Fire up the Grill for These 15 Smokin' Seafood Recipes

Shrimp skewers, fish tacos, and more—these grilled seafood recipes belong in your summer repertoire.

By Robin Shreeves
Published July 03, 2025
20190618-grilled-paella-vicky-wasik-14
Vicky Wasik

Grilling season brings fresh energy to the perennial question, "What am I going to make for dinner tonight?" Sure, it's the season of burgers, hot dogs, and grilled chicken, but not every cookout needs to fall back on these meaty mains. If you need some grilling inspiration, look to the sea. Many tried-and-true grilling techniques work well with fish or shellfish; below, you'll find 15 grilled seafood recipes, such as tuna steaks and blackened fish, that you'll want to make all summer.

Love any of these recipes? Tap "Save" to add them to MyRecipes, your new, free recipe box for Serious Eats.

  • Grilled Blackened Fish Sandwiches

    Grilled blackened-fish sandwich on a plate with potato chips, creamy coleslaw, and a pickle spear

    Serious Eats / Julia Hartbeck

    This Florida Gulf Coast–inspired sandwich features grilled blackened fish seasoned with a paprika-based spice mix for smokiness and a hint of heat. With minimal toppings—lettuce, tomato, and a creamy sauce—this sandwich lets the charred flavors of either grouper or mahimahi shine.

  • Grilled Shrimp with Garlic and Lemon

    Grilled shrimp garnished with herbs next to lemon wedges on a plate

    Serious Eats/ Melati Citrawireja

    We keep this baking soda-treatment method in our back pocket, and you should, too. Soaking shrimp in baking soda and threading them onto skewers keeps them plump and juicy and browns them more evenly. Once they're off the grill, toss with garlic, oil, lemon, and parsley for a boost of flavor that beats any marinade.

  • Grilled Tilapia Tacos

    201010930-tilapia-fish-tacos.jpg
    Joshua Bousel

    Brushed with oil and seasoned with ancho chile powder, this grilled tilapia is fresh and light, and soaks up the flavors of its toppings. Here, chipotle crema, shredded cabbage, onion, and salsa fresca add pops of brightness and crunch.

  • Steamed Buns With Grilled Shrimp and Sriracha Mayonnaise

    20150625-food-lab-grilled-shrimp-18.jpg
    J. Kenji López-Alt

    Prepare the shrimp with the same baking soda-treated, skewered method used on the garlic lemon shrimp above. Once the shrimp is grilled, stuff it into soft, pillowy buns and top with pickled cucumbers, shredded cabbage, and a homemade sriracha mayo for the ultimate handheld snack.

    Continue to 5 of 15 below

  • Grilled Tuna Steaks

    20190620-grilled-tuna-steak-vicky-wasik-11
    Vicky Wasik

    Start with thick tuna steaks to ensure there's a thick enough center to leave rare. Pat dry and lightly oil the cuts, so the tuna doesn't stick to the grates, before quickly grilling over very high heat. The colors will rapidly change from raw purple to crusty brown and beige, but don't cook it past medium rare for the best texture.

  • Grilled Swordfish Steaks

    20190620-grilled-swordfish-steak-vicky-wasik-6
    Vicky Wasik

    If you want to sink your teeth into a meaty piece of fish, swordfish is the ideal choice. Pat it dry, oil, and season it, then grill it like you would a steak with a good sear on either side and cook until just done in the center.

  • Grilled Paella Mixta (Mixed Paella With Chicken and Seafood)

    20190618-grilled-paella-vicky-wasik-14
    Vicky Wasik

    To impress your dinner guests, whip up this grilled paella mixta with chicken, pork, chorizo, clams, mussels, and shrimp. While it may appear time-consuming, we offer straightforward tips for adding ingredients to the paella pan in the most appropriate order.

  • Grilled Oysters

    20160801-grilled-oysters-19.jpg
    J. Kenji López-Alt

    For those who prefer cooked over raw oysters, this recipe will have you reaching for your shucking knife and firing up the grill. While shucking can be a bit laborious, grilling the oysters with a punchy, herby compound butter only takes two minutes.

    Continue to 9 of 15 below

  • Grilled Lobster With Lemon-Shallot Butter

    20130704-258272-grilled-lobster.jpg
    Joshua Bousel

    When it comes to grilling lobsters, a bit of prep yields high buttery rewards. First, steam lobsters in a stockpot before splitting them in half, removing their claws, and brushing them with a lemon-shallot butter. After, grill the halves and then the claws. Finally, grab your lobster bib and chow down on sweet, tender meat dripping with more seasoned butter.

  • Planked Whitefish With Cilantro-Lime Butter

    20110416-147663-planked-whitefish-with-cilantro-lime-butter.jpg

    Any mild, flaky white fish works here, so ask your fishmonger for whatever's freshest that day. The fish becomes a blank slate that absorbs the cilantro-lime butter, the aroma of the cedar plank, and all of the seasonings. Thankfully, this meal grills up in just 20 minutes.

  • Grilled Salmon Steak Medallions

    20140724-salmon-steaks-vicky-wasik-31 (1).jpg
    Vicky Wasik

    Salmon can occasionally grill unevenly, but creating salmon medallions ensures an even cook. Debone the salmon steaks and roll up the sides into a tight coil so that the medallions cook evenly. Once they're grilled, brush the medallions with teriyaki sauce and garnish with thinly sliced scallions and a squeeze of lemon.

  • Red Curry-Rubbed Grilled Halibut With Curry Vinaigrette

    20160518-red-curry-marinated-halibut-vinaigrette-easy-summer-recipe-07.jpg
    J. Kenji López-Alt

    If you crave bold and spicy flavors on the grill, this grilled halibut checks all the boxes. Here, we blitz red curry paste, chiles, garlic, shallot, and more seasonings in a food processor for a wet marinade. Any leftover sauce can be spooned over the finished grilled fish to dial up the heat.

    Continue to 13 of 15 below

  • Simple Grilled Halibut

    20120626-212333-grilled-halibut.jpg
    Joshua Bousel

    This simple grilled halibut pairs beautifully with grilled summer vegetables or a salad. Just before grilling, brush with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, allowing the flavor of the fish to shine.

  • Blackened Catfish With Creole Sauce

    20130221-241800-blackened-catfish.jpg
    Joshua Bousel

    Two components pack this grilled catfish with bold flavors: a paprika-based seasoning mix that uses nine of the spices on your spice rack and a spicy Creole sauce that you can prepare in advance. Season the fish with the dry seasoning, grill until charred, and top with the sauce for a centerpiece-worthy dish.

  • Grilled Whole Fish With Molho à Campanha (Brazilian Pico de Gallo)

    20170621-mohlo-a-campanha-salsa-grilled-fish-vinegar-vicky-wasik-8.jpg
    Vicky Wasik

    Molho à campanha is pico de gallo's more vinegary cousin, with the addition of bell peppers. It's a zingy, chunky topping for whole grilled fish such as branzino, mackerel, or trout. Reserve any extra molho à campanha for steak or chicken on another night.

Explore more:

More Serious Eats Recipes