21 Fresh, Fast From The Sea Spring Dinners

Fish dinners often get overlooked because they seem boring or hard to get right. But seafood can be simple to cook and still taste great without a lot of effort. These recipes focus on fresh ingredients, quick cooking times, and meals that feel right for spring. They skip the heavy sauces and complicated prep and still manage to be full of flavor. Each one is easy enough for a weeknight too.

Blackened Cod

Cod doesn’t have to be bland or boring. A quick spice rub and a hot skillet take this one from basic to bold in under 15 minutes. It’s a great spring dinner when you’re short on time but still want something that tastes like a real meal. Serve it with a fresh salad or roasted veggies and you’re done.
Get the Recipe: Blackened Cod

Sheet Pan Turmeric Salmon

Turmeric gives this salmon a punch of color and a subtle kick, while the broccoli roasts alongside to keep things simple. The cherry sauce adds just enough flair to make it feel like more than a rushed weeknight dinner. It’s the kind of no-mess meal that feels right for spring when you want light but still interesting.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Turmeric Salmon

Baked Wild Sockeye Salmon

This salmon goes in the oven with citrus, garlic, herbs and capers and comes out bright, tender and ready to eat. It takes barely any prep, which is exactly what makes it a great spring dinner. Serve it with rice, potatoes or just a pile of greens and it holds its own.
Get the Recipe: Baked Wild Sockeye Salmon

Baked Sablefish

A honey lime glaze keeps this sablefish flavorful without a ton of work, and the jalapeño corn salsa brings in some heat and crunch. This is a good one when you’re tired of everything else in your fridge and want something that actually feels fresh. Great for a Friday night dinner that doesn’t feel like a compromise.
Get the Recipe: Baked Sablefish

Cod Piccata

This version skips the chicken and lets cod take the lead with a lemony, briny sauce that comes together quickly in one pan. It’s simple, light and fast but still tastes like something you planned ahead. It’s a solid pick when you want seafood that doesn’t taste like it was an afterthought.
Get the Recipe: Cod Piccata

Pesto Salmon

This recipe only needs five ingredients and comes together in about 20 minutes. The pesto keeps things flavorful and the salmon cooks perfectly in the oven. It’s one of those meals you keep in your back pocket for busy spring nights when you want something good without much thinking.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Salmon

Dijon Almond Crusted Tilapia

Tilapia gets a crispy almond crust and pan-fries in just a few minutes. It’s fast, crunchy and full of flavor without feeling heavy. This one is great when you want seafood that doesn’t take a lot of energy but still tastes worth repeating.
Get the Recipe: Dijon Almond Crusted Tilapia

Air Fryer Salmon Bites

These salmon bites are quick to prep and cook in the air fryer, which keeps things easy and mess-free. The soy dipping sauce made from the marinade adds an extra layer of flavor. It’s a great recipe to keep around when you want something small, fast and still put-together.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Salmon Bites

Maple Mustard Air Fryer Frozen Salmon

Frozen salmon goes straight into the air fryer, no thawing needed. The maple mustard glaze brings the flavor without extra work. Perfect for a last-minute spring dinner when the fridge is empty but you still want to eat something decent.
Get the Recipe: Maple Mustard Air Fryer Frozen Salmon

Blackened Mahi Mahi

This mahi mahi gets a homemade spice rub and cooks fast under the broiler. It’s flavorful without being heavy and great for a quick spring meal that doesn’t feel like leftovers. Serve it with whatever’s in the fridge and dinner’s done.
Get the Recipe: Blackened Mahi Mahi

Lemon Garlic Salmon

Lemon and garlic keep this salmon simple and bright, which is exactly what you want in spring. It comes together quickly and works well with rice, pasta or vegetables. This one’s hard to mess up and easy to put on repeat.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Garlic Salmon

Old Fashioned Salmon Patties

These salmon patties come together fast and have that crispy outside and soft inside that just works. Great for a quick weeknight dinner that’s filling and easy to dress up with a side salad or roasted potatoes. They’re the kind of recipe you’ll keep coming back to.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Salmon Patties

Greek Shrimp Skillet

This shrimp skillet comes together in 30 minutes and brings in bold flavor without much effort. Tomatoes, spinach, olives and feta cook down into a sauce that tastes bright and fresh, and the oregano and lemon give it that classic Greek flavor.
Get the Recipe: Greek Shrimp Skillet

Pasta with Swordfish

Swordfish gives this pasta real substance, while tomatoes, eggplant, herbs and lemon bring in all the bright Mediterranean flavors. It comes together in under an hour but tastes like it took longer. This one definitely earns a spot in your spring dinner rotation.
Get the Recipe: Pasta with Swordfish

Cream Herring with Dill Pickles

Pickled herring gets tossed with sour cream, crisp dill pickles, apples and fresh dill for a salty, tangy, crunchy mix that’s anything but basic. Eat it with potatoes or bread and it’s a complete meal. If you’ve never had it, now’s a great time to start.
Get the Recipe: Cream Herring with Dill Pickles

Poke Sushi Bowls

All the flavor of sushi without any rolling. These bowls are fresh, customizable and quick to throw together. They’re a great pick for spring when you want something chilled, light and still full of flavor.
Get the Recipe: Poke Sushi Bowls

One-Pan Spanish Fish Stew

Cod simmers in a tomato-based sauce with herbs and spices for a quick stew that feels rich but still light. You only need one pan and a loaf of bread to make this a full dinner. It’s a practical, no-fuss spring meal that tastes way better than it has any right to.
Get the Recipe: One-Pan Spanish Fish Stew

Air Fryer Fish Tacos

Crispy fish, simple toppings and soft tortillas make these tacos feel like a win every time. The air fryer makes it easy to keep things crisp without much cleanup. This is a great dinner to pull together when you want something fast but still crave actual flavor.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Fish Tacos

Mahi Mahi

This mahi mahi cooks fast and gets coated in a lemon garlic butter sauce that brings it all together. The fish is flaky and tender without being dry, which makes it a perfect seafood dinner that doesn’t need anything fancy.
Get the Recipe: Mahi Mahi

Lemon Butter Fish

A quick lemon butter sauce keeps this white fish flavorful and moist. It’s done in about 20 minutes and goes great with simple sides like rice or vegetables. If you need a no-stress dinner that still tastes fresh, this one gets the job done.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Butter Fish

Sweet & Spicy Mango Shrimp

Mango and a little heat come together in this shrimp recipe that’s quick, bold and just different enough to make it worth repeating. It cooks in about 20 minutes and works well over rice, noodles or even in a taco.
Get the Recipe: Sweet & Spicy Mango Shrimp