This Oven Baked Red Snapper recipe makes an easy weeknight meal that is ready in 20 minutes. This healthy recipe is full of flavor, made with baked whole snapper fillets and a buttery garlic crumb topping.
I love this baked red snapper. It is one of the most delicious fish recipes and is one of my favorite seafood recipes to make for my family. It's the perfect main dish and is simple to make yet elegant enough to impress guests.
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❤️ Why I Love This Recipe
✔️ Oven Baked Red Snapper is an easy recipe to make for dinner that is ready in just 20 minutes!
✔️ Red snapper is a lean meat low in calories and fat and high in protein with essential omega-3 fatty acids.
✔️ It is a fresh fish recipe that the entire family loves!
Reader Reviews
"Fabulous recipe. I’ve used this for red snapper and cod. It is my new favorite recipe for baked fish fillets."
Excellent!! I am sooo happy with the flavor of this dish. It turned out better than I expected. I recently told my friend about it and she raved about it also. I am making it again tomorrow for my parents. The only substitute I made was using panko instead of bread crumbs.
I finally feel confident making fish for guests. Thank you ❤️
🥘 Ingredients
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Red Snapper Fillets, it is best to choose skin on fillets. The flesh should be moist and reflective.
Butter, I like to use salted butter for this recipe.
Minced Garlic
Worcestershire sauce
Cajun Seasoning, I use this brand.
Fresh Parsley & Chives, herbs used to enhance the flavor of the dish.
Breadcrumbs, I use these seasoned breadcrumbs.
Parmesan Cheese, fresh cheese to grate yourself is best.
Lemon
🔪 Instructions
Make the sauce
- Preheat the oven to 400° F. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter until bubbly. Combine garlic, Worcestershire sauce, Creole seasoning, pepper, parsley, and chives, with the butter sauce.
- Cook the sauce low heat for 2 minutes to blend flavors.
Prep the fish
- Place the red snapper fillets in a baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
- Brush both sides of fish fillets with the butter and herb mixture.
- Add the breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese to the remaining butter mixture; sprinkle over the fillets.
Bake the fish
- Bake for 12 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 137, the fish flakes easily and is no longer translucent. Garnish with lemon slices.
🙋 Recipe FAQ's
Red snapper is a mild flavored fish with a meaty firm texture. It is delicious grilled, baked, broiled, blackened or fried. It is one of the most popular of white fish and is found in the Gulf of Mexico and Indonesia. It is often sold whole or in fillets.
Red snapper is ready when its internal temperature registers 137 degrees.
Fish cooks quickly and because there is a topping on this fish recipe, it will not dry out and does not require it to be covered.
🍽 Equipment
⏲️ Baking Time
This delicious fish recipe can be ready and on the table in 20 minutes. Bake time is 400 degrees for 12 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily and is no longer translucent. Depending on the thickness of the fish, baking time could be more or less.
💭 Tips
- Reduce the cooking time for thinner fillets. Begin checking the internal temperature after 7 minutes.
- Make your own bread crumbs by processing bread into fine crumbs using a food processor. The bread can be dried out in the oven on a baking sheet at 350 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
- For an easier clean up, the baked red snapper fillets can be placed on top of foil or parchment paper in a baking dish or baking sheet.
📖 Variations
- Substitute the cajun seasoning for smoked paprika and garlic powder for the fresh garlic.
- Substitute fresh rosemary or thyme for the parsley.
- Use seasoned or plain panko crumbs in place of breadcrumbs.
- Use lime juice instead of lemon for garnish.
Serving Suggestions
This oven baked red snapper recipe with garlic topping goes great with a glass of dry white wine or a buttery chardonnay!
Serve with a side dish of cauliflower fried rice or garlic roasted artichokes.
Related Recipes
Skillet Cod with Cilantro Lime Butter
Cod Fish Tacos with Spicy Mango Salsa
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When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Baked Red Snapper Recipe with Garlic Topping
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces red snapper fillets about 2-3 fillets
- 4 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 clove garlic , minced
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon Cajun Seasoning
- ⅛ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 4 teaspoon dried breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoon fresh parsley , minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh chives optional , snipped (optional)
- 2 teaspoon Parmesan Cheese , freshly grated (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400° F.
- In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter until bubbly. Combine garlic, Worcestershire sauce, Creole seasoning, pepper, and parsley with the butter sauce. Cook the sauce low heat for 2 minutes to blend flavors.
- Place the red snapper fillets in a baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
- Brush both sides of fish fillets with the butter and herb mixture.
- Add the breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese (if using) to the remaining butter mixture; sprinkle over the fillets.
- Bake for 12 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 137°, the fish should flake easily and is no longer translucent. Garnish with chives (if using) and lemon slices (if using).
Beth
Loved this dish. I substituted Old Bay for Cajun and the family loved it.
Shelby Law Ruttan
Thanks Beth! What a great substitution, I will have to try it myself! Thank you for sharing. Shelby
Sarah
This is my go to recipe for red snapper and has worked just as well with trout! I get so many compliments when I make this that my husband is getting tired of me servicing it EVERY time we have guests but it’s just such a sure hit!! Love an easy recipe that’s super impressive. Excited to try other recipes of yours
Francine
I made this recipe twice already, and my husband and I loved it. I didn't use the parmesan cheese because I didn't have any on hand. And, instead of the Cajun seasoning I used Thai Chili sauce. I mixed it right in with the butter mixture. I brushed it on the front and back of the fish, let it set in the fridge covered for 45 mins and then cooked it at the recommended time. It was fantastic, so moist and flaky. Thank you for the recipe.
Sandy
This recipe is a keeper. I did bake it about 20 min total as my snapper pieces were thick. Great flavor. I served it with Jasmine rice and California blend vegetables.
Malcolm Butler
Absolutely my favorite Gulf red snapper recipie of all time. Thank you for putting it out there and thank your friend for sharing it with you. WOW!!!
Shelby Law Ruttan
Hi Malcom, thank you so much for taking the time to come back, comment and rate the recipe. It is greatly appreciated! Shelby
Jaxredhd
Fabulous recipe. I’ve used this for red snapper and cod. It is my new favorite recipe for baked fish fillets.
Shelby Law Ruttan
Thank you for returning to rate the recipe, so happy you found a new favorite! Shelby
Melissa Lee
Excellent!! I am sooo happy with the flavor of this dish. It turned out better than I expected. I recently told my friend about it and she raved about it also. I am making it again tomorrow for my parents. The only substitute I made was using panko instead of bread crumbs.
I finally feel confident making fish for guests. Thank you ❤️
Shelby Law Ruttan
Hi Melissa, thank you so much for coming back to review the recipe. I'm so happy it turned out for you and your friend! Thank you again and I hope you try more recipes from my site! Shelby
Star
Amazing! Restaurant quality! My new snapper go-to recipe! I rarely leave reviews because most online recipes are mediocre at best, but lady you deserve a culinary reward for this, lol!
Shelby Law Ruttan
Hi Star, so happy you enjoyed the recipe and gave it a review! Thank you!Shelby
Carol
Thank you for posting such a lovely recipe! I am eating it right now and I'm very impressed. Since I'm a Keto person I switched the breadcrumbs for the equivalent in almond flour and I used a bit more garlic than you did, because I love it. I served it with mashed cauliflower and green peas and a spinach salad. Such a simple recipe but so delicious!
Shelby Law Ruttan
Hi Carol, thanks for letting me know! So happy you enjoyed the recipe <3 Shelby
Nick
Fairly simple, relatively quick and darn tasty.
Shelby Law Ruttan
Thanks Nick!
Lisa
This was a restaurant- quality dinner! We loved it! I increased the garlic to two cloves, used about 1/8 cup of chopped green onions, omitted the parsley (just because I didn’t have any on hand), doubled the Parmesan cheese and used Lemon Dill seasoning instead of Cajun. I will definitely make this fish dish again. It was superb!
Shelby Law Ruttan
Hi Lisa! Thank you for letting me know! Shelby
cheryl Shulock
I made the garlic and bread crumb red snapper for dinner the other night....I had 1 1/2 pound so I made 3x the recipe...maybe next time not quite so much butter but it was delicious!!! We had leftovers COLD for lunch the next day!!! Great recipe! Thanks for sharing
Shelby Law Ruttan
That's great! Thank you for sharing!