- Read our review guidelines
Finding ways to add fish into our diets can be difficult sometimes, especially if you’re on a budget. But there are plenty of tasty meals you can cook up that are inexpensive and healthy.
We’ve made a list of some of our favorite healthy fish dinners that you can make at home, with cheap ingredients and items that you probably already have in your pantry.
9 Of Our Favorite Healthy (Cheap) Fish Dinners
1: Caribbean Style Stewed Mackerel
Mackerel is well known as being one of the most nutritious fish out there because it’s rich in vitamins and contains high levels of heart-healthy Omega-3. Plus, mackerel can be easy to get a hold of, whether you’ve caught it yourself or bought it in a grocery store.
This tasty stew recipe uses healthy ingredients and can help you give your mackerel a bit of color and spice.
Dry Rub Ingredients:
- Cleaned mackerel
- Thyme
- Himalayan pink salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Cinnamon
- Cilantro
- Ginger
- Paprika
- Coconut sugar
Stew Ingredients:
- Homemade fish seasoning (above)
- Garlic
- Onion
- Ginger
- Canned tomatoes
- Bell peppers
- Scotch bonnet pepper
- Parsley
- Himalayan pink salt
- Black pepper
- All-spice
- Water
Find this Caribbean inspired mackerel recipe here.
2: Fish Curry
A fish curry can be pretty inexpensive to make and can work with many types of white fish, such as pollock, catfish, cod or whatever you can get your hands on.
As long as your fish has a mild flavor, it can work well for fish caught on a fishing trip, meaning it can be even cheaper to make. Plus, with a curry, you can make a large batch to save some for later.
Ingredients:
- Fish
- Ginger garlic paste
- Turmeric
- Red chili powder
- Salt
Curry Sauce Ingredients:
- Oil
- Onions
- Tomatoes
- Saunf or fennel seeds
- Coconut or cashew nuts
- Red chili powder
- Cumin
- Green chilies
- Curry leaves or bay leaf
- Ginger garlic paste
- Garam masala or curry powder
- Water
Check out this fish curry recipe for yourself.
3: Grilled Portuguese Sardines
Sardines are generally a sustainable fish, as well as being a healthy and cheap fish. Packed with vitamins, these little fish are a popular menu item in the Mediterranean, particularly on the coasts of Spain and Portugal.
This recipe can give your sardines a Portuguese flavor and can be served up with steamed veggies or a fresh salad. Perfect for a summer barbecue.
Ingredients:
- Sardines
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Smoked paprika
- Lemon
- Rosemary
- Red chili
Find the full recipe for grilled sardines here.
4: Tuna Pasta
This tuna pasta dish can be a quick and easy meal to make for a healthy midweek dinner. The recipe uses canned tuna, which can be a cheap alternative to fresh fish and something you can store in your pantry for those busy days when you need a tasty meal in a flash.
Ingredients:
- Canned tuna
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Lemon juice
- Parsley
- Salt
- Pepper
- Pasta
You’ll find the recipe here.
5: Sicilian Style Fish Stew
A fish stew can be a tasty meal to serve up for family dinners and being able to cook it in one pot can make it even easier. Plus, it can allow you to make more for meals throughout the week, which can be more cost effective and can save you time later.
This recipe uses Italian flavors and gives you the option of using whatever firm white fish you happen to have.
Ingredients:
- White fish fillets
- Onion
- Olive oil
- Celery
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic
- Thyme
- Red pepper flakes
- White wine
- Canned tomatoes
- Vegetable broth
- Raisins
- Capers
- Parsley
Click here for the full recipe.
6: Mexican Fish
Mexican flavors can add a tasty twist to just about anything. With this Mexican fish recipe you can choose the fish you want to use. It can work with a range of white fish, including pollock and tilapia. You can even add additional vegetables to make this an even healthier dinner.
Ingredients:
- White fish
- Olive oil
- Bell pepper
- Garlic
- Salsa
- Canned tomatoes
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Cilantro
- Salt
- Black beans
- Corn
- Lime
Check out this tasty recipe here.
7: Lemon Butter Fish
This lemon butter fish recipe can help you create a delicious and healthy midweek dinner in almost no time at all. You can use a variety of firm white fish for this one, which can make it easier, and you can choose what you serve it with. But rice and veggies can make good sides.
Ingredients:
- White fish fillets
- Butter
- Lemon
- Salt
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Pepper
- Olive oil
- Basil or parsley
Find this quick and easy recipe here.
8: Salmon Burgers With Lime Mayonnaise
These salmon burgers can be a delicious and healthy alternative to beef burgers and can be a good way of getting kids to eat more fish. Plus, salmon is known for its health benefits, being rich in Omega-3.
These burgers can even be a great addition to a summer barbecue and ideal for the pescatarians in the family.
Ingredients:
- Salmon
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Green onions
- Cilantro
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Eggs
- Soy sauce
- Lemon juice
- Vegetable oil
- Lime mayonnaise
- Burger buns
- Lettuce
Lime Mayonnaise Ingredients:
- Mayonnaise
- Red onion
- Lime juice
The full recipe can be found here.
9: Southwestern Catfish
Catfish can be an inexpensive fish to buy and can also be a tasty fish to catch yourself. This catfish recipe features Southwestern spices to add a little kick and can be quick and easy to make for a healthy dinner.
Because it’s grilled, this could be a good one to try on the barbecue. You could even barbecue some vegetables to serve up with it.
Ingredients:
- Catfish fillets
- Tomatoes
- Jalapeno peppers
- White wine vinegar
- Salt
- Paprika
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Ground cilantro
- Cayenne pepper
- Garlic powder
Get the full recipe here.
Cleaning Up
Hopefully you’ve been tempted to make one of the recipes above. Let us know which one is your favorite or maybe you’ve substituted some of the ingredients for a personal twist.
Don’t forget to share this with your friends and followers to encourage more people to cook healthy fish at home.