This simple baked red snapper dish is absolutely delicious, really quick + easy to whip up, and can be enjoyed with so many different sides!
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This recipe is…
Baked Red Snapper
Red snapper is delicious, y’all! If you’ve never had it, it’s somewhere between firm and flaky and lean and fatty. Because it has such an excellent flavor on all its own, it requires just a really simple seasoning, and like most fish, the cooking process is really quick and easy!
How do I select my red snapper?
Great question! I typically find red snapper thawed at the fish counter of my local grocery store. I usually ask the person working the fish counter if the snapper is fresh and line-caught. I’ve also found that THIS website (they also have an app for easier access) is really helpful for finding the most sustainable fish available.
Ingredients for Red Snapper Recipe
In addition to the red snapper itself, you’ll just need a few really simple ingredients (many of which you probably already have) to pull this yummy dish off. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Red Snapper – to start, you’ll need 1 pound of red snapper filets.
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil – before it goes into the oven, we’ll use 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil to rub over the fish.
- Lemon Juice – to add some brightness to the fish, you’ll need 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice (the juice from about half of a lemon).
- Garlic – 3 cloves of grated garlic go a long way in deepening the flavor here.
- Sea Salt + Black Pepper – as mentioned above, this delicious fish requires really simple seasoning. You’ll need a ½ teaspoon of fine sea salt and a ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper.
- Lemon – 1 lemon’s worth of wedges will bake alongside the snapper.
How to Make Oven Baked Red Snapper
Seafood tends to really intimidate people, but it’s actually very easy to cook! For this recipe, you’ll essentially just season the fish and throw it in the oven. Here’s the step-by-step breakdown:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Season the red snapper – place the snapper filets in a baking dish or on a rimmed baking sheet, and rub on both sides with the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Bake – place the lemon wedges in the baking dish around the snapper, then transfer to the oven to bake for 20 minutes, until the snapper easily flakes with a fork.
- Serve and enjoy – let cool slightly, then squeeze the baked lemons over the snapper, serve, and enjoy!
Tips for Best Baked Red Snapper Recipes
This recipe is really easy, and we have full confidence that you will knock it out of the park, but if you’re looking for a few tips to help guide you, you can find those below:
- Cook your fish within 3 days of buying it.
- Swap the lemon juice (1-for-1) for any vinegar (balsamic would be delicious) or another strong citrus (think: lime or grapefruit).
- Instead of olive oil, use ghee or melted butter for a richer flavor.
- This method also lends itself to a bunch of spices. Use as much as a teaspoon of your favorite spice blend over each filet for a blackened-style fish.
What to Serve Red Snapper With
Red snapper is really delicious next to any starchy side that you like. We also love serving this recipe up with a side of veggies. Our very favorite picks are:
Baked Red Snapper FAQ
Great question! I typically find red snapper thawed at the fish counter of my local grocery store. I usually ask the person working the fish counter if the snapper is fresh and line-caught. I’ve also found that THIS website (they also have an app for easier access) is really helpful for finding the most sustainable fish available.
Red snapper is done when its internal temperature reaches 137°F. It’s actually safe to enjoy with an internal temperature of anything 125°F or higher, though, so if you prefer your fish a little bit less done, that’s totally fine too. Don’t worry too much about checking the temperature of your fish, though – if you’re following the directions and baking the fish at 375°F for 20 minutes, it’ll be good to go!
We bake red snapper at 375°F, and this yields a slightly flaky, perfectly cooked end product.
We think so! Do note that if you are new to the world of seafood and are skeptical about slightly “fishier” tasting fish (or you just prefer all of the nutritional benefits of fish without the taste of it), you may want to lean on a fish like tilapia (this oven-baked tilapia is super delicious and easy) before you jump to red snapper. It’s absolutely delicious (and actually one of my very favorites), but it does have a slightly stronger flavor than something like tilapia does.
Yes! As long as it’s been descaled (this is something that the person at your fish counter will do, so don’t worry about that), the skin is safe to eat, and actually, really delicious!
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More Favorite Seafood Recipes
Incredible Baked Red Snapper Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound snapper filets
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 cloves garlic grated
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 lemon cut into wedges
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F.
- Place the snapper filets in a baking dish or on a rimmed baking sheet, then rub on both sides with the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Place the lemons around the snapper, then transfer to the oven to bake for 20 minutes, until the snapper easily flakes with a fork.
- Let cool slightly, then squeeze the baked lemons over the snapper and serve!
Recipe Notes
- You can change the flavors here by using butter or ghee in place of the olive oil, a different citrus in place of the lemons, or adding any spice blend you enjoy!
Nutrition
great recipe i will be trying it tonight
Yay! So excited for you to try it!
simple and good, but use fresh
Great tip, Matthew!
Should I bake snapper skin up or down?
skin down
Was looking for a simple recipe to cook up a quick meal of some red snapper I needed to cook in the fridge. Found this. I used butter rather than oil. Added some left-over parsley and achieved my goal. Nice, quick fish meal. Very happy!!!
Yay! We are so happy you enjoyed it, Robert!
This Fish turned out great. Thank you for the tip
Yay! We are so happy you loved it, Anthony!
Oh my gosh!!!
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Thank you SO much for the comment, Erin. We are definitely taking this seriously!