tomatoes on a baking sheet. — Baked Swordfish. Photo credit: Marcellina In Cucina.

Baked Swordfish comes in strong with that herby crunch and meaty center. It’s one of those fish recipes that holds its own without fussing over it. When plain fillets start to feel blah, swordfish kicks fish recipes into gear.
Get the Recipe: Baked Swordfish

Pesto Butter Salmon

Baked salmon topped with green pesto sauce, garnished with a lemon slice and basil leaves. — Pesto Butter Salmon. Photo credit: Food Exit Recipes.

Pesto Butter Salmon is what happens when herby goodness crashes into buttery perfection. It totally pulls ahead in the fish recipes race for “most likely to disappear first.” When dinner needs big flavor and minimal brainpower, fish recipes like this hit different.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Butter Salmon

Italian Fish Soup with Angel Hair Pasta

A bowl of soup with noodles, topped with pieces of shrimp and herbs. A whole shrimp is placed on the side. A spoon rests in the soup. Extra noodles are visible on the table. — Italian Fish Soup with Angel Hair Pasta. Photo credit: The Pasta Project.

Italian Fish Soup with Angel Hair Pasta is cozy, brothy, and full of flair without being full of itself. If you're tired of the same-old, this sneaky little soup switches up your fish recipes lineup with way less effort than it looks. Not all fish recipes come with pasta, but this one should convince you they should.
Get the Recipe: Italian Fish Soup with Angel Hair Pasta

Romanian Icre

Bowl of creamy dip with lemon and parsley garnish. Next to it, a wooden board with cherry tomatoes, green onion, feta, and bread slice with dip. — Romanian Icre. Photo credit: Romanian Cookbook.

Romanian Icre proves that a spread can still steal the whole show. It belongs in your top three fish recipes for when snack time turns into lunch. When you need something quick, creamy, and wildly underrated, go with fish recipes like this.
Get the Recipe: Romanian Icre

Nova Scotia Seafood Chowder

A bowl of creamy seafood chowder containing shrimp, scallops, fish, bacon, and topped with dill, is placed on a light surface. — Nova Scotia Seafood Chowder. Photo credit: Kelly Neil.

Nova Scotia Seafood Chowder gives big cozy vibes with zero apologies. This one ranks high in fish recipes that don’t need a cold night to taste amazing. If you’ve got a soft spot for thick, creamy soups, this chowder pushes all other fish recipes to the side.
Get the Recipe: Nova Scotia Seafood Chowder

Old Fashioned Salmon Patties

A plate with mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, and two breaded patties, served on a light-colored tablecloth. — Old Fashioned Salmon Patties. Photo credit: The Cookin Chicks.

Old Fashioned Salmon Patties are crispy little memory-makers with serious staying power. For fish recipes that walk the line between nostalgic and no-nonsense, this one's got it locked. When dinner needs to be fast and familiar, these are the kind of fish recipes that hit just right.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Salmon Patties

Salmon Kale Quinoa Salad

Three seasoned salmon fillets on a bed of quinoa, kale, diced red peppers, and onions. — Salmon Kale Quinoa Salad. Photo credit: Food Exit Recipes.

Salmon Kale Quinoa Salad isn’t here for bland desk lunches—it’s loud, leafy, and proud. Fish recipes that double as power meals? This one checks every box. You’ll want to keep it in the weekly rotation because not all fish recipes fuel you like this.
Get the Recipe: Salmon Kale Quinoa Salad

Samaki wa Kupaka

Grilled fish topped with green herb sauce, served with two slices of tomato on a blue plate. — Samaki wa Kupaka. Photo credit: We Eat At Last.

Samaki wa Kupaka brings coconut heat with a whole lot of personality. When you're ready to shake up your usual fish recipes, this one pulls you straight out of your rut. Forget plain fillets—bold fish recipes like this one set the tone.
Get the Recipe: Samaki wa Kupaka

Sweet Chilli Salmon

Plate of glazed salmon with chopped green onion, served with broccoli and cucumber-radish salad on a light-colored plate. — Sweet Chilli Salmon. Photo credit: Food For Fitness.

Sweet Chilli Salmon gets sticky, spicy, and a little saucy in the best way. Fish recipes that go from fridge to plate in 20 minutes without being boring? We love that. When plain protein won’t cut it, this is the fish recipe that steps up.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Chilli Salmon

Air Fryer Tilapia

A plate with a piece of breaded chicken, green beans, cherry tomato halves, and a lemon wedge. A fork is placed nearby on a white surface. — Air Fryer Tilapia. Photo credit: We Eat At Last.

Air Fryer Tilapia doesn’t ask you to thaw or fuss—it just shows up crispy. Fish recipes that take freezer finds and turn them into something awesome deserve a round of applause. Skip the soggy stuff and go for fish recipes with real crunch.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Tilapia

Whole Baked Barramundi

Grilled whole fish with lemon slices, herbs, and a side of tartar sauce on a rectangular platter, garnished with parsley. — Whole Baked Barramundi. Photo credit: Athlete Lunchbox.

Whole Baked Barramundi brings drama to dinner without overcomplicating things. Of all the fish recipes that feel celebration-worthy, this one’s got presence and flavor to match. It’s proof that fish recipes can be showstoppers even on a random Tuesday.
Get the Recipe: Whole Baked Barramundi

Shrimp + Scallop Linguine with Lemon Caper Butter

A dish of spaghetti topped with shrimp, scallops, capers, and chopped parsley on a patterned cloth. — Shrimp + Scallop Linguine with Lemon Caper Butter. Photo credit: Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen.

Shrimp + Scallop Linguine with Lemon Caper Butter is basically your excuse to eat fancy without doing much. It’s fast, punchy, and perfect for folks who want fish recipes that look impressive but don’t take forever. When pasta night gets old, let this one bring the upgrade your fish recipes needed.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp + Scallop Linguine with Lemon Caper Butter

Fish Casserole

A plate of creamy vegetable casserole with visible carrot, pepper, and zucchini chunks, alongside a striped cloth. A spoonful is missing from a nearby casserole dish. — Fish Casserole. Photo credit: Living Chirpy.

Fish Casserole keeps it creamy, cheesy, and simple—no tricks here. This is one of those fish recipes that doesn’t pretend to be fancy but still shows up strong. If you're after comfort food, stick with fish recipes like this that do the job every time.
Get the Recipe: Fish Casserole

Salmon Poke Bowl

Bowl of assorted vegetables including carrots, edamame, radishes, avocado, and greens, topped with a creamy dressing and sesame seeds. Two radishes and utensils are nearby. — Salmon Poke Bowl. Photo credit: Food For Fitness.

Salmon Poke Bowl is all about fresh vibes and fun textures, no deep fryer needed. For fish recipes that skip the stovetop but still taste amazing, this one’s a star. You’ll want to keep it on standby when your fridge’s full of random veggies.
Get the Recipe: Salmon Poke Bowl

Lemon Garlic Salmon

Three pieces of cooked salmon with creamy sauce on a white oval plate, garnished with lemon slices. Placed on a wooden table next to fresh herbs and a striped cloth. — Lemon Garlic Salmon. Photo credit: The Cookin Chicks.

Lemon Garlic Salmon comes together quicker than your group chat ever could. Fish recipes that pack this much flavor with this little effort are rare, so hold on to it. When time’s tight, fish recipes like this one save dinner from cereal.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Garlic Salmon

Easy Sautéed Shrimp

A wooden bowl with shrimp, green rice, guacamole, diced tomatoes, pickled onions, and a dollop of sour cream, garnished with cilantro. — Easy Sautéed Shrimp. Photo credit: Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen.

Easy Sautéed Shrimp is a ten-minute win that still feels like you tried. It’s a strong contender in fish recipes that don’t drag out your evening. Throw it in a wrap, toss it in a bowl—this is how fish recipes stay interesting without being complicated.
Get the Recipe: Easy Sautéed Shrimp

Strozzapreti with Swordfish

A bowl of pasta with cherry tomatoes, chicken pieces, olives, and garnished with parsley. A fork rests on the edge of the white bowl, placed on a woven mat. — Strozzapreti with Swordfish. Photo credit: The Pasta Project.

Strozzapreti with Swordfish is summery, salty, and basically what beach dinners should taste like. When fish recipes need a little pasta action to stay exciting, this one checks out. You’ll love how swordfish holds its own here without hogging the spotlight.
Get the Recipe: Strozzapreti with Swordfish

Kerala Sardine Curry

A metal bowl filled with spicy sardine curry garnished with fresh green leaves, surrounded by additional leaves on a light background. — Kerala Sardine Curry. Photo credit: Lathi's Kitchen.

Kerala Sardine Curry is spicy, bold, and not afraid to get real. If you’re stuck cycling through the same three fish recipes, this one knocks you out of that loop. Rich in flavor and totally unforgettable—some fish recipes just do more.
Get the Recipe: Kerala Sardine Curry