Do you love fried fish but don’t want a mess on your stove, then this blackened snapper on the grill recipe is for you!
For those who enjoy cooking fried foods, grilled blackened snapper is a great alternative. Not only is it easier to handle, but it also prevents your house from smelling like fried fish the next day. Try out this recipe for blackened snapper on the grill, which involves coating red snapper filets in blackening seasoning and cooking them hot and fast in a cast-iron skillet.
Get your grill and the skillet good and hot before the fish goes on. Watch for burning and adjust your grilling temperature as needed. Have a reliable instant-read thermometer on hand, so you can pull this fish off the heat as soon as it is cooked.
What Does Red Snapper Taste Like?
Red snapper is a firm, mild-flavored fish. The flavor is often described as slightly nutty and pleasantly sweet. This versatile fish is typically cooked whole on the grilled, or fried.
Ingredients for blackened snapper
- Red snapper fillets
- Butter
- Olive oil
- Lemons
- Paprika
- Coarse salt and finely ground black pepper
- Granulated onion, sub with onion powder
- Dried Herbs: thyme, basil, and oregano
- Granulated garlic, sub with garlic powder
- Cayenne
- 12″ cast-iron skillet
How to cook blackened snapper on the grill:
- Rinse snapper fillets with cold water—blot dry with paper towels. Cut each fillet in half.
- Preheat your grill to 400 degrees or high heat. Once it comes up to temperature, place the cast-iron skillet on the grill.
- Combine seasonings and spread it out onto a large plate. Dredge fillets into blackening spices on both sides and set on a clean plate or cutting board.
- Add olive oil and butter to the heated skillet and wait for it to smoke a bit.
- Carefully place seasoned snapper into the pan, flesh side down, and cook for 4-5 minutes side, depending on thickness. Use a large spatula to turn the fish onto the skin side. Gently press down on the fish with your spatula for even searing. Cook for another 3-4 minutes.
- Adjust the heat of the grill if needed.
- Once the internal temperature of the fish reaches 145 degrees F, they are done.
Serving and Stovetop
- Remove the blackened snapper from the pan and place them onto a wire rack with a sheet pan underneath. Let them stand for 5-7 minutes before serving.
- Serve fish with lemon wedges and your favorite sides.
- STOVETOP METHOD: Cook on your stovetop over medium-high heat. Follow the steps above for seasoning the fish and cooking times.
Best side dishes
Blacked Snapper on the Grill
Ingredients
- 2 red snapper fillets
- 1 12 inch cast iron skillet
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 lemon quartered
- For seasoning:
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne (use less if preferred)
Instructions
- Rinse fish with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Remove as much moisture as possible. Cut each fillet in half.
- Preheat grill for high heat. Once it comes up to temp place the cast-iron skillet on the grill.
- Combine seasonings and spread out on to a large plate. Dredge fillets into blackening spices; season both sides and set onto a clean dry plate or cutting board.
- Add olive oil and butter to heated skillet and wait for it to smoke a bit. Carefully place seasoned fish into pan and cook for 4-5 minutes side, depending on thickness. Be very careful turning the fillets as fish can be quite delicate and prone to breaking. Adjust heat if needed.
- One internal temperature of fillets reach 145 degrees F., remove fish from pan and place onto a wire rack over a baking sheet. Serve with lemon wedges and your favorite sides.
- Store leftover snapper in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 days. Rewarm in a skillet on your stovetop to retain the crispy crust.
Nutrition
Images by: bhofack2 and Michelle Minnar
