14 Easy Fish Recipes for Lent

Crowd-pleasing and quick fish recipes that won't break the bank.

By
Sara Bir
Sara Bir
Sara Bir
Sara is a chef, culinary educator, and author of three cookbooks, The Pocket Pawpaw Cookbook, Tasting Ohio and The Fruit Forager's Companion. The latter won a 2019 IACP Cookbook Award.
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Published March 02, 2025
Sara Bir
Sole piccata on white plate with a fork and slices of lemon, garnished with chopped parsley

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

All year long, my family looks forward to the jovial fish fries that a few local churches host every Friday in Lent. It's the only time we eat fried fish, since nothing else measures up.

If you don't have a good Friday night fish fry nearby (or just want to eat a little lighter) and you're lacking in go-to fish recipes, Lent can present a challenge. Here are easy dinner recipes that call for for fish that's easy to find and won't cost an arm and a leg. These recipes are all proven winners with our readers, and I know they'll be at your house, too.

  • Cod Fish Cakes

    Cod Fish Cakes

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    Founder Elise Bauer says, "If you don't have cod, any white fish like sole or pollock will do."

  • Easy Fish Tacos

    A plate of two fish tacos with red cabbage slaw
    Sally Vargas

    You can use many types of fish in these tacos, from tilapia to catfish. If the fish breaks up in the pan, no worries—since once it's in the tortillas, you can barely tell.

  • Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze

    Plate of Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze and a Side of Green Beans

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    Contributor Emily Weinberger says, "Whether you like to eat it or not, I recommend buying and baking salmon with the skin on. It provides a barrier between the fish and the hot pan, protecting the fish."

  • Tuna Patties

    Tuna patties topped with sauce and stacked on a plate with a forkful of patties removed and set next to it.
    Ciara Kehoe

    For those who don't care for salmon, we present tuna patties, also made with canned fish for ease.

    Continue to 5 of 14 below

  • Quick Easy Fish Stew

    Quick and Easy Fish Stew
    Elise Bauer and Coco Morante

    Ready in about 20 minutes with minimal prep, this fish stew is a perennial favorite with cooks and families alike.

  • Sole Piccata

    Sole Piccata with Asparagus, Polenta, and Lemon Slice Topped with Capers Surrounded by Another Plate of Sole Piccata, Forks, a Glass, and a Bowl of Herbs

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    Founder Elise Bauer says, "The flour adds gluten to this recipe. Some people use no flour at all to make it gluten-free, but the use of tapioca flour, almond flour, or a gluten-free all-purpose flour also works."

  • Easy Baked Salmon

    Honey Garlic Butter Roasted Salmon topped with herbs and set on foil.
    Kalisa Martin

    Baste a big fillet of salmon in honey butter and sprinkle with herbs, then bake. An elegant result with minimal effort.

  • Baked Fish With Parmesan Breadcrumbs

    Baked Fish with Parmesan Breadcrumbs
    Simply Recipes

    Author Sally Vargas suggests serving this easy-peasy baked fish straight from the dish for a family-style feast.

    Continue to 9 of 14 below

  • Salmon Patties

    Salmon patties set on a plate with a dip and lemon.
    Ciara Kehoe

    Canned salmon makes these patties a winning pantry meal for nights when your fridge is sparse.

  • Crispy Panko Fish Sticks

    Fish Sticks Recipe for Kids serve the fish sticks
    Nick Evans

    Contributor Nick Evans says, "The trick to making this recipe in 30 minutes is to master the shallow fry. Fish cook quickly and there’s no reason to heat up a big pot of oil for deep frying unless you are making a boatload of these."

  • Moqueca (Brazilian Fish Stew)

    A bowl of moqueca garnished with parsely

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    This Brazilian dish has won over thousands of our readers for its simplicity of preparation but complexity of flavor. Layer aromatic vegetables and fish in a pot, add coconut milk, then gently simmer for 15 minutes.

  • Pan-Fried Catfish

    Fried Catfish
    Elise Bauer

    Here's cornmeal-crusted catfish sizzled quickly in a pan, plain and simple. If you have catfish and are at a loss for how to cook it, here's your answer.

    Continue to 13 of 14 below

  • Baked Cod With Ritz Cracker Topping

    Baked Cod with Ritz Cracker Topping
    Elise Bauer

    Buttery Ritz crackers make an irresistible topping for flaky white fish.

  • Tilapia with Olives, Mushrooms, and Tomatoes

    Tilapia with Olives Mushrooms Tomatoes
    Elise Bauer

    Founder Elise Bauer says, "Feel free to use any tender white fish fillet with this recipe, for example cod or red snapper."

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