15 Best Branzino Fish Recipes

Have you ever visited a fish store and wondered what some of the types of fish were? These 15 delicious recipes are some of the best branzino fish recipes.

From Europe-style to Asian-influenced and from whole branzino recipes to branzino filet recipes, this list has a little bit of everything.

Branzino is a fish native to the Mediterranean Sea and European coasts. This white fish is a type of sea bass with a delicate flavor that works well in a variety of different styles of cooking.

If you cannot find branzino at your local fish market or store, you can substitute sea bass, red snapper, or another preferred white fish.

1. Greek-Style Roasted Branzino

This delicious, whole branzino recipe is full of flavor.

One of the key steps is roasting the branzino in the center of the oven. Placing the fish in the center ensures an even cooking no matter what.

Another key step to making this branzino is stuffing the fish with lemon and onions.

This allows the flavor and scent of these important ingredients to permeate the dish.

It is important to drizzle the fish with the ladolemono sauce immediately after taking it out of the oven to enhance the flavors and finish the dish.

This dish is naturally gluten-free and keto. You can serve it with a side of rice or a salad.

2. Lemon Stuffed Grilled Branzino

This is another one of the best whole branzino recipes available. For this recipe, you will be grilling your branzino.

It is important to stuff your branzino carefully so that nothing falls out while you are grilling the fish.

You can play around with the seasonings that are placed inside the fish as much as you want. The most important one is the lemon.

However, you can use thyme, rosemary, oregano, red onion, garlic, or a dried seasoning blend mixed with some olive oil.

This dish is also naturally gluten-free and keto. You can serve it with rice or a salad.

3. Five Ingredient Crispy Skin Branzino with Watercress Salad

This simple but delicious branzino dish only has five ingredients and includes a salad. You can add rice on the side if you want. You can also double the salad proportions.

A key to the salad is the dressing which would also taste great as a finishing sauce for the fish. All you would do is add some extra lemon juice.

The key to getting crispy skin is to cook at a high temperature using high-heat oil. You also want to start skin-side-down in the pan and then flip the fish over.

Lastly, to keep the skin crisp until it is eaten make sure to put the fish skin-side-up on the plate.

4. Crispy Branzino with Caper-Olive Sauce

This quick and easy pan-fried branzino recipe idea is perfect for a busy schedule. You can make it in half an hour.

The olives, capers, and tomatoes give this dish a complex Mediterranean flavor.

This dish would go well with a Greek or Italian salad. Another great side is rice, saffron rice or a rice pilaf would be best. This recipe is naturally gluten-free and keto.

This recipe calls for pitted olives but if olives with seeds are all you have you can use them as well.

The best olives for this dish are ones with a bright flavour, such as kalamata. However, you can use your favourite olives instead.

5. Roasted Branzino with Caper Butter

This dish is one of the best oven-baked branzino recipes. By using a whole fish, you help prevent the fish from getting too dry too quickly.

The key to making crispy skin on this branzino is cooking it in a pan first and then putting it in the oven to finish the fish.

The whole branzino filets in this recipe are stuffed with lemon and rosemary. You can also consider using thyme, tarragon, red onion, garlic, or any other seasonings that you like to use with white fish.

6. Pan-Fried Branzino

This easy branzino recipe can be finished in under 30 minutes. The key to this recipe is seasoning the fish well.

You can follow the recipe’s seasoning ingredients or use your favourite dried herbs mixed with some olive oil.

This dish is naturally gluten-free and keto. Some great sides include salad, saffron rice, rice pilaf, pasta salad, pasta, roasted potatoes, asparagus, and more.

This dish is so simple and can be served with anything. Starting with the fish skin-side-down will ensure that the skin gets nice and crispy. You can substitute the butter in this recipe if you want.

Some good options are buttery olive oil or ghee.

7. Pan Seared Branzino with Tomato and Capers

This delicious Mediterranean branzino fish idea is full of fresh flavours. The recipe calls for Nicoise olives.

However, any high-quality olives will do. This recipe is delicious all year round but is especially good during tomato season.

The key to this recipe is to have all the ingredients ready before you cook the fish. Timing is everything in this dish.

If the ingredients for the sauce are not measured and ready, then the fish will get cold while you make the sauce. Cook the fish first then use the same pan to make the sauce.

8. Salt Baked Whole Branzino with Fresh Herbs

Don’t let this recipe intimidate you. The outcome is well worth it. This is one of the best oven-baked branzino recipes on this list.

The salt-baking process creates a form of insulated cooking that keeps the fish extra moist and allows the flavours to permeate the whole fish and not just the areas near the stuffing.

You can use any of your favourite herbs, just be careful not to overseason the fish. It is important to take the fish out a little early and let it sit for a few minutes before cracking the salt.

This allows the fish to finish cooking without overcooking.

9. Branzino with Lemon, Garlic, and Wine

The key to this wonderful branzino whole fish recipe is the two-part cooking time. In part one, stuff the fish and drizzle it with olive oil before baking it.

In part two, take the fish out of the oven and pour wine and lemon juice over the fish then bake it again.

All this liquid will prevent crispy skin. If you want crispy skin, turn on the broiler for the last 3 minutes of the cooking time.

Serve your fish with fresh lemon wedges and you can drizzle any leftover sauce on top.

10. Pan Seared Branzino with Lemon Butter

This quick and easy branzino filet recipe allows the fish to be the star of the meal. Serve your fish with saffron rice, roasted potatoes, or grilled asparagus.

Have fresh lemon wedges for every plate plus a few extras for anyone who loves lemon.

In order to get crispy skin, you need a high-heat oil, a hot pan, fish that has been properly dried after a quick rinse, and plenty of space. It is important not to overcrowd the pan with filets. If there are too many filets then the fish skin will not get crispy.

11. Baked Branzino with Citrus Gremolata

This delicious branzino recipe can be made with either branzino fish filets or whole branzino fish.

The recipe calls for filets but if you are using whole fish all you have to do is change the cooking time.

If you decide to go the whole fishway, pack the fish with lemon and orange slices. You can even salt-bake the whole fish.

Another fun addition to this dish would be some limes or grapefruit for additional colour and added complexity to the flavour.

12. Lemon Soy Roasted Branzino

This Asian-influenced branzino recipe idea would pair well with steamed rice, fried rice, or stir-fried vegetables.

The addition of some grated fresh ginger will add an extra bite to the dish.

Another great addition to consider is orange slices, orange zest, and orange juice.

It is important to cook the fish in a large nonstick skillet that is oven safe. That way you can transfer the fish straight into the oven. However, if this is not possible, make sure to have baking sheets ready to go.

13. Mediterranean Branzino

This Mediterranean-baked branzino recipe is quick and easy to make. The key to this recipe is using a baking dish with edges since you will be pouring a sauce over the top before baking.

This recipe calls for rosemary and oregano, but you can use any other spice that you like. You can even mix your favourite spice blend with some olive oil and use it in the fish cavity.

An alternative to this baked fish recipe is to cook it in the pan on the stove. If you cannot find the whole branzino, you can cook filets in a pan using these ingredients.

Make sure to start with the fish filets skin-side-down.

14. Japanese Branzino

This Asian-inspired branzino dish uses Japanese cooking sake and mirin. The recipe calls for whole branzino fish and then has you cut it into filets.

You can buy pre-cut filets instead if you prefer.

One of the key steps in this dish is to marinate the fish filets for at least 2 hours. Marinating the fish overnight works best.

Once the fish has marinated long enough, you can grill it or cook it in a skillet.

Serve this branzino dish with edamame, steamed rice, vegetable sushi rolls, fried rice, or even ramen.

15. Roasted Branzino with Brothy Beans

For this quick and easy whole branzino recipe idea, your first step is making the brothy beans. The beans will take the longest to cook.

You can choose to bake your branzino as the recipe calls for, or you can salt bake the fish.

If you are looking for something green, toss some spinach into each bowl before ladling on the beans and then placing the fish.

This dish goes well with rice or some warm toasty bread. This recipe calls for 8 cloves of garlic. If you are not a fan of garlic, you can use less and still get a good flavor.