14 Grilled Seafood Recipes to Cook All Summer Long

Lobster, Shrimp, Fish Kebabs, and More

Written by
Cathy Jacobs
A freelance journalist and avid home cook, Cathy Jacobs has more than 10 years of food writing experience, with a focus on curating approachable menus and recipe collections.
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Cathy Jacobs
Updated 07/21/20
Grilled jumbo shrimp.

 The Spruce

Want to wow guests at your summer cookout parties? Seafood—from shrimp, scallops, and lobster tails to your favorite fish —is the perfect way to show off your grilling skills with little extra effort. Amp up your seafood of choice with flavorful marinades, cook them quickly over a hot, well-oiled grill, and you simply can't go wrong.

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  • 01 of 14

    Tequila Lime Shrimp

    Shrimp with limes
    Fudio / Getty Images

    Get the grilling party started with sweet shrimp kebabs marinated in a tequila-lime marinade made with garlic and cumin for a nice hit of spice. They only need three or four minutes on the grill and make a great hand-held party appetizer.

  • 02 of 14

    Grilled Onion-Butter Cod

    Grilled Onion-Butter Cod

    Thomas Barwick / Digital Vision / Getty Images

    Cod fillets are flavored with a gorgeous butter and wine sauce that gets tons of flavor from lightly-poached onions. The fish is cooked quickly on a well-oiled grill to create a sophisticated summer entrée. Serve with steamed baby potatoes and wilted spinach greens as a complete meal.

  • 03 of 14

    Moroccan Grilled Fish Kebabs

    Moroccan Grilled Fish Kebabs

    Images of Africa / Getty Images

    Kebabs are a wonderful way to enjoy seafood on the grill. Moroccan spices bring a brilliant depth of flavor to any mild white fish you choose to grill. Serve these fish skewers as a cookout appetizer or make them a complete meal with rice and grilled veggies.

  • 04 of 14

    Grilled Lobster Tails

    Grilled lobster tails recipe

    The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

    What could be more elegant than succulent grilled lobster tails? Learn to cook them 'til just tender with a simple recipe that calls for a little olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and fresh dill.

    Continue to 5 of 14 below.
  • 05 of 14

    Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Scallops With Lemon Aioli

    Bacon Wrapped Scallops

    RonTech2000 / Getty Images

    Bacon-wrapped scallops are a cocktail party standby. Here, meaty scallops are wrapped in bacon and grilled on skewers to form a cookout dish that guests will fight over. The addition of creamy, zingy homemade lemon aioli takes this app over the top.

  • 06 of 14

    Grilled Shrimp Tacos

    Grilled Shrimp Tacos

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

    Cooking over hot coals adds just the right flavor to these grilled shrimp tacos. They are coated with spices, grilled, and served on warm corn or flour tortillas and topped with spicy aioli, cotija cheese, and spicy slaw.

  • 07 of 14

    Grilled Bourbon Tuna Steaks

    Grilled Bourbon Tuna Steaks

    alle12 / Getty Images

    Tuna steaks have a satisfying texture that makes them a great alternative to red meat. This tasty recipe cooks them on the grill with a sweet-and-spicy bourbon-honey sauce that's so delectable, you will want to use it for all your grilled veggies, too.

  • 08 of 14

    Grilled Crab

    Grilled Crab

    Danita Delimont / Getty Images

    Grilled crab makes an impressive statement as a cookout party main. This recipe walks you through the process of using an outdoor grill and just a few other simple ingredients to make the most of crab's natural sweetness. You can use fresh or thawed frozen shellfish depending on what's available.

    Continue to 9 of 14 below.
  • 09 of 14

    Grilled Jumbo Shrimp With Lemon-Herb Marinade

    Grilling jumbo shrimp.

     The Spruce

    Jumbo shrimp take a quick dip in an herbaceous marinade before a brief turn on the grill. They are ready to eat when they're bright pink, in just two to three minutes. Serve with lemon wedges for squeezing.

  • 10 of 14

    Grilled Sea Bass Marinated in Sake

    Sea bass over veggies

    Juanmonino / Getty Images

    Sea bass is a popular restaurant fish that's easy to prepare and cooks in a flash. In this make-ahead recipe, fish fillets are marinated overnight in Japanese sake wine and other Asian flavorings, then cooked quickly on the grill. Serve with grilled vegetables or a warm quinoa salad.

  • 11 of 14

    Grilled Oysters

    Grilled Oysters

    Nina Gallant / Getty Images

    The grill is a great way to cook oysters and this tasty recipe is a great introduction for beginners to the briny shellfish. Just keep a close eye on the oysters and remove them from the grill as soon as they open. Serve with a squeeze of lemon or hot sauce.

  • 12 of 14

    Lime and Basil Tilapia

    Lime and Basil Tilapia

    Mike Kemp / Getty Images

    Fresh basil and zesty lime juice infuse mild tilapia fillets with plenty of flavors in a recipe that cooks on your grill in under five minutes. Use them for fish tacos or as a health-conscious summer dinner with steamed rice and green vegetables.

    Continue to 13 of 14 below.
  • 13 of 14

    Thai-Style Grilled Scallops With Mango and Red Pepper

    Thai-Style Grilled Scallops With Mango and Red Pepper

    Vivienne Muir / Getty Images

    In-season mangoes or peaches and fresh red bell pepper add beautiful sweetness and crunch to grilled skewered scallops that are dressed in a Thai-inspired vinaigrette. Serve as a party app with extra sauce on the side for dipping or as an entrée with Thai-style coconut rice.

  • 14 of 14

    Cilantro Lime Halibut

    Cilantro Lime Halibut

    Rita Maas / Getty Images

    Thick halibut fillets are basted with a rich butter sauce flavored with cilantro and lime in this fabulous grilled fish recipe. Enjoy it solo as an entrée or use it for fish tacos — it'll blend beautifully with classic Mexican seasonings.