• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Precious Diary
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Work with Me
  • MY PEN SPEAKS
    • Love n Marriage
    • Singles
    • News n Features
    • Faith
    • Parenting
    • Beauty n Style
    • Blogging
  • Recipe Index
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • African Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Popular African Foods
    • Cameroonian Food
    • Carrribean Recipes

Precious Core logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Easter
  • Videos
  • Recipe Index
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Easter
    • Videos
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Dinner Recipes

    PUBLISHED: Jun 24, 2020 · UPDATED: Jan 24, 2023 by Precious · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

    Grilled Whole Red Snapper (Oven Grilled)

    Sharing is caring!

    10.9K shares
    • Share4.4K
    • Yum this
    • Email
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Two bictures of whole grilled fish in a collage

    Grilled Whole Red Snapper is incredibly tasty! Ready in 25 minutes and made completely in the oven, this is a no-fuss whole fish recipe that anyone can make.

    It is incredibly flavorful with the combination of herbs used. This is an easy dinner recipe for the whole family!

    grilled red snapper on a platter

    No grill, no problem! I am going to show you how to cook a whole fish completely in the oven. I used a whole red snapper here but the principles in this post will apply to any other fish.

    The combination of herbs is to die for! The marinade that goes on this fish takes the taste to a whole 'nother level. Even my non-fish-loving daughter was in love with this Grilled Whole Red Snapper!

    Herbs and spices for cooking a whole fish

    Grilled Whole Fish Ingredients

    For grilled whole fish you need the following ingredients:

    1. Whole Fish. This can be gotten from fish markets.

    Raw whole red snapper on a chopping board

    2. Garlic. Lots of minced garlic adds flavor to the fish

    3. Herbs. A combination of fresh thyme, parsley, and basil makes fish taste insanely good!

    4. Lemon Juice. Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds freshness to fish and seafood in general.

    5. Oil. Olive oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, or any neutral-tasting oil would work.

    5. White Pepper. White Pepper adds a more intense depth of flavor that works well with fish. But use black pepper if that's what you have.

    6. Chicken Bouillon Powder. This brings out more flavor in the fish that salt alone doesn't bring out. But you can use salt only to season your fish.

    7. Salt

    How To Grill Whole Red Snapper In The Oven

    1. Scale, gut fish, trim the fins and thoroughly rinse the fish. Thoroughly dry the fish. Make 4-5 half-inch deep diagonal slits on both sides of the fish.

    2. Mince garlic, basil, and parsley. Strip leaves off thyme stems.

    Minced herbs and garlic on a chopping board

    3. Place herbs and garlic in a bowl. Add in lemon juice, oil, salt, white pepper, and chicken bouillon powder. Mix to form a marinade.

    Green marinade for fish in a mixing bowl

    4. Rub the marinade all over the fish making sure to stick the marinade into every cut on the fish.

    Marinated Red Snapper

    4. Bake fish in 400 degrees Fahrenheit oven for 20 mins. Then broil for 5 minutes to achieve a crispy top.

    Oven Grilled Red Snapper on baking sheet

    Where To Buy Whole Red Snapper

    Here in the United States, I get whole red snapper fish from Asian stores. Most Asian stores have seafood sections where you can buy whole fish.

    If you search for "Asian store near me" or "seafood market near me" you'll likely find stores selling whole fish near you.

    Top Tip: Have the fishmonger scale and gut the fish for you to make things easier at home.

    Also, check out this Lemon Butter Salmon and Pan Seared Tilapia.

    Expert Tips For the Perfect Oven Grilled Red Snapper

    1. After rubbing herbs and spices on the fish, let it marinate for 30 minutes. This really allows the flavors to penetrate the fish.

    2. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper instead of aluminum foil. Sometimes fish will still stick to the foil even when you grease the foil. With parchment paper, that problem is solved. The fish easily slides out of the pan.

    3. Bake the fish first to cook it then broil it to achieve color and crispiness on the outside and make it taste like it was grilled on the outside grill. The broiler in an oven cooks food with high direct heat like the outside grill. But while the grill cooks from under, the broiler cooks from the top.

    Grilled Whole Red Snapper on a Platter

    What To Serve With Grilled Whole Red Snapper

    You could serve Grilled Whole Red Snapper with a variety of side dishes including:

    • Mango Salsa
    • Sauteed Peppers
    • Sweet Fried Plantains
    • Baked Plantains
    • Grilled Plantains
    • African Pepper Sauce

    More Tasty Fish Recipes

    Looking to try more fish recipes? Check these out:

    • Pan Grilled Salmon
    • Salmon and Broccoli Sheet Pan
    • Lemon Butter Tilapia
    • OVEN GRILLED TILAPIA
    • Cajun Salmon
    grilled red snapper on a platter

    Grilled Whole Red Snapper

    Grilled Whole Red Snapper is incredibly tasty! Ready in 25 minutes and made in the oven, this is a no-fuss whole fish recipe that anyone can make. It is incredibly flavorful with the combination of herbs used. An easy dinner recipe for the whole family!
    4.75 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Afro-Carribean
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 264kcal
    Author: Precious

    Ingredients

    • 1 whole red snapper (1 - 1 ½ pounds) scaled and gutted
    • 10 sprigs thyme leaves stripped off the stems
    • 6 sprigs parsley minced
    • 8 basil leaves minced
    • 5 cloves garlic minced
    • 2 tablespoons canola oil sub with olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
    • ¼ teaspoon white pepper

    Instructions

    • In a bowl combine the minced garlic, parsley, basil and thyme leaves. Add in salt, chicken bouillon powder, white pepper, oil and lemon juice. Mix well to combine.
    • Using kitchen shears cut the fins of the fish. Rinse thoroughly then pat dry with good quality paper towels or a clean kitchen cloth.
    • Using a knife, make 4-5 ½ inch deep diagonal slits on both sides of the fish.
    • Rub half of the garlic herb mixture all over the fish making sure to rub the mixture into the cavity and stuff some into the slits you made. This will ensure the seasoning gets to the bone of the fish.
    • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the fish on the baking sheet and cover with a plastic wrap. Let it marinate on the counter top for 30 minutes (no need to place the fish int the fridge).
    • Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (300 degrees Celsius).
    • Take the plastic wrap off the fish then place in preheated oven to cook. Let it cook for 20 minutes then take out the fish and brush with a little oil.
    • Set the oven to broil. Place fish back in the oven and let it broil for about 5 minutes or until the fish is nicely charred. Be sure to watch the fish closely so it doesn't get burnt (the broil function could burn things fast).
    • Take fish out of the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving!

    Notes

    Here in the United States I get whole red snapper fish from Asian stores. Most Asian stores have sea food sections where you can buy whole fish.
    Have the fishmonger scale and gut the fish for you to make things easier at home.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 264kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 466mg | Potassium: 964mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 360IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 252mg | Iron: 8mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @preciouscore or tag #preciouscore!
    pre-signature-pro

    YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

    • Pan Grilled SalmonPan Grilled Salmon
    • Lemon Butter TilapiaLemon Butter Tilapia
    • Pan Seared TilapiaPan Seared Tilapia
    • Seafood GumboSeafood Gumbo

    More Dinner Recipes

    • Square image of cajun salmon.
      Baked Cajun Salmon
    • Square image of baked lemon butter tilapia.
      Garlic Butter Tilapia
    • Cooked salmon in pan.
      Lemon Butter Salmon
    • Square image of Nigerian Beef Stew
      Nigerian Beef Stew

    Sharing is caring!

    10.9K shares
    • Share4.4K
    • Yum this
    • Email

    About Precious

    Welcome to my core! I am Precious Nkeih, the recipe developer and writer right here on my blog, Precious Core. My goal is to show you insanely delicious recipes you can replicate in your kitchen. And I love to tell stories too. Hope you find recipes here that will make cooking easier for you! Check me out on YouTube at YouTube.com/PreciousKitchen.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jane says

      May 05, 2021 at 3:35 pm

      Hi Precious. You're truly appreciated. Godspeed.

      Reply
      • Precious says

        May 11, 2021 at 8:22 pm

        Thank you so much, Jane!

        Reply
    2. Michael says

      June 29, 2022 at 5:55 pm

      Very good snapper. Cooked it on a flat top griddle. Worked perfect.

      Reply
      • Precious says

        July 01, 2022 at 8:00 am

        Thanks for the feedback, Michael!

        Reply
    3. Sarah says

      March 27, 2023 at 9:58 am

      Hello precious.
      Hope very is well. I love your recipes so much.

      Reply
      • Precious says

        March 27, 2023 at 3:15 pm

        Thank you so much, Sarah.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    precious

    Hi, I'm Precious!

    I am a mama with many mouths to feed. I develop recipes and share real-life stories. Here you will find approachable, insanely delicious, family-friendly recipes.

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Close up shot of Pan Seared Tilapia
      Pan Seared Tilapia
    • Banana fritters on a platter with one opened up to show texture
      Banana Fritters
    • Egusi soup recipe
      EGUSI SOUP - NIGERIAN EGUSI SOUP
    • A mug of fresh ginger drink with some ginger and key limes on the side
      Ginger Drink
    • Chicken in White Sauce in a pot
      Chicken in White Sauce
    • Chicken drumsticks in creamy sauce in a cast iron skillet
      Chicken Drumsticks in Creamy Sauce

    [do_widget id=enews-ext-1]

    Easy Dinner Recipes

    • Square image of green beans.
      Garlic Butter Green Beans
    • Square image of pan seared boneless pork chops.
      Pan Seared Boneless Pork Chops
    • Square image of a roasted turkey thigh.
      Roasted Turkey Thighs
    • Square image of lemon pepper wings.
      Lemon Pepper Turkey Wings
    • Square image of roasted turkey wings
      Baked Turkey Wings
    • Square image of creamy chicken dish.
      Marry Me Chicken

    Easter Recipes

    • Cinnamon rolls in a pan, some of the rolls frosted with cream cheese frosting
      Cinnamon Rolls With Cream Cheese Frosting (VIDEO)
    • A bowl of buttermilk mashed potatoes
      Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
    • Pan seared lamb chops in a cast iron skillet
      Pan Seared Lamb Chops
    • Hot Cross Buns in a baking dish with one removed
      My Favorite Hot Cross Buns

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    IMPORTANT LINKS

    • Home
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Work with Me
    • Contact
    • Recipe Index
    • Accessibility Policy

    Life

    • Square image of kids at Austin Library
      Our Family Trip To Austin Texas
    • Black family picture
      Family Vacation At Lake Havasu, Arizona

    STAY CONNECTED

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    COPYRIGHT © 2022 PRECIOUS CORE