Roasted Yellowtail Snapper with Old Bay

Why We Love This Recipe

• This is the easiest way to cook fish fillets in the oven!
• Whether it's yellowtail or hogfish, your taste buds will surely thank you for this one-pan wonder! Fresh fish is a treat.
• You'll have a super healthy meal with 2 minutes of prep and ten brief minutes of roasting time. Steam some veggies on the side or enjoy with a big salad.

What You Need

• Yellowtail Snapper is available all over Florida. Wild-caught thin fillets of your favorite fish will work well too.
• Unsalted butter
• Salt and pepper, just a bit.
• Seafood Seasoning. I used Old Bay seasoning to make this fish. It is available in all U.S. grocery stores. I also like Southernmost Blend from Key West Spice Co. You can pick them both up at Publix and Winn Dixie throughout Florida.
• Lemons
• Fresh parsley, either flat leaf or curly.

What Can I Substitute for Yellowtail?

You can substitute any thin white fish fillet for Yellowtail in this recipe. Hogfish, Mutton Snapper, Mango Snapper, Red Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, or wild-caught Catfish would be great.

If you have a thick fillet like Atlantic Tripletail, Swordfish, Grouper, or Mahi Mahi, roast it for 15-20 minutes. The fish is done when it flakes easily with a fork.

If you're outside Florida, look for wild-caught flounder, sole, or cod.

How to Thaw Frozen Fish

1. If your fish is frozen, place it in the refrigerator to thaw. This process typically takes no more than an hour. Note that yellowtail, being very thin, may thaw even more quickly.
2. You can place the fish in a colander in the sink and run cold water over it until it softens. Be careful not to rip or break the fillets when defrosting them this way, especially if you're doing it more aggressively.

How to Roast Yellowtail

Roasting yellowtail in the oven is a simple process.

• Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) with the oven rack set in the lower half of the oven.
• Spray a 13 x 9-inch pan with cooking spray or brush with oil. I use a Pyrex glass pan.
• Rinse fish and pat dry with paper towels.

Storage and Reheating

Store leftover roasted yellowtail in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

To reheat, warm it in a skillet over medium-low heat with a little butter for 2-3 minutes.

Or you can microwave it in 30-second intervals on medium power, covering with a damp paper towel to prevent drying out.

What is Old Bay?

Do you love seafood? If you've ever experienced a mild, spicy seasoning with herbs and hints of citrus that add new flavors to your meals, you were probably tasting Old Bay Seasoning.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Old Bay was the brainchild of Gustav Brunn, a German immigrant who was a spice merchant in Germany before continuing his trade in the U.S. after World War II.

He developed a spice blend specifically for Baltimore's wholesale seafood businesses, giving birth to Old Bay. This delicious blend of spices has been delighting diners since 1939 and continues to be one of the most popular seasonings for fish, shrimp, crab cakes, and chicken wings.

What Goes with Roasted Yellowtail Snapper?

Roasted or baked yellowtail would go well with any vegetable or salad.

You can roast the snapper and serve it over a Caesar Salad. You can also serve it with a side of Chickpea Feta Salad.

For hot sides, try these:

• Lemon Asparagus Rice
• Authentic Spanish Rice
• Crispy Oven Roasted Broccoli with Garlic
• Oven Roasted Cauliflower
• Steamed Broccoli and Carrots
• Steamed Brussels Sprouts
• Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots
• Roasted Asparagus

What Other Fish is Native to the Florida Keys?

Snapper is caught off the coast of the Florida Keys and Miami and is a wild-caught fish with flaky, mild, and sweet flesh. Try this recipe with tripletail, red snapper, mahi mahi (dolphin), mutton snapper, grunts, snook, or hogfish. Each of these fish has a delicate texture and works well with roasting, frying, or grilling

• Tripletail
• Dolphin, or Mahi Mahi
• Mutton Snapper
• Mangrove Snapper
• Swordfish
• Blackfin Red Snapper
• Grouper
• Hogfish
• Snook

Learn More about Yellowtail Fishing in the Keys

There's a great video from Into The Blue, that shows you how to catch yellowtail in the Keys.

Additionally, there's night fishing available from Robbie's of Islamorada. The five-hour trip runs from 5:30 to 12:30, and bait, tackle, and rods are included. Check it out, it looks like fun!

Summary

With a few simple steps, you can make this delicious and healthy snapper recipe at home.

This fresh yellowtail is seasoned with Old Bay seasoning. It's dotted with cubes of butter and baked in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the size of the fish fillets. Pull the pan out of the oven. and dinner is served! It's so easy and so good!

On busy weeknights, I love cooking thin white fillets of fish with Old Bay seasoning-usually yellowtail, but sometimes we have hogfish or Tripletail. All thin white fish fillets can be used following this recipe.

Roasted Yellowtail is a low-calorie and low-carb fish recipe that takes five minutes of prep work and 10 to 15 minutes in the oven.

If you prefer frying, check out Air Fryer Snapper with Cauliflower or Crispy Fried Yellowtail with Panko Breadcrumbs.

To view all our snapper recipes, visit The Best Snapper Recipes in The Keys.