Check out our top snapper recipes: baked, fried, seared, roasted, and broiled. From baked to fried, seared to roasted, and broiled, the versatility of snapper allows for endless possibilities for easy lunches and dinners.
Being in Monroe County, Florida, better known as the Florida Keys, renowned for its fresh seafood, we have access to an array of snappers, including the succulent Yellowtail Snapper, flavorful Red Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, Lane Snapper, and more, each offering its own unique taste and texture. It's truly a seafood lover's paradise!
All of these recipes showcase fresh, wild-caught fish. We're dedicated to supporting local fisheries and using locally sourced ingredients, as nothing compares to the taste of fresh seafood.
Jump to:
- What is a Snapper?
- Where to Get Fresh Snappers in Florida
- Where to Buy Fresh Fish in Florida
- How To Pick Fresh Fish at the Market
- How to Store Fresh Fish
- How to Defrost Snapper
- How to Prepare Snapper
- What is a Yellowtail?
- How Big Is A Yellowtail Snapper?
- Easy Snapper Recipes For Dinner
- Roasted Snapper with Old Bay Seasoning
- Pan Fried Snapper with Panko Breadcrumbs
- Crispy Fried Snapper with Almond Flour Coating
- Broiled Snapper Recipe
- Blackened Fish Tacos with Cilantro Lime Sauce
- Oven Baked Snapper with Key Lime Butter Sauce
- Fish Piccata with Capers and Lemon
- Mashed Potatoes and Snapper
- Pan Seared Mangrove Snapper
- More Recipes From Cooking in The Keys
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Snapper?
A snapper is a fish known for its firm white flesh and mild, sweet flavor. Snapper is prized for its delicious taste and texture. Its firm yet delicate flesh has a mild and sweet flavor. Whether grilled, baked, or pan-seared, snapper is a versatile fish and a favorite among seafood lovers.
Belonging to the family Lutjanidae, snappers encompass a wide range of species, each with its unique characteristics. They typically inhabit tropical and subtropical waters, residing near coral reefs, rocky outcrops, and other structures where they can find food and shelter. Snappers are carnivorous predators, feeding on a diet of smaller fish, crustaceans, and other marine organisms.
Where to Get Fresh Snappers in Florida
Snapper fishing can be done year-round, and the practice is sustainable. There's a minimum size requirement of 12 inches, to protect juvenile fish. If you catch one smaller than the limit, it's best to release it so it can grow and contribute to healthy populations. If caught taking small fish, you can also be fined.
Captain Chris Parthemore of Chris' Clear Water Charters in Tavernier, a few miles south of Key is a popular charter in the upper Keys. With Captain Chris at the helm, you're in for the fishing trip of a lifetime. If fishing isn't your thing, you can also charter a boat and head to the sandbar in Islamorada for a relaxing day on the water.
Where to Buy Fresh Fish in Florida
For the freshest catch in Florida, skip the grocery chains and head to local fish markets and seafood restaurants. Places like Milam's Market in Miami offer a great selection of fish, always fresh and enticing. While Whole Foods Market sometimes has local fish, it's not always guaranteed.
Most big grocery chains import fish from Central and South America, so if you're looking for locally sourced options, it's best to explore other avenues.
Key Largo Fisheries and Keys Fisheries in Marathon are excellent choices for fresh seafood, as is First Class Seafood in Cudjoe Key. Another popular fish market is Eaton Street Seafood Market in Key West.
Don't forget about seafood restaurants like The Fish House in Key Largo, which often have fish counters selling a variety of locally caught favorites such as yellowtail, mahi mahi, grouper, tripletail, yellowfin tuna, Key West pink shrimp, stone crabs, and spiny lobster.
You can find a comprehensive listing of Florida Seafood Markets from the Florida Department of Agriculture.
How To Pick Fresh Fish at the Market
When selecting fresh fish, look for clear, shiny eyes, glossy skin, and firm flesh. Steer clear of fish with dull eyes or strong odors; give it a sniff up close—it should have a clean, mild scent, not fishy or ammonia-like.
If you require the fish to be scaled and cleaned, don't hesitate to ask the fishmonger for assistance. They should be more than willing to help.
How to Store Fresh Fish
- Refrigeration: When you bring the fish home, store it in the refrigerator. Place the fish in a shallow dish or on a plate, cover it loosely with plastic wrap, and place it in the coldest part of the fridge, usually the bottom shelf in the back.
- Use Ice Packs: Place the fish in a cooler with ice to keep it cold for traveling home from fishing or shopping.
- Freezing: If you're not planning to use the fish within two days, freeze it. Pat the fish dry with paper towels. Wrap each piece tightly in plastic wrap. Place them in a freezer bag and label the package with the date. Use it within a month or two. Use a vacuum sealer for best results.
TOP TIP: if you bring home fresh snapper fillets, eat them within a day for best results. You can follow one of our easy fish recipes. Snappers are easy to cook and taste so good! Otherwise, pat it dry and freeze it.
How to Defrost Snapper
- Refrigeration Method: Remove the snapper from the freezer and place it on a plate in the refrigerator. Allow it to defrost for 1 to 6 hours, depending on the size and thickness of the fish. Remember to wrap each fillet separately to prevent them from freezing together.
- Cold Water Method: For quicker defrosting, you can submerge smaller pieces of fish in a bowl of cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes to keep it cold. This method usually takes between 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the size and thickness of the fish.
- Avoid Hot Water or Microwave: While it may be tempting to speed up the defrosting process with hot water or the microwave, these methods can damage the texture and flavor of the fish.
As per the guidelines of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the most secure method for thawing frozen fish is to unwrap it from its original packaging and place it in the refrigerator overnight (ensuring the temperature remains below 38 degrees F).
How to Prepare Snapper
Preparing snapper fillets is easy. If the fish is already cleaned and filleted, remove any remaining bones. Run your fingers along the center of the fillet to locate and remove the row of bones using a small knife.
Rinse the fillets under cold water and pat them dry before cooking.
What is a Yellowtail?
Known for their vibrant yellow tail and a distinct yellow line along their body, Yellowtail Snappers are the most popular snapper species in the Keys.
We have a lot of them. Sometimes, they show up at the door unannounced!
How Big Is A Yellowtail Snapper?
Yellowtail snappers can reach sizes of up to 5 pounds and lengths of 30 inches, but the ones commonly seen on the docks typically measure anywhere from 15 to 20 inches long.
Captain Chris describes this yellowtail as a "beast," which is a flag, measuring over 24 inches in length!
Easy Snapper Recipes For Dinner
The following recipes are easy to make, and I'm sure you'll love them. Make a beautiful dinner tonight!
Roasted Snapper with Old Bay Seasoning
Roasted Yellowtail with Old Bay Seasoning is a classic dish that's simple to prepare and bursting with flavor.
This roasted yellowtail is seasoned with Old Bay, dotted with butter, and baked in a hot oven. Pair with Lemon Asparagus Rice for an easy weeknight meal.
Old Bay is a staple in every fish market in the USA. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Old Bay is a blend of spices including paprika, celery seed, and garlic. You can pick it up where you buy fish.
Pan Fried Snapper with Panko Breadcrumbs
Ready to take your dinner game to the next level? Pan-fried snapper with panko breadcrumbs is a crispy fried fish recipe that turns your snapper into an extraordinary meal. Coat it in crunchy panko and fry it until crispy. Serve with tartar sauce and sliced pickles for a perfect pairing.
Crispy Fried Snapper with Almond Flour Coating
Try almond-flour-crusted snapper. Pan fried yellowtail with almond flour is a delicious gluten-free fish dish that showcases the delicate fish coated in a crispy and flavorful nutty almond flour crust.
Broiled Snapper Recipe
Broiling fish is one of the best methods for cooking thin snapper fillets. Season them with blackened seasoning, then place them under the broiler. There's no need to turn them while cooking. Serve with a squeeze of lemon and fresh herbs to add a touch of color and brightness.
Blackened Fish Tacos with Cilantro Lime Sauce
What could be better than an easy fish taco recipe? Try our blackened snapper tacos featuring flaky white fish nestled in soft tortillas. The tacos are complemented by a zesty cilantro lime topping.
Oven Baked Snapper with Key Lime Butter Sauce
This blackened snapper recipe brings the sunshine state straight to your plate in just 20 minutes. Dressed in a tangy key lime butter sauce, it's perfect for quick weeknight meals bursting with flavor.
Fish Piccata with Capers and Lemon
Any type of snapper would pair wonderfully with this Fish Piccata recipe. This classic Italian dish showcases snapper with a tangy and vibrant lemon-caper sauce. Whether you're using Red Snapper, Yellowtail Snapper, Gray Snapper, or any other variety, the fish's mild flavor will beautifully absorb the delicious flavors of the sauce.
Mashed Potatoes and Snapper
Snapper and mashed potatoes make for a creamy, satisfying easy fish dinner. Talk about comfort food! This seared snapper fish meal is perfect for a casual weeknight dinner.
Pan Seared Mangrove Snapper
This snapper dinner is great. It's made with mangrove snapper, another local fish from the Keys. The fish is paired with a mango cole slaw and can be made into tacos or enjoyed on a boat with a glass of wine while watching the sun set over Black Water Sound in Key Largo.
Yes, the snappers are interchangeable, whether you have yellowtail, red snapper, or mutton snapper; they all cook the same way.
There are big and small fish, so use the timing in your recipe as a guide. The fish is cooked through when you see it flake when speared with a fork. If it feels tight, let it cook for another few minutes.
Cook what you catch, and if you're at the fish market, the fresher, the better.
Our snapper recipes are also interchangeable with some other species of Florida Keys fish, such as hogfish, tripletail, mahi-mahi, and grouper.
Just keep in mind that the thickness of the fish will vary. Mahi is thicker than yellowtail, and grouper is bigger than mahi. You'll need a few additional minutes of cooking time for those.
If you have any questions, please email me any time!
More Recipes From Cooking in The Keys
- Peel and Eat Florida Keys Pink Shrimp
- Florida Smoked Fish Dip
- Seared Tripletail with Garlic Butter Sauce
- The Best Blackened Seafood Recipes
- The Best Healthy Seafood Recipes
Frequently Asked Questions
Roast or bake a snapper on a sheet pan at 375°F (190°C) for 10-15 minutes, until it flakes easily with a fork.
You can tell when snapper fillets are done by checking their texture and color. When cooked through, the fish will turn opaque and easily flake apart with a fork. The flesh should be firm yet moist. Additionally, ensure that the internal temperature of the fish reaches 145°F (63°C) to ensure it is fully cooked and safe to eat.
Yes, you can fry snapper! Frying is a popular cooking method for snapper, as it creates a crispy exterior while keeping the inside moist and flavorful.
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