42 Pescatarian Meals To Make When You're Not Feeling Meat
Because there are literally SO many fish in the sea.
A recent late-2000s poll found that approximately 3 percent of adults worldwide eat a pescatarian diet—that’s over 200 million people trying to figure out what to eat for every meal. We’ve got tons of guides dedicated to vegan food, seafood dinners, healthy breakfasts, and more, but none yet specific to pescatarians… until now. Whether you’re die-hard or are just dabbling in the red meat-free life, you’re guaranteed to love these 42 pescatarian meals that'll keep things exciting from breakfast through dinner.
First things first, pesca-what now? Pescatarian simply means someone who eats a mostly plant-based diet, with seafood added on occasion. For breakfast, most of the vegetarian main options like eggs and baked goods are available, with the addition of things like crab cakes (think eggs Benedict, mmm), bagels and lox, or shrimp and grits. Lunch for a pescatarian could involve things like tacos, like our mahi mahi or fish tacos; sushi, like our chirashi bowls or our spicy tuna rolls; or sandwiches, like our tuna melt or our fried fish sandwich. Dinner is where things really get exciting. Seafood could be the main event, like in our baked Chilean sea bass or our Arctic char with pistachio gremolata, but it’s also great as a side player. Check out our one-pan tuna pasta, our shrimp & snow pea stir-fry, our spicy ahi tuna nachos, or our lobster mac & cheese to see what we mean. Looking for something lighter? Fish can jazz up even the most lackluster of salads. Try our seared ahi tuna & arugula pear salad or our Caribbean Cobb salad to see how.
Want even more seafood inspiration? Check out our favorite salmon recipes, our best shrimp recipes, and our top cod recipes too.
Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Wraps
"Cilantro lime" is a flavor profile we never get over: It's got a kick from cumin, the tang from lime juice, and fresh zing from cilantro. You can let this shrimp recipe marinate for about 20 minutes to let the flavors meld, or don't—it'll be great in these lettuce wraps no matter what.
Get the Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Wraps recipe.
Garlicky Lemon Baked Tilapia
Tilapia has a very mild fish taste and is a great way to get even non-fish eaters to love it. We cooked ours in plenty of butter, lemon, and garlic to make it bright and fresh and easy for everyone to enjoy. Baking it requires very little effort with zero risk of the fish sticking to your skillet or grill. A win-win!
Get the Garlicky Lemon Baked Tilapia recipe.
One Pan Tuna Pasta
This recipe is a bit of a riff on a pasta puttanesca, using familiar ingredients such as capers, anchovies, and olives. We used sun-dried tomatoes to form a paste that, when combined with pasta water, is transformed into a luscious sauce–and it’s all made in one pan!
Get the One Pan Tuna Pasta recipe.
Salmon & Potato Skillet
While the potatoes here cook, the salmon takes a quick bath in an easy marinade that will double as cooking fat in this simple dish. In just 45 minutes, you’ll have a delicious and filling meal that can be customized every time you make it.
Get the Salmon & Potato Skillet recipe.
Fish Tacos
The fish—we use cod, but any flaky variety, like tilapia, works—marinates in a mixture of lime juice, chili powder, and cumin that will become your standard. But the real gem of this recipe is the red cabbage slaw—don't skip it. It takes just a few minutes to toss together, and its brightness is the perfect condiment to the spiced cod.
Get the Fish Tacos recipe.
Honey Walnut Shrimp
Our crispy coated version of this slightly sweet dish more closely represents the Panda Express Chinese takeout version than the traditional. The sugared walnuts are our favorite part and make the dish so special!
Get the Honey Walnut Shrimp recipe.
Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon
A longtime favorite of Delish readers, this savory-sweet salmon never disappoints. Hot tip: Let the fillets cook undisturbed for a few minutes. That and super-high heat are how you get the delicious crust here.
Get the Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon recipe.
Seared Ahi Tuna & Arugula Pear Salad
We love using a slightly spicy green to counter the fatty tuna—arugula is great, but if you're in the mood for something different, go for watercress instead! It has a delicious peppery flavor and the stems are satisfyingly crisp.
Bagels and Lox
We have a thing for breakfast sandwiches (see our love story to the bacon, egg, and cheese), and one of the best is a bagel and lox. Next brunch, put out some bagels, lox, and a variety of additional bagel toppings, and let everyone build their own perfect version.
Get the Bagels and Lox recipe.
Spicy Tuna Roll
In restaurants, spicy tuna sushi rolls usually involve raw, sushi-grade fish. But if raw fish is out of reach, this recipe uses humble canned tuna. That’s not to say you can’t use the basic skeleton of this recipe for raw tuna if you can find it—just substitute in sushi-grade fish, finely chopped, and proceed onward!
Get the Spicy Tuna Roll recipe.
Caribbean Cobb Salad
If you’re in the mood to eat the rainbow, this Caribbean-inspired Cobb salad is the place to start. A bit brighter than the traditional Cobb salad, this version combines fresh mango, creamy coconut dressing, and spiced salmon to create a punchy, spicy, filling meal. Crushed plantain chips and sweet bell pepper add a satisfying crunch too!
Get the Caribbean Cobb Salad recipe.
Baked Cod Fish
If you're someone who's afraid of cooking seafood at home, cod is the fish for you. It's basically impossible to mess up: It cooks quickly, is hard to overcook (unless you really forget about it), and is easy to flavor however you want. This recipe is a no-brainer and will give you sweet, fall-apart tender cod on your table in no time.
Get the Baked Cod Fish recipe.
Lobster Ravioli
We took a weeknight-friendly shortcut here by using wonton wrappers, but trust us—they are so tender and light that you really only taste the decadent lobster filling. If you want actual pasta-encased lobster ravioli, then our pasta dough is great; otherwise, we promise you’re going to make these over and over again.
Get the Lobster Ravioli recipe.
Cheesy Shrimp and Grits
There's a lot of richness going on here. Bacon! Butter! Cheese! To cut all the fat, you need some acid. Enter: freshly squeezed lemon juice. It brightens these bowl up BIG TIME—so don't skip it.
Get the Cheesy Shrimp and Grits recipe.
Coconut Curry Salmon
The coconut milk and spice go so well together here, making a rich, but not heavy, sauce that really tastes and feels far more complicated than it is. The salmon simmers in the milk keeping it very tender and flaky and extra-flavorful. Spoon the sauce over the salmon a few times as it cooks to give it a nice coating.
Get the Coconut Curry Salmon recipe.
Shrimp & Snow Pea Stir-Fry
Assuming salt and pepper are pantry staples, this recipe can really be pulled off with only 5 ingredients (let that shrimp marinate to make the most of them). And DON’T let that stop the imagination from flowing. Just like you can swap the ingredients, you can add more as well!
Get the Shrimp & Snow Pea Stir-Fry recipe.
Chirashi Bowls
Chirashizushi (ちらし寿司) translates to "scattered sushi" and is a style of sushi that entails exactly what the name suggests: pieces of sashimi over sushi rice. Chirashizushi—or chirashi bowls—is probably the simplest way to enjoy what you love about sushi without having to learn how to roll maki.
Get the Chirashi Bowls recipe.
Tuna Melt
Tuna lovers! Meet your ultimate sandwich. With just the right amount of crunch, melty cheddar cheese, and a couple good slices of tomato, you might even convert a canned tuna hater.
Get the Tuna Melt recipe.
Coconut Curry Shrimp & Peas
For this dish, you'll tart by building up flavor with a mixture of onion, fresh ginger, garlic, and serrano chiles. Next, a smattering of spices—garam masala, paprika, and turmeric—infuses the coconut milk. All that's left to do is poach the shrimp directly in the broth and heat the peas and spinach through, and you're ready for dinner.
Get the Coconut Curry Shrimp & Peas recipe.
Crab Cakes
Crab cakes are an appetizer staple at fancy seafood restaurants, but they're actually surprisingly easy to make at home! We also love serving them with some hollandaise a lá eggs Benedict for breakfast.
Get the Crab Cakes recipe.
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
