Taking under 10 minutes to cook, broiled walleye is delicious and simple to make. Fresh walleye fillets are seasoned simply with lemon, garlic, and paprika then they are cooked for just a few minutes under the broiler until perfectly tender, juicy, and slightly crisp.
Love walleye? Try these air fryer walleye and Parmesan crusted walleye recipes! So good and so easy to make!
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If you love seafood, broiling is a great way to cook it to develop a crisp exterior without having to pan-fry or grill it. The fish cooks faster than oven-baking, and it tastes just as delicious!
Broiling is pretty much an inverted way of cooking food in the oven. Instead of heating the food from the bottom, intense heat is coming from just the top, usually at 500 degrees Fahrenheit. At this high temperature, the fish cooks very quickly and develops a crisp exterior that locks in the juices. The fillets are moist, flavorful, and perfectly flaky.
Broiled fish is pretty much delicious no matter which whitefish you choose. I love walleye because it is a tender white fish with a delicious flavor that will go with any seasoning or side you pair it with.
For this recipe, I used a few seasonings plus lemon, garlic, and butter. It's simple and very delicious! Make these comforting German fried potatoes as a side dish, or just a simple vegetable salad will work as well.
Recipe ingredients
Walleye. Also known as yellow pike or yellow pikeperch. If you have frozen fish it's best to thaw it first so that it cooks more evenly under the broiler.
Lemon. The lemon juice helps to keep the fish moist while it's cooked at such a high temperature.
Garlic. Minced and added to the top of the walleye fillets. Once broiled it will have a slightly sweet and caramelized flavor.
Seasonings. Ground paprika, salt, and black pepper.
Butter. A little bit is added to the fillets for flavoring and to keep them moist while cooking under the broiler.
How to cook broiled walleye
Begin by preparing your ingredients. You'll need 2 walleye fillets, ensuring they're fresh and ready for cooking. Take 1 tablespoon of butter and cut it into small cubes after letting it soften if it's too hard from the fridge. Squeeze the juice from half a lemon, making sure to catch any seeds.
Peel and finely mince 2 cloves of garlic to get them ready. Measure out ½ teaspoon of paprika, some freshly ground black pepper according to your taste, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Lastly, chop some fresh parsley to use as a garnish for a burst of color and freshness.
Next, prepare your baking dish by lightly spraying it with cooking spray to prevent the fish from sticking and to facilitate easier cleanup. Place the walleye fillets in the dish in a single layer tomake sure they cook evenly. Sprinkle the paprika, salt, and freshly ground black pepper over the fillets, followed by a drizzle of lemon juice for a bright, citrusy taste.
Scatter the minced garlic evenly on top for depth of flavor and distribute the cubed butter pieces over the fillets. The butter will melt under the broiler, basting the fillets to keep them moist and adding richness.
Preheat your broiler, setting it to high if it has settings. Place the baking dish in the oven, positioning it so the fillets are about 6 inches away from the heat source for even broiling. Broil the fish for 6-10 minutes, adjusting the time based on the thickness of your fillets. They're done when the flesh flakes easily with a fork and is slightly translucent in the center.
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Once cooked, carefully remove the dish from the oven, using oven mitts to avoid burns. Sprinkle the freshly chopped parsley over the hot fillets for a final touch of freshness and color. Serve immediately, enjoying the tender, flavorful walleye with your favorite sides, like a simple salad or steamed vegetables, for a perfectly complemented dish.
Pro tips
Preheat your broiler for 5 - 10 minutes before cooking the fish so that your oven is nice and hot as soon as you put the fillets in. This also helps them to not overcook.
Pat your walleye fillets dry before covering them with the seasonings so that the fillets will brown quickly instead of steaming.
Walleye can sometimes have pin bones in it so make sure to remove any before serving.
Substitutions
Walleye. Substitute walleye fillets with pike perch, trout, haddock, bass, or tilapia. Really any type of thin whitefish can be used in this recipe with similar results.
Lemon. Use 1 - 2 tablespoons of bottled lemon juice instead of freshly squeezed.
Garlic. Jarred minced garlic or ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder can be used instead of fresh garlic.
Paprika. Use smoked paprika or ancho pepper powder for a different flavor.
Variations
Use lemon zest in addition to the juice to increase the lemon flavor of this recipe.
Add more lemon and butter to the fish to create a delicious lemon butter sauce in the baking dish.
Use the seasonings of your choice, in addition to the ones used or in place of them. Ground turmeric, old bay seasoning, cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, chili oil, or paste, are all delicious choices for this broiled walleye recipe.
Leftovers and reheating
Store cooked broiled walleye in the air tight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave in 30 seconds intervals to make sure the fish is not getting dry.
Frequently asked questions
If you have the ability to adjust your broiler level, use the "high" setting, if you don't, the standard broiling temperature is 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Yes, cooking walleye fillets with the skin on them is a great way to keep the fillets moist as they cook.
Not at all. The broiler cooks the fish very fast and evenly so there's no need to flip the fish.
If you are cooking a whole fish or really thick fillets it's better to bake them. Because the broiler is so hot it can actually burn the outside of the fish before the inside of a whole fish or thicker fillet is fully cooked. Using the broiler is best for thinner fillets - like walleye, haddock, perch, or tilapia. This method cooks these more delicate fillets quickly and fully without the outside cooking before the inside.
More seafood recipes
- Halibut cheeks
- Hamachi kama
- Corvina ceviche
- Salmon fries
- Air fryer jerk salmon recipe
- Shrimp tartare
Hope you will like this broiled walleye recipe as much as we do. Rate the recipe if you made it and leave a comment below if you have any questions or suggestions.
Recipe
Broiled Walleye
Ingredients
- 2 walleye fillets
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ lemon juiced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- chopped parsley for serving
Instructions
- Lightly spray baking dish.
- Place fish fillets in the lightly greased baking dish. Cover it with spices and lemon juice. Add minced garlic on top of fillets. Top with cubed butter pieces.
- Broil fish for 6-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of fillets.
- Serve with chopped parsley on top.
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