Christmas dinner is the perfect time to bring elegance and fresh flavor to your table—especially with fish.
From rich, buttery baked fillets to vibrant seafood stews, fish dishes offer a delicious alternative to traditional holiday meals.
Here are 15 Christmas dinner fish recipes complete with descriptions, ingredient lists, and step-by-step instructions.
1. Herb-Butter Baked Salmon
A tender, flaky salmon fillet baked with garlic herb butter. Simple, elegant, and perfect for a holiday feast.
Ingredients
- 1 large salmon fillet
- 4 tbsp butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- 1 tbsp chopped dill
- Salt & pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F).
- Place salmon on a baking tray lined with foil.
- Mix melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, parsley, dill, salt, and pepper.
- Pour over salmon.
- Bake 18–20 minutes until flaky.
2. Crispy Fried Tilapia Fillets
Golden, crispy tilapia seasoned to perfection—an easy but crowd-pleasing Christmas entrée.
Ingredients
- 4 tilapia fillets
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt & pepper
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- Mix flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Coat each fillet in the seasoned flour.
- Heat oil in a pan and fry 3–4 minutes per side.
- Drain and serve hot with lemon wedges.
3. Creamy Tuscan Cod
Delicate cod simmered in a creamy sauce with spinach, tomatoes, and garlic—rich and festive.
Ingredients
- 4 cod fillets
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- Salt & pepper
Instructions
- Sear cod in butter until lightly golden; remove.
- Add garlic and tomatoes; cook 2 minutes.
- Pour in cream and simmer.
- Add spinach and return cod to pan.
- Cook 5 minutes until sauce thickens.
4. Grilled Lemon Garlic Snapper
A bright, zesty snapper recipe perfect for Christmas dinners in warm climates.
Ingredients
- 2 whole red snappers, cleaned
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 lemons (one sliced, one juiced)
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- Salt, pepper, thyme
Instructions
- Rub fish with oil, garlic, lemon juice, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Stuff cavity with lemon slices.
- Grill 6–8 minutes per side.
5. Maple-Glazed Salmon
Sweet and savory salmon with a caramelized maple glaze—holiday perfection.
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Mix syrup, soy sauce, and mustard.
- Marinate salmon 15 minutes.
- Bake at 200°C (400°F) for 15–17 minutes.
6. Baked Tilapia in Creamy Coconut Sauce
A soft and tropical-inspired dish perfect for Christmas dinners with a twist.
Ingredients
- 4 tilapia fillets
- 1 can coconut milk
- 1 onion, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic
- Chili flakes
- Salt & pepper
Instructions
- Lay fillets in a baking dish.
- Sauté onions and garlic; pour in coconut milk.
- Season and pour over fish.
- Bake 20 minutes at 180°C (350°F).
7. Mediterranean Baked Sea Bass
Light, vibrant and full of herbs—ideal for a refreshing Christmas entrée.
Ingredients
- 2 sea bass fillets
- 1 tomato, sliced
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Oregano, salt, pepper
Instructions
- Place fish on a baking tray.
- Layer tomatoes and lemon on top.
- Season and drizzle oil.
- Bake 18 minutes at 190°C (375°F).
8. Garlic Butter Shrimp & Fish Skillet
A rich mix of shrimp and white fish cooked in garlic butter—festive and bold.
Ingredients
- 2 cups shrimp
- 4 white fish fillets
- 4 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic
- Parsley, salt, pepper
Instructions
- Melt butter; sauté garlic.
- Add fish and shrimp.
- Cook until fish flakes and shrimp turn pink.
- Garnish with parsley.
9. Spicy Pepper Fish Stew
A warm and comforting stew filled with peppers, tomatoes, and seasoned fish.
Ingredients
- 4 fish fillets (tilapia/cod)
- 2 bell peppers
- 1 can crushed tomatoes
- 1 onion
- Chili pepper
- 2 tbsp oil
- Seasonings
Instructions
- Sauté onions and peppers.
- Add tomatoes and spices.
- Add fish and simmer 12–15 minutes.
10. Pesto-Crusted Salmon
A festive green pesto crust makes this salmon a holiday showstopper.
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Spread pesto over salmon.
- Top with breadcrumbs.
- Bake 15 minutes at 200°C (400°F).
11. Creamy Garlic Butter Haddock
Tender haddock in a silky garlic butter sauce—simple elegance.
Ingredients
- 4 haddock fillets
- 3 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup cream
- Salt & pepper
Instructions
- Sear haddock in butter.
- Add garlic and cream.
- Simmer until thick.
12. Oven-Roasted Mackerel with Herbs
A bold, flavorful Christmas option with rosemary and thyme.
Ingredients
- 2 whole mackerels
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Rosemary & thyme
- Lemon
Instructions
- Rub fish with oil, herbs, and garlic.
- Roast 20 minutes at 200°C (400°F).
13. Fish Pie with Mashed Potato Topping
A British-inspired creamy fish pie that’s hearty enough for Christmas dinner.
Ingredients
- 500g mixed fish (salmon, cod, haddock)
- 2 cups milk
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp flour
- 1 cup peas
- Mashed potatoes
Instructions
- Make a white sauce with butter, flour, and milk.
- Add fish and peas.
- Pour into a baking dish.
- Top with mashed potatoes.
- Bake 25 minutes at 190°C (375°F).
14. Pan-Seared Sea Bream with Lemon Capers
Bright and savory, this pan-seared fish is restaurant-quality.
Ingredients
- 2 sea bream fillets
- 3 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp capers
- Lemon juice
Instructions
- Sear fish skin-side down until crisp.
- Remove, add butter and capers to pan.
- Pour sauce over the fish.
15. Holiday Seafood Paella
A colorful, flavorful rice dish packed with fish, shrimp, and holiday flair.
Ingredients
- 2 cups rice
- 4 cups broth
- 1 cup shrimp
- 2 fish fillets
- 1 onion
- 1 red pepper
- Saffron or turmeric
- Olive oil
Instructions
- Sauté onions and peppers.
- Add rice and saffron.
- Pour broth and simmer.
- Add shrimp and fish.
- Cook until rice is tender.