Broiled Fish

The best things in life really can be the simplest. Our broiled fish recipe is a wonderful dish for a busy day, as the total preparation and cooking time is about 20 minutes. It’s customizable for multiple varieties of fish, including red snapper, catfish and trout, and the seasonings are ingredients you probably already have at home. Lemon juice helps keep the fish odor to a minimum as well, so even if you aren’t a big fan of fish in general, you may want to learn how to broil fish and give this recipe a try. Enjoy!

Ingredients for Broiled Fish

Ruthie Darling for Taste of Home

• Fish fillets: The textures of orange roughy, red snapper, catfish and trout fillets hold up well when broiled.
• Butter: Melted butter helps the seasonings adhere to the fish. It’s also one of the ingredients in the flavorful sauce added near the end of the broiling time.
• All-purpose flour: The flour helps make the outside of the fish a little crispy when broiled.
• Paprika: Paprika adds a splash of color and provides a hint of smoky or sweet flavor. The flavor depends on the variety of paprika you use.
• Lemon juice: Fresh-squeezed lemon juice helps reduce odors on fish, plus the citric acid in the juice makes the fish more tender. The lemon gives a citrusy note to the lemon butter sauce added at the end of the broiling time.
• Parsley: Fresh parsley adds a pop of color and a fresh taste to the lemon butter sauce.
• Worcestershire sauce: Worcestershire sauce adds loads of umami to the lemon butter sauce, as well as savory and salty notes.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the fillets

Ruthie Darling for Taste of Home

Place the fish on a broiler rack that’s been coated with cooking spray. Drizzle 3 tablespoons of the melted butter over the fillets, then dust them with flour and sprinkle them with paprika.

Step 2: Broil the fish

Ruthie Darling for Taste of Home

Broil the fillets 5 to 6 inches from the heat for five minutes or until the fish just begins to brown.

Step 3: Add the sauce

Ruthie Darling for Taste of Home

In a small bowl, combine the lemon juice, parsley, Worcestershire sauce and the remaining 3 tablespoons of melted butter, then pour the liquid over the fish. Broil the fillets for five minutes longer or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.

Ruthie Darling for Taste of Home

Broiled Fish Variations

• Marinate the fish: Make a marinade with Italian dressing and your choice of spices such as garlic, pepper and curry powder, then marinate the fish for 10 to 15 minutes. For reference, this broiled cod recipe has an Italian dressing-based marinade.
• Make lime butter: Instead of the lemon butter sauce, make a lime butter with 4 tablespoons lime juice, 2 tablespoons melted butter and 1/2 teaspoon each of garlic and pepper. Brush the fish with the butter before broiling, as in this lime broiled catfish.
• Go Cajun: Make a Creole seasoning to sprinkle over the fish for a little Cajun flavor. Mix garlic powder, salt, paprika, onion powder, oregano, thyme, cayenne pepper and black pepper for a tasty blend.

How to Store Broiled Fish

When the broiled fish cools, transfer it to an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator, where it will keep for three to four days. The airtight container helps keep the fish fresh and prevents fishy odors in the fridge.

Can you freeze broiled fish?

Broiled fish recipes freeze well once the fish cools after cooking. Transfer it to a zippered freezer bag, remove excess air before sealing the bag, then write the date on the bag. Use the fish within two months. Thaw it in the refrigerator the night before you plan to heat it up again.

Broiled Fish Tips

Ruthie Darling for Taste of Home

Can I make this with shrimp instead?

Sure! Skip the butter, flour and paprika phase, and instead coat the shrimp with the sauce added halfway through this recipe. Place the shrimp in a single layer on a baking sheet, and broil them 4 to 6 inches from the heat until they’re pink, six to eight minutes, turning them once during the broiling time.

How can I tell when the fish is ready?

The fish is done broiling when a thermometer placed in the center of it reads 145°F. At this point, the fillet should also flake easily with a fork.

What other types of fish can I broil?

Other fish that taste great broiled include salmon, halibut and Pacific black cod. Tilapia and mahimahi are both mild and suitable for broiling as well. Tuna is another option to broil fish that’s high in protein and firm enough for broiling.