17 Rockfish Recipes That Are Easy To Make At Home

If you would like to make a seafood dinner, why not cook some rockfish?

It’s not as common as some white fish like cod, but rockfish is still delicious and totally healthy. It has a flavor that is on the sweeter side and could be described as nutty.

One thing we’d definitely describe it as is versatile!

It can be baked, fried, grilled, or added to chowder for a meal that is tasty and rich in protein, calcium, potassium, and vitamins A and C.

Plus, like fish there are very little carbs or cholesterol. Although it is a lean fish with a mild taste it is still very filling!

Still not convinced? Well, maybe our 17 easy rockfish recipes can convince and inspire you!

1. Pan-Seared Rockfish

The quickest and simplest way to cook rockfish is to pan sear it. When you pan sear a rockfish it’s ready in under 15 minutes and gives the fish a beautiful golden hue.

Pan-searing the rockfish not only keeps the fish moist but it brings out the zesty citrus flavor of the lemon.

This recipe also has less than 10 ingredients and you can make it gluten-free by using gluten-free flour.

The capers in the sauce give the dish a bold, salty flavor that brings out the natural flavor of the fish. Serve it with rice and enjoy it with a dry rosé or Chardonnay.

2. Alaska Rockfish Tacos

Rockfish is the ideal fish for tacos thanks to its flaky, soft texture.

They can be ready to eat in half an hour, and they’re relatively hands-off. But what we love about these tacos is that they are easily customized to suit your taste.

You just need to prepare the rockfish, get the tortillas toasted, and set the table with your chosen garnishes and toppings! These tacos (see also ‘25 Types of Tacos You Need to Try‘) are undeniably crowd pleasers.

3. Baked Rockfish With Lemon

Baking food is one of the healthiest ways to cook it, but one of the downsides to baking fish is that it’s more time-consuming than frying it.

But this baked rockfish with lemon is the exception to the rule as preparing and baking this fish takes just 30 minutes.

This is an impressive looking dish as you have to cook the whole fish until it is juicy and golden. But it doesn’t just look amazing, it tastes and smells beautiful too.

The lemon juice, paprika, and thyme give the fish a bright and zesty flavor.

4. Authentic Chinese Steamed Fish

This authentic Chinese steamed rockfish requires only 5 ingredients – ginger, green onions, oil, soy sauce, and a whole rockfish, of course!

This dish can be ready in just 30 minutes. It’s an incredibly easy meal to cook and is full of protein. The ginger and soy sauce give it a distinct Asian flavor and it looks beautiful on the plate.

5. Panko-Crusted Oven-Fried Rockfish Fillets

These rockfish fillets coated in panko crumbs are crispy on the outside but beautifully succulent on the inside!

Plus, they can be ready in just under 20 minutes and you can even cook them in your air fryer (see also ‘35 Simple, Tasty Airfryer Dinner Recipes‘). The ingredients in this recipe are staples you would commonly find in your kitchen.

Plus, the Old Bay seasoning (see also ‘Old Bay Seasoning Substitutes‘) is delightful. However, it may not be the most carb-friendly dish on our list due to the panko crumb coating.

6. Baked Rockfish With Cajun Tomato Relish

It’s undeniable that Cajun seafood is one of the best in the world! And this baked rockfish with Cajun tomato relish is no exception. It’s soft and flaky, with butter and garlic flavors and mouth-watering tomato relish.

In fact, the relish is so good you’ll want to make it for every dish, and resembles bruschetta or salsa with a unique Cajun flavor. This dish can be ready in half an hour and is sure to be a family favorite.

7. Crispy Pan-Fried Rockfish

This dish is ideal if you want to add some zest to your dinner! The rockfish is coated in Panko breadcrumbs which makes it crispy on the outside, while the Dijon mustard, garlic, and Parmesan gives it an earthy, tangy flavor.

You can cook this dish in under 20 minutes, and every bite is crunchy and flavorful. But the fish itself is so tender it melts in your mouth!

8. Fried Rockfish Bites

These fried rockfish bites are an excellent way to incorporate more fish into your children’s diet, as they resemble chicken tenders (see also ‘20 Of The Most Delicious Fast Food Chicken Tenders‘) – a favorite amongst kids!

They have a light, mild flavor but can also be dipped in the tasty aioli sauce for more flavor.

9. Baked Rockfish Almondine

Baked rockfish almondine requires just 6 ingredients and can be ready in 30 minutes. No wonder it’s a favorite amongst rockfish fans! It’s an elegant looking dish but simple to make and tastes delicious.

Rockfish already has a nutty flavor, and the almonds in this dish really bring that to the fore. The butter and lemon add a juicy, zesty flavor, and who doesn’t love asparagus?

We recommend serving this fish with some couscous or rice to round the meal out.

10. Simple Pan-Fried Rockfish With Lemon & Butter

Not only is this rockfish recipe nutritious, but mouth-watering too!

To get the best flavors possible for this recipe, we recommend finding the closest specialty seafood market or Asian fish market near you as they will have a wider variety of rockfish available than most generic supermarkets.

11. Blackened Rockfish With Avocado Sauce

This blackened rockfish recipe is delicious and super easy to make! It is rich with protein, omega- 3 fatty acids that are crucial for brain health, and vitamin D as well as being low-fat.

12. Crispy Rockfish Pub Burger With Special Sauce

This crispy rockfish pub burger is a lot of things, namely creamy, crunchy, delicious, mouth-watering and tender.

Due to its flaky texture and mild flavor, rockfish is perfect for breading and frying, and the special sauce in this recipe is aptly named because it really adds something to the burger.

While we all love a fried fish meal, rockfish is really elevated when put into a delicious burger.

13. Darius’ Rockfish Chowder

Like any good chowder, this rockfish chowder is buttery, chunky and hearty and is made with 8 ingredients. The corn, onions, and potatoes really compliment the rich umami taste of rockfish.

This makes for one filling dish that is brimming with protein and vegetables. You can serve it with thick bread or leafy green salad to round the meal out.

14. Grilled Alaskan Rockfish With Grilled Shrimp

Rockfish is a pretty big fish, and looks very impressive when cooked whole and this is certainly the case with grilled Alaskan rockfish.

It’s a large and thick piece of fish made even more beautiful by the black char across the fillet. Plus, it tastes just as good as it looks!

15. Portuguese-Style Baked Rockfish

If you want to cook a rockfish dish full of fresh vegetables, this is the recipe for you!

As well as rockfish, this recipe has onions, parsley, potatoes, tomatoes and herbs, for a truly fresh vegetable taste that is sure to remind you of a veggie patch!

Rockfish has a beautifully mild flavor that doesn’t have an overly fishy flavor.

16. Almond Flour Crusted Fried Rockfish Fillets

If you love fried fish with a crunchy exterior but want to cut down on the carbs, this is the perfect dish!

This is because the rockfish is coated with almond flour to give it some crunch, and almond flour has very little carbs.

In fact, the almond flour crust and the tangy lemon cream sauce has just 2.7 net carbs. This recipe is ideal for those on a keto diet.

17. Pan-Seared Rockfish With Fresh Herbs

Cooked in seasoned browned butter and garnished with fresh herbs this dish is low in calories and totally delicious!

We also recommend garnishing with some lemon slices and some dill and rosemary. The fresh herbs don’t just make the dish more elegant but add a new depth of flavor. Why not add some fresh asparagus too?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rockfish Good To Eat?

Rockfish is a delicious white fish for simple, quick meals that is popular in Asia and North America.

There is a wide range of rockfish available with sight differences in flavor but all types of rockfish are lean yet hearty.

What Temperature Should Rockfish Be Cooked At?

It is recommended you preheat the oven to 145 °F and when the fish is thawed give it 10 minutes of cooking time per inch at 350 °F. You’ll know the fish is cooked when it’s easily flaked away with a fork.

If you’re cooking from frozen you will need to cook twice as long. Rockfish is best cooked when the flesh is moist all the way through and is just turning opaque.

What Do Rockfish Look Like?

Rockfish are also known as Striped Bass and are closely associated with Chesapeake Bay. You can tell if a fish is a rockfish by their silver scales and dark horizontal stripes. They can grow to over 5 ft long and live up to 30 years.

Final Thoughts

Rockfish is often overlooked for fish like cod, but we hope our 17 recipes have shown you just how versatile and delicious this fish is, and how easy it is to make at home!