Tired of Chicken? 13 Easy Seafood Dinners to Mix Things Up

If chicken dinners are starting to feel like a broken record, it’s time to shake things up. Enter: seafood. Quick, tasty, and a nice change of pace, seafood can bring that boost your weeknight lineup needs. We’ve pulled together some easy seafood recipes that are just as simple as tossing a chicken in the oven, but way more exciting.

A piece of blackened mahi mahi on a plate with rice and lime wedges. — Blackened Mahi Mahi. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Blackened Cod

This blackened cod is all about keeping it simple and flavorful with just a few spices and a quick pan-sear. It’s a great way to break the monotony of weeknight meals.
Get the Recipe: Blackened Cod

Air Fryer Garlic Ginger Shrimp

Air fryer shrimp on a wire rack in an air fryer oven. — Air Fryer Shrimp. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Get dinner on the table fast with air fryer garlic ginger shrimp. From freezer to plate in under 20 minutes, these shrimp are a game changer on busy nights.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Garlic Ginger Shrimp

Air Fryer Salmon Bites

A plate with salmon bites, broccoli and rice. — Air Fryer Salmon Bites. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Air fryer salmon bites are marinated in garlic, ginger, and soy sauce, then cooked to tender perfection. Quick to make, they’re a smart pick for a tasty, low-effort dinner.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Salmon Bites

Honey Lime Sablefish

A plate of cooked sablefish topped with corn and sliced jalapeños, accompanied by spinach, with a fork resting on the side. — Sablefish recipe. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Try honey lime sablefish for a light but flavorful meal. It’s topped with a spicy jalapeno and corn salsa, making it perfect for when you need dinner fast without sacrificing taste.
Get the Recipe: Honey Lime Sablefish

Baked Wild Sockeye Salmon

Salmon with orange slices and herbs on a baking sheet. — Baked Sockeye Salmon. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This wild sockeye salmon bakes up in just 10-12 minutes with a flavorful herbed garlic caper citrus crust. It’s a simple way to make dinner feel a bit more gourmet.
Get the Recipe: Baked Wild Sockeye Salmon

Blackened Mahi Mahi

Spice up dinner with blackened mahi mahi. It’s easy to season and broil for a meal that’s loaded with flavor and ready in minutes. Perfect for when you want something a bit different without a lot of effort.
Get the Recipe: Blackened Mahi Mahi

Cod Piccata

Brighten up your meal with cod piccata, featuring tender fillets with capers, lemon juice, and shallots. It’s a fast way to add a splash of flavor to your seafood lineup.
Get the Recipe: Cod Piccata

Air Fryer Crispy Fish Sticks

Air fried fish fillets with dipping sauce on a plate. — Air Fryer Fish Sticks. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Homemade air fryer fish sticks are a fun, quick option for dinner. Just a few ingredients and you’ve got crispy fish sticks that beat anything you’d buy at the store. Plus, they come with a zippy dijon remoulade sauce.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Crispy Fish Sticks

Brown Butter Shrimp and Orzo

Shrimp orzo with tomatoes and basil. — Shrimp Orzo. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Serve up some brown butter shrimp over creamy parmesan basil corn orzo for a dinner that tastes like summer. It’s easy and quick, perfect for a weeknight date night at home.
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Shrimp and Orzo

Air Fryer Scallops

A plate with scallops, green beans and rice on a wooden table. — Air Fryer Scallops. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Whip up a fancy seafood dinner in no time with air fryer scallops. They come out perfectly seared and are tossed with a simple chive, garlic, and lemon butter sauce. It’s a quick way to make a regular night feel like a special occasion.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Scallops

Pesto Salmon

Pesto salmon is super easy to bake and ready in less than 25 minutes. It’s a great choice for a healthy, flavorful dinner on a tight schedule.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Salmon

Shrimp Lo Mein

A skillet filled with shrimp and noodles. — Shrimp Lo Mein. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Skip the takeout and make shrimp lo mein at home. With juicy shrimp, vegetables, and a killer sauce, this 20-minute meal will quickly become a weeknight favorite.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Lo Mein

Bacon Wrapped Salmon

Salmon in a skillet with sauce and vegetables on a wooden table. — Bacon Wrapped Salmon. Photo Credit: Running To The Kitchen.

This bacon-wrapped salmon feels luxurious but is straightforward to make. It’s perfect for turning a regular evening into something special without too much work.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Salmon

Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.