Do you love to grill, but worry about grilling seafood? Learn how to grill fish, get grilling tips and tricks, and find out what the best type of grilling is for the fish you’re cooking.
Whenever I share a grilled fish recipe, I can feel some of you shrinking away from the recipe on your phone screens.
Why? You probably already know.
Fish can be delicate. Fish can be expensive. Fish can stick to the grill, or fall apart and meet a tragic end in the red-hot coals.
And so, I’m here today to help you learn how to grill fish without fear!
We’ll review the main ways that you can cook fish on the grill, which type of fish works best for each technique, and (of course) check out some recipe ideas.
How to Grill Fish Directly on the Grill
Cooking directly on the grill gives the fish gorgeous char markings, and requires almost no special equipment (other than the grill).
Best for:
- Fatty or oily fish (like sockeye salmon or king salmon)
- Sturdy fish (like ahi tuna or swordfish)
- Large sides of fish or whole fish
- Fish steaks or collars
Tips:
- Preheat the grill
- Clean the grill grates and brush with oil
- Let the fish come to room temperature before cooking
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- Grilled Swordfish with Tangy Rosé Wine Mayonnaise – from Platings + Pairings
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- Grilled Chili Lime Salmon with Pineapple
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- Basil Pesto Grilled Swordfish
How to Grill Fish in a Fish Grilling Basket
Grilling fish in a fish grilling basket (or a fish grill) is the perfect way to protect delicate or expensive fillets from sticking to the grill or falling through the grill grate. Just like with grilling directly on the grill, fish baskets create charred markings on the fish.
Best for:
- Delicate fish (like tilapia and flounder)
- Lean fish (like halibut and cod)
- Expensive fish (like king salmon)
- Small fish that could fall through the grill grate
Tips:
- Preheat the grilling basket before adding the fish
- Buy a fish basket with an insulated handle, or use a heat-proof glove
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- Grilled King Salmon with Plum Sauce
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- Grilled Spicy Fish Tacos
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- Grilled Mackerel Fillets with Green Goddess Dressing – Recipes from a Pantry
How to Grill Fish in Foil Packets
Grilling fish inside foil packets is a simple way to protect your fish, achieve an evenly cooked fish, and seal in moisture. This method achieves a smoky flavor, but does not give the fish charred grill markings.
Best for: Any fish!
Tips:
- Set a timer when you’re cooking. Since you can’t see the fish, it’s harder to know when it’s finished by sight.
- Use a high-quality foil. Some budget-friendly foils are very thin, and may not hold up on the grill.
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- Honey Glazed Salmon – from The Last Food Blog
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- Grilled Foil Packet Tilapia with Pesto Veggies – from The Lean Green Bean
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- Grilled Salmon with Soy + Ginger Sauce – from Cookin Canuk
How to Grill Fish on a Cedar Plank
Grilling fish on a cedar plank is a perfect way to add a smoky, cedar flavor to your fish. It also provides a barrier between your fish and the grill, preventing the fish from sticking to the grill. Buying cedar planks can get pricey, so this method is best reserved for high-quality, large pieces of fish.
Best for: Any, but especially sides of salmon
Tips: Soak cedar wood for 2 hours before adding the fish and grilling
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- Maple Chipotle Cedar Plank Salmon – from Vindulge
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- Cedar Plank Salmon with Lime + Sriracha Glaze – from Killing Thyme
How to Grill Shellfish Directly on the Grill
Shellfish that are still in the shell have a natural protection from the heat of the grill. Add shell-on shellfish directly to the grill for an easy, low maintenance grilling technique.
Best for: Any shell-on shellfish that is large enough to set on the grill without falling through the grate.
Tips:
- Mollusks (like clams, oysters, and mussels) typically pop open when heated. Remove the shellfish from the heat when it opens, and take care not to spill the juices.
- Crustaceans (like lobster, crab, and crawfish) are sometimes split open before grilling. Brush any exposed fish with butter or oil to prevent sticking.
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- Grilled Bourbon Lobster Tails
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- Grilled Oysters with Habanero Butter – from Platings + Pairings
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- Grilled King Crab Salad with Creamy Avocado
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How to Grill Fish + Shellfish on Skewers
Grilling fish and shellfish on skewers is an easy way to grill small pieces of fish or small shellfish. The skewer allows you to flip the seafood easily and quickly.
Best for:
- Small shellfish with soft or partial shells (like shrimp)
- Shellfish with the shell removed (like shell-off sea scallops)
- Thick fish cut into cubes for kabobs
Tips:
- Wooden skewers should be soaked for 30 minutes prior to grilling
- Metal skewers will become very hot. Use ones with insulated handles, or use a heat-proof glove.
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- Grilled Cajun Shrimp + Grits – from Striped Spatula
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- Bourbon Grilled Scallops
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- Grilled Shrimp Scampi – from Striped Spatula
How to Grill Fish on a Cast Iron Skillet
Another fantastic grilling option is to use a cast iron skillet directly on the grill. This allows you to mimic stovetop cooking but achieve a delicious, smoky flavor.
Best for:
- Any fish!
- Allows mollusks to cook through and open without losing any juice
Tips:
- Preheat the pan on the grill before adding fish to achieve a seared, caramelized fish
- Use a heat-proof glove or pot holder when moving the pan
Check out these ideas for grilling with cast iron:
- Cast Iron Roasted Clams from Epicurious
- Shrimp on the Griddle from Saveur
- Grilling with a Cast Iron Pan from Bon Appetit
Want more SEAFOOD ADVICE? Check these out:
Omg GUILTY. I usually just leave it to my husband but what great tips! You’re inspired me to take the grilling reins for our next fish dinner!
Wow! What a thorough and useful post! I never knew there were so many ways to grill fish before. My husband is a big fan of making cedar planked salmon, but I’ve never even thought to use a cast iron skillet. Now I’m thawing out fish for dinner.
Really, really great tips. I absolutely love grilling fish, because of the wonderful smoke flavor that is infused into the fish. but you are right, I’m intimidated by flaking falling-into-the coals disasters. This helps a lot, and the recipes are to die for. Time to fire up the grill!! Thanks for the inspiration.
I rarely grill fish… I wouldn’t say I’m afraid to, but it does seem like there are different rules to follow. Will have to try some of these recipes so I can get more confident with grilling seafood!
You are right, grilling fish can be intimidating. I absolutely love fish and seafood so I truly appreciate the detailed post explaining the best methods and techniques for cooking it o the grill. Great information for sure!
What a great guide for fish…. I printed it out and put it on the fridge becasue were going camping/fishing next month for our summer vacation. Im going to use all of those grilling tips!
Oh I’m so happy that it’s helpful for you!! Have a wonderful camping trip!
WELP, I’m hungry. Great collection of recipes, and wonderful tips! An odd but interesting tip that I’ve seen mentioned a few times but have yet to try myself involves rubbing the grill with raw potato. Not sure why it’s supposed to help keep fish from sticking, but apparently it works well. Very glad you covered so much here (including shellfish) – it’s a great resource to have!
That is an odd trick! Maybe it puts some starch on the grill and protects the fish. I’ll have to try it!
This is an amazing article! So much wealth of information! For example, I did not know that you need to preheat the wire fish basket but it makes sense. Also, I didn’t know that you could even grill mollusks directly on the grill. I am definitely saving this to refer all throughout the summer!
Yeah…you’re talking to me. Not much intimidates me when it comes to cooking, but fish on the grill sure does. You breaking down the types of fish best suited to each method is extremely helpful.
We grill lots of fish. In fact, we eat fish several times a week and Hubby is a fisherman. You have lots of good information for those who aren’t familiar with cooking or grilling seafood. We love trying new varieties too.
Grilled fish is absolutely the best! This post was so thorough and helpful and I’m totally bookmarking it as a reference for grilling this summer! Thank you!
I haven’t actually tried grilling fish yet. However, now that it’s almost summer, I’m looking forward to firing up the grill and throwing some fish on it so this post is super helpful. I’ll also have to try your recipe for grilling scallops too!
This is such a helpful guide!! I love cooking (and eating) fish but I am always too much of a wuss to do it on the grill. I foresee a lot more fish at our summer cook outs 🙂