30 Snapper Recipes (+ Easy Fish Dinners)

These snapper recipes are loaded with flavor and are perfect for picky eaters.

Better yet, they’re lightning-fast to make!

30 Easy Snapper Recipes

Snapper is not your classic fishy-tasting fish. Instead, it’s slightly sweet and nutty, making it very versatile. 

You can throw it in fish tacos, deep fry it, or broil it with plenty of herbs and butter.

So if you want to spice up dinner and keep everyone happy, check out some of these exciting snapper recipes!

1. Baked Red Snapper 

This baked snapper recipe is super simple, flaky, and delicious.

Snapper has a wonderfully light flavor all on its own. The lemon and salt help amplify those flavors. 

Pair it with steamed veggies or over a bed of rice for a healthy and flavorful meal.

2. Lemon Red Snapper with Herb Butter

Red snapper has a delicious nutty flavor profile, which pairs well with the fresh herbs in this dish.

It only takes just over 20 minutes to pull it together, and it’s packed with flavor. 

What makes this dish sing is the addition of fresh herbs.

3. Cajun-Style Blackened Snapper

If you’re reluctant to add fish to the weekly meal rotation, this Cajun-style snapper is an excellent way to mask any fishy flavors.

Strong seasoning like cayenne pepper, paprika, and dried spices coat every inch of the fish.

It’s cooked at a high temperature for a blackened finish. It’s a little spicy but perfect for a healthy dinner with a boatload of flavor!

4. Pan-Seared Red Snapper

Is this pan-seared snapper healthy? Not really. Is it delicious? Absolutely! 

Pan-searing your snapper in butter gives it a perfectly golden and crunch crust that makes it flaky and delicious.

Be sure only to sear each side on medium-high heat to ensure that your fish doesn’t become overly dry. 

Infuse your buttery sauce with lemon juice and capers for an added kick of flavor, and serve up over rice or with veggies. 

5. Grilled Lemon Garlic Red Snapper

This grilled snapper recipe is a great healthy meal that comes together in under 30 minutes.

To save on time, roast your fish and veggies all on one pan in the oven for a quick and satisfying meal. 

The seasoning on this recipe is super simple, and you likely have all of these staples right in your cupboards.

Season your fish (and veggies) with salt, pepper, lemon, paprika, and oil. Bake it until it’s golden brown and delicious! 

6. Cajun Yellowtail Snapper with Mango Avocado Chutney

The potent flavors in the mango avocado chutney completely mask any fishy taste in this dish.

The ample seasoning on the fish paired with the impossibly light chutney is perfect for a hot summer day. 

The finished product is so bright and vibrant that it demands plenty of photos for your Insta!

7. Roasted Red Snapper Italian Style

Who says that fish can’t be filling? The hearty Italian seasoning in this roasted red snapper dish is fragrant and flavorful.

That said, it’s one of my favorite recipes with Herbs de Provence, which is typically seen in French cuisine.

Needless to say, it’s complex, bright, and impossible to resist.

8. Oven-Baked Whole Yellowtail Snapper

This dish looks like something from a 5-star restaurant, but it’s super simple to make at home.

Cooking a whole fish may seem intimidating, but it’s a great way to impress guests with your killer culinary skills. 

Baking a whole fish in the oven takes about 30 minutes. The fish is crispy on the outside and warm and flaking on the inside.

Roast your fish over a bed of hearty veggies, and dinner is ready in under an hour. 

9. Pan-Fried Yellowtail Snapper

Few can resist the call of fried fish. This pan-fried fish recipe is flaky and delicious and comes together in just under 20 minutes. 

This recipe uses almond flour instead of wheat flour for an extra punch of flavor.

Season your fish with garlic, salt, pepper, and garnish with lemon juice and fresh herbs. 

10. Caribbean Grilled Snapper with Garlic Aioli

Snapper is known for its light, delicate flavor, but this dish is anything but boring!

If you want to infuse a lot of flavor into your dinner, this recipe is worth checking out. 

Marinate your fish in garlic, lime, and habanero pepper to infuse your fish with massive flavor.

The habanero pepper makes this dish spicy, but the addition of garlic-lime aioli helps tame the heat. 

11. Blacked Seared Yellowtail Snapper With Sauteed Vegetables

This blacked-seared yellowtail snapper is a seriously healthy and satisfying dinner.

The fish is coated with a special blackened seasoning and cooked in olive oil and garlic for only a few minutes. 

To keep the nutrition high (and calories low), serve your blackened fish over a bed of sauteed hearty veggies like pepper, zucchini, and carrots.

It’s simple, satisfying, and kind to your waistline. 

12. Crispy Skinned Florida Yellowtail Snapper

I love this recipe because it’s incredibly unique. This recipe is worth checking out if you’re tired of grilled fish!

What makes this recipe stand out from the pack is the addition of a sweet and sour tangelo cascabel syrup.

It sounds complicated, but it’s super simple. It’s a mixture of tangelo oranges fused with sweet molasses, spicy cascabel chiles, and other spices. 

Place the lentils and snapper on a plate, then dress them with the amazingly delicious sweet and sour sauce. 

13. Snapper Fish Tacos

These fish tacos are perfect for cooking newbies. Don’t worry if the fish starts to fall apart on the grill!

Once cooking is complete, you need to break them down into smaller pieces for your tacos. 

These fish tacos add a punch of protein from the snapper with added heat from jalapeno peppers. Top your tacos with salsa, avocado, lettuce, or cilantro. 

14. Mangrove Snapper Chowder

This soup is thick and hearty and perfect for a cold winter day. If you need a soup that’s both nutritious and filling, look no further!

This soup earns its hearty gold star from bacon, potatoes, and mangrove snapper.

If you can’t find mangrove snapper, any snapper will work in this dish. 

Top with paprika and fresh rosemary for an extra punch of flavor, and save the grilled cheese for another day. You won’t need it. 

15. Red Snapper en Papillote

Cooking fish inside paper is a great way to ensure that you never dry out your fillet. The result is a perfectly cooked and tender snapper. 

Place all of your ingredients inside a parchment paper pocket and layer with your fillet and seasoning.

It only takes about 25 minutes to create a perfectly cooked dinner pocket. 

The best part? There are no dishes to wash. Plate up your feast and throw away the parchment paper. 

16. Foil-Wrapped Oven-Baked Red Snapper

This snapper recipe is a great way to entertain a lot of guests. Cooking a whole fish might seem intimidating, but it’s super easy.

If you can wrap a potato in foil, you can make this dish. 

Before you wrap your fish, fill the belly with lemongrass, garlic, ginger, scallions, and white wine.

While the foil-wrapped snapper cooks, it infuses the meat with those yummy seasonings.

It only takes about 20 minutes, and it’s a perfect foolproof dish for your next party.  

17. Fire-Roasted Snapper Wrapped in Green Corn Husks

Cooking snapper in corn husks is a clever way to infuse flavor into your fish while keeping it moist. Thanks, Bobby Flay! 

This recipe infuses massive flavor by charring your ingredients on the grill.

Wrapping your fillets in corn husks is a little finicky but worth the extra effort. 

Once your fish is flaky and perfect, serve with Bobby’s corn, milk, and jalapeno pesto sauce. 

18. Red Snapper Open-Faced Sandwiches

This open-faced sandwich uses pan-friend snapper with a flavorful sauce that gives tartar a run for its money!

The snapper is breaded and seared in a pan of olive oil until it’s golden brown. 

Serve your simple fillets on a piece of crusty bread, and top with a creamy Greek yogurt sauce.

The star of this sandwich is the sauce that infuses lemon, garlic, parsley, and cumin. You’ll never go back to tartar sauce again. 

19. Blackened Red Snapper with Fresh Salsa

The fresh salsa in this dish makes the snapper shine. The salsa includes fresh Roma tomatoes, jalapenos, olives, cilantro, and line juice.

It’s salty and spicy with just a hint of acidity from the lime juice. 

Serve your blackened snapper (that only takes a few minutes on the stove) over a bed of pasta or rice. Top it with a generous portion of homemade salsa. 

20. Spaghetti with Snapper, Oregano, Olives, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

This Italian-inspired recipe is sure to scratch your pasta itch. Simmer the snapper in white wine and spices until golden brown and tender. 

Chop your fish into smaller pieces, and toss it in cooked spaghetti and sauce.

Garnish it with basil and serve with a fresh salad for a super simple and satisfying dinner. 

21. Snapper Piccata

This recipe is gluten-free, paleo, and keto-friendly. It’s the perfect meal when you want something that’s actually filling and low in calories. 

Brown the fish in olive oil for a few minutes, and then remove from the pan. Add stock of choice, capers, lemon juice, and white wine.

Be sure to get all of those delicious brown bits in the bottom of the pan for massive flavor. 

Pour over your golden fillets and serve with steamed veggies for a filling yet healthy dinner!

22. Fried Red Snapper Bites

Even picky eaters have a hard time resisting these fried red snapper bites.

They’re cut into small pieces, deep-fried to golden perfection, and served with a New Orleans remoulade. 

The key to perfectly crunchy snapper is Creole seasoning and heavy cream and then dredged in crushed saltines.

The New Orleans remoulade is like an elevated tartar sauce.

This remoulade includes horseradish, garlic, Worcestershire, Creole seasoning, and parsley. Don’t worry, there are pickles in there, too!

23. Dominican Fried Red Snapper

This Dominican fried fish is the perfect option when you need to feed many people.

It’s perfectly seasoned with punchy flavors that infuse into every bite. 

The key to this dish is to leave the fish to marinate in the flavorful spice rub overnight.

The next day, pop your fish in the oven and let those spices work their magic. 

Once finished, the outside is deliciously golden and crispy, while the insides are tender and flaky. 

24. Crispy Fried Red Snapper Fish Sticks

These aren’t your ordinary fish sticks. They’re perfect for an indulgent dinner or as a snack or appetizer at your next party.

This recipe is worth checking out if you have picky eaters who only want their fish in stick form!

Serve these fish sticks with homemade tartar sauce, or pop them in a wrap. 

25. Mediterranean-Style Red Snapper

Nothing beats this Mediterranean-style red snapper entree if you want something more on the healthy side.

The snapper fillets are coated with potent Mediterranean seasoning and pan-fried to perfection. 

Serve your fish over sauteed peppers and tomatoes and garnish it with chives and olives. 

It’s simple, super healthy, and packed with flavor. 

26. Jamaican Steamed Fish

Are you looking to spice up dinner? This Jamaican steamed fish recipe packs a spicy punch without the need for excess fat and oil.

It’s insanely flavorful and healthy enough to make grabbing a second plate guilt-free. 

The snapper is seasoned generously with ginger, garlic, and thyme and left to marinate in the fridge overnight.

Simmer the hearty root vegetables in a pan with fish stock until almost cooked, and place the fish on top. 

Serve it over a bed of rice.

27. Broiled Red Snapper with Ginger Lime Butter

This broiled red snapper recipe whips together in a flash, making it great for a hectic weeknight. 

The lightly seasoned snapper cooks in a pan until lightly browned and flakes easily with a fork.

This snapper jumps off the plate with flavor with a generous portion of ginger-lime butter. 

If you want to keep things simple (or you don’t have a lot of ingredients on hand), this is a great recipe. 

28. Red Snapper Cakes with Avocado Tomatillo Sauce

Step aside, crab cakes. This take on a classic New England crab cake has the same subtle flavors and uses a special sauce. 

The ingredients for the avocado tomatillo sauce hang out under the broiler until charred for maximum flavor.

Add your charred ingredients into a blender with avocado and cilantro and pulse them until smooth. 

While the red snapper cakes taste very similar to crab cakes, the sauce adds a unique flavor to spice up your next meal. 

29. Snapper Ceviche

Are you feeling a little bold? Ceviche is a way of cooking fish without adding any heat.

This snapper ceviche brings bold flavors without the need for a stove. It’s light and refreshing, so it’s perfect for summer. 

Marinate your small pieces of snapper, onion, tomato, and seasoning in an even layer in a casserole dish with lime juice.

Refrigerate it for an hour, stir, and repeat this process. 

Leave your ceviche to sit overnight until the fish turns opaque. Serve it with warm tortillas or over a fresh salad. 

30. Snapper in Dark Ale Butter

This deep-fried snapper recipe is a must for your next tailgate or party. It’s rich and indulgent and is in no way considered a diet food! 

Coat your snapper in a rich batter infused with dark ale. While light ale works, it won’t infuse the snapper with the same deep flavors as dark ale. 

The snapper is deep-fried for around 5-6 minutes until it reaches a deep golden brown. It goes great with your favorite tartar sauce.