Baked Spicy Halibut Fillets Recipe

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 12/22/21
Spicy baked halibut

The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 12 mins
Total: 22 mins
Servings: 4 servings

Halibut is a firm white fish, that is mild in flavor and delicious when cooked with the right seasonings. Well, this recipe delivers! A spicy seasoning consisting of Creole seasoning, sweet paprika, thyme, and oregano, is put on the halibut, and then the fish is baked in the oven for a tender, moist, and delightfully spicy and tasty meal. This dish can be on the table in under 30 minutes and provide an easy and quick meal for those busy weeknights. 

To get a blackened look, sear the seasoned tops in a well-greased skillet over high heat for about 1 minute before baking, and cut about 2 minutes off of the baking time.

When buying the halibut, make sure the fish is fresh. The filets should be vibrant in color and not dull, and the flesh should be moist and smooth and not cracked. There should be no strong fishy smell, as that is an indication of old and potentially spoiling fish. If possible, try to purchase wild-caught halibut over farmed. 

This halibut dish goes well with everything from homemade french fries to cheesy potatoes, or a fresh, green-tossed salad filled with veggies or steamed broccoli.

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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 to 2 pounds halibut fillets, cut into 6- to 8-ounce portions

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning

  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika

  • 1/2 teaspoon thyme

  • 1/4 teaspoon oregano

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Heat the oven to 400 F and position the oven rack in the center of the oven. Line a baking dish with foil and grease with olive oil.

  3. Wash halibut fillets and pat dry with a paper towel. Rub the fillets all over with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.

  4. In a shallow bowl, combine the remaining ingredients—Creole seasoning, paprika, thyme, oregano. Dip the tops of the fillets lightly in the seasoning mixture, or sprinkle with the mixture if you'd like a more lightly seasoned fish.

  5. Place the fillets in the prepared baking pan, seasoned side up. Bake the halibut for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the fillets are cooked through (a little less time if you sear the tops before baking).

Recipe Variation

If you want to have a blackened look on your filet, before baking, sear the seasoned tops in a well-greased skillet over high heat for about 1 minute. If you do this, bake the fish for about 10 minutes rather than 12 minutes.

How do you know when fish is done?

Simply insert the tines of a fork into the fillet and twist slightly to see if the fish flakes. When fish is done, it will flake easily into sections and be opaque in color.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
256 Calories
4g Fat
1g Carbs
51g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 256
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 1g 4%
Cholesterol 136mg 45%
Sodium 874mg 38%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 2%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 51g
Vitamin C 0mg 2%
Calcium 26mg 2%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 1223mg 26%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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