Grilled Red Snapper Recipe

This delicious grilled red snapper recipe has a cajun seasoning crust bursting with flavor.

Grilling snapper is the best way to cook it, as it results in tender, moist fish that flakes apart. It's also incredibly easy—you'll have dinner ready in just a few minutes! 

You can grill red snapper on a gas grill (like I did), charcoal grill, or in a grill pan.

Jump to:

• What Does Red Snapper Taste Like?
• Ingredients
• How to Make this Recipe
• Tips for Making this Recipe
• Storage
• What to Serve with Snapper
• More Fantastic Fish Recipes
• Grilled Red Snapper

If you're looking for an easy recipe to add to your meal plans, this one is a must. It's one of my favorite fish recipes, and I think you'll love it too! The whole family (kids included) will like this easy recipe.

If you're making this recipe for kids, please note that the seasoning blend is a bit spicy. Either omit or reduce the cayenne if your kids don't like spicy food.

Whole snapper fish can also be grilled, but I think it's easier to serve the fillets. The whole fish usually weighs between 2 and 5 pounds, when filleted, a snapper will serve 2 to 4 people.

What Does Red Snapper Taste Like?

Red snapper is a mild, rosy-colored, popular white fish with a firm texture and sweet flavor.

It's a great fish for people who don't like fishy tasting fish, like kids and people who enjoy milder fish. It's similar to other white fish with its sweet, slightly nutty flavor.

Ingredients

Red Snapper Fillets - You'll need 2 red snapper fillets. They should have the skin on (this will help them stay together on the grill) and be 5 to 6 ounces each.

Olive Oil - You'll coat the fillets in 1 ½ tablespoons of olive oil. You don't need to use extra-virgin olive oil for this, use the cheaper stuff!

Seasonings - You'll make a cajun seasoning blend for this recipe. You'll use 1 teaspoon of paprika, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of kosher salt, ½ teaspoon of cayenne, ½ teaspoon of onion powder, ½ teaspoon of dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon of dried thyme, and ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper.

Optional Toppings - You can serve the fish with lime or lemon slices and chopped fresh parsley.

See the recipe card for more details.

How to Make this Recipe

Heat the Grill - Bring a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Clean the grill grates as the fish will go directly on them.

Make the Spice Mixture - Mix the paprika, garlic powder, salt, cayenne, onion powder, oregano, thyme, and black pepper together in a small bowl. 

Prepare the Fish - If your snapper is frozen, allow it to defrost and come to room temperature. Blot off any excess water with some paper towels. Brush fish with olive oil.  Sprinkle the spice mixture across the fleshy side of the fish fillets. 

Grill the Fish - Place the fillets, skin side down, on the grill. Close or cover the grill. Grill for 6 to 8 minutes or until the fish begins releasing some moisture, flip the fillets and grill for 2 minutes or until the fish is flaky. If the fish is cooking too quickly reduce your grill to medium heat.

You can use an instant-read thermometer to test the internal temperature of the fish. It's done when it reaches 140 degrees F.

Serve - Serve the grilled fish immediately. Remove the skin and serve it with an optional sprinkle of chopped fresh herbs and a squeeze of either lemon juice or lime juice.

Tips for Making this Recipe

Cooking Tips: Watch the fish closely while it's on the grill. If it seems like it's cooking too quickly, reduce the heat to medium.

Cleaning Your Grill: To ensure the fish doesn't stick to the grill grates, make sure you clean your grill thoroughly and then rub some vegetable oil or other neutral oil onto the grates with some tongs and a piece of paper towel.

Storage

You can store any leftover fish in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or toaster oven for the best texture.

What to Serve with Snapper

This fish is so flavorful that one or two simple side dishes are all you need for a full meal. Here's what I like to serve with grilled snapper.

• Grilled Asparagus Recipe - this easy asparagus recipe is ready in a few minutes.
• Grilled Yellow Squash Recipe - a simple summer squash side dish you can make alongside the fish.
• Roasted Purple Potatoes - gorgeous purple potatoes, roasted till tender.
• Roasted Broccolini - simple roasted broccolini that's an easy, fresh side dish.
• The Best Green Salad Recipe - a butter lettuce salad with panko and parm.

More Fantastic Fish Recipes

Want more fish fillet recipes? Try some of these delicious fish and seafood recipes.

• Blackened Tilapia - this simple recipe for lightly spicy tilapia is ready in minutes.
• Crispy Baked Haddock - the parmesan cheese and bread crumbs in the crust of this recipe are irresistible!  
• Thai Fish Curry - creamy fish curry with loads of vegetables.
• Poached Sea Bass Recipe - sea bass with tomatoes and olives in a white wine sauce.

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