Thanksgiving Seafood Recipes
Looking for a way to change up your holiday menu? These Thanksgiving seafood recipes bring a fresh, coastal twist to the classic feast. From creamy soups and buttery shellfish to elegant baked fish and hearty stews, each dish adds a coastal touch to the holiday table. Whether you're skipping the turkey or just want to mix in something lighter, these recipes bring a festive twist that feels both special and effortless!
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Switch Up From Tradition With These Thanksgiving Fish Recipes
Thanksgiving has always been about gathering around the table with the people you love and enjoying good food that brings everyone together.
Seafood has always been part of how I celebrate holidays. There's something special about serving fresh fish, sweet crab or buttery scallops at a holiday meal that makes it feel both comforting and a little unexpected.
These seafood recipes are simple, elegant, and pair beautifully with classic sides like homemade creamed corn, crispy roasted potatoes or roasted Italian turkey (if you're keeping the bird).
Whether you start with a creamy bisque, serve baked salmon as your main course, or mix in a few lighter dishes alongside the traditional spread, seafood brings a freshness that balances all the rich flavors on the table.
Over the years, I've learned that the best Thanksgiving menus are the ones that reflect the people you're cooking for.
If your family loves clams, make them. If your guests prefer something light and coastal, serve it.
These easy seafood recipes will help you create a holiday meal that feels festive, flavorful and completely your own!
Why These Recipes Work
- Simple but special enough for the holiday table.
- Fresh, high-quality seafood without complicated techniques.
- Easy to scale up or down depending on how many people you're hosting.
- Brings a a lighter balance to rich holiday classics while still feeling cozy and satisfying.
- Flavors pair beautifully with traditional Thanksgiving sides and desserts.
Thanksgiving Seafood Recipes: Starters
Every great meal starts with something to get everyone excited about what's coming next, and Thanksgiving is no exception.
These seafood starters are elegant yet approachable, and they set the tone for a holiday meal that feels fresh and a little different.
From rich, creamy soups to perfectly seared scallops and crispy fried favorites, these dishes are easy to make ahead and even easier to enjoy with a glass of wine while the main course finishes in the oven.
Italian Tuna Tartare
This recipe for tuna tartare is mixed with sharp lemon juice, capers and tomatoes, then topped with garlicky toasted breadcrumbs for the ultimate mix of textures and flavors. This simple preparation really highlights the delicate flavor of fresh tuna and is easy to make, yet so impressive!
Roasted Shrimp Cocktail
This recipe for Roasted Shrimp Cocktail with Whole Grain Mustard sauce is an easy and elegant twist on the classic.
Creole Fish Cakes
These easy fish cakes are golden and crisp outside, soft and flaky inside and loaded with bold Cajun flavor. It's a smart way to use up leftover fish, and always a crowd-pleasing classic!
Fried Calamari
Crispy, tender calamari is always a crowd-pleaser. Serve it before dinner with marinara for a fun, shareable Thanksgiving appetizer.
Sicilian Tuna Crudo
This recipe for Sicilian style tuna crudo is so delicious and only takes 15 minutes to make. Fresh raw tuna is topped with coarse sea salt, lemon, Sicilian olives, fresh basil, crunchy pistachios and plenty of olive oil. It's a simple, flavorful preparation that highlights the delicate tuna and is so stunning on a plate.
Beer Battered Popcorn Shrimp
Crispy beer battered shrimp with a light, airy crust and bold flavor. Perfect for frying up tender shrimp in minutes.
Blackened Fish Sliders
These Blackened Fish Sliders are bite-sized sandwiches with flaky fish, fresh lettuce, and a zesty homemade tartar sauce or remoulade.
Clams Casino
This vintage favorite feels right at home during the holidays with its mix of clams, breadcrumbs, and smoky bacon. It's a classic that never fails to impress.
Southern Style Pickled Shrimp
This easy pickled shrimp recipe makes a delicious appetizer or addition to any meal. They're bright, tangy and great for entertaining! Plus, they keep in the fridge for up to a week.
Clams Oreganata
This recipe for Italian baked stuffed clams, or clams oreganata, brings together fresh littleneck clams, crispy panko breadcrumbs, and a burst of flavors from pecorino Romano, parsley, white wine, and lemon juice. Perfect to kick-start any seafood dinner, this easy and delicious appetizer will transport your taste buds straight to the charming Italian coasts.
Classic Tuna Carpaccio with Arugula, Capers and Pine Nuts
This authentic recipe for tuna carpaccio really highlights the delicate flavor of fresh, raw tuna. It's dressed simply with lemon and extra virgin olive oil, along with coarse sea salt, buttery pine nuts, tangy capers and a mound of peppery arugula for a dish that's as visually stunning as it is delicious.
Easy Smoked Salmon Tart
This easy smoked salmon tart will add a touch of sophistication to your lunch, brunch, or any celebration! A light and flaky puff pastry crust gets layered with a lemon caper cream cheese and buttery smoked salmon for a simple yet elegant tart that's perfect for special occasions and is ready in 30 minutes!
Peel and Eat Shrimp
Simple and satisfying, these shrimp make a great appetizer to snack on while the turkey roasts. Serve them with cocktail sauce or melted butter for a casual coastal twist
Seafood Soups for Thanksgiving
Seafood soups are a beautiful way to bring a little coastal flavor to Thanksgiving. Whether it's a light starter or a hearty main course, these recipes are a flavorful way to honor both the season and the sea.
Cream of Crab Soup
Rich, creamy, and full of sweet crab flavor, this Southern classic makes an elegant start to any Thanksgiving meal. It's indulgent, and just right for chilly fall evenings.
Shrimp Bisque
This classic recipe for shrimp bisque transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-worthy soup that's perfect for special occasions. It has a velvety texture and rich seafood flavor with tender pieces of shrimp.
New England Clam Chowder
A comforting bowl of creamy clam chowder is the perfect way to kick off a Thanksgiving feast. Packed with tender clams, crispy bacon, and perfectly cooked potatoes in a rich, creamy broth, it's the kind of comfort food that'll make you want to lick the bowl clean.
Cioppino
This recipe for Authentic Cioppino is a classic Italian-American seafood stew from San Francisco that's loaded with clams, shrimp, mussels, crab, and white fish in a flavorful herbed tomato broth. It's warm, cozy and perfect with a big hunk of sourdough and a crisp glass of wine. This an impressive dish is far easier to make than it looks. Skip the restaurant and make this iconic mouthwatering seafood dish at home!
Corn and Crab Chowder
This silky corn and crab chowder has layers of flavor from bacon, Old Bay seasoning and a touch of sherry to enhance the natural sweetness of fresh corn and tender lump crab meat. It's the kind of creamy chowder that feels special enough for a holiday but is simple enough for dinner tonight!
Lobster Bisque
Lobster bisque is a classic, rich and creamy soup that feels special enough for the holiday table. Serve it in small cups before dinner for a truly festive touch.
New England Fish Chowder
This creamy New England fish chowder recipe can be made with cod or any firm white fish for a light, flavorful, and simple weeknight dinner that takes only 15 minutes of prep time.
Lobster Chowder with Corn and Bacon
This recipe for lobster chowder is the perfect way to usher in fall. It's rich, flavorful and loaded with big chunks of lobster meat.
Main Course Seafood Dishes For Thanksgiving
If you're skipping the turkey this year or just want to mix in something new, these seafood main courses are a great way to change things up. Each one feels special enough for the holiday table but still easy enough to pull off at home. From baked salmon and flounder to hearty cioppino and steamed crabs, these dishes bring big flavor and pair perfectly with your favorite Thanksgiving sides.
Scallops with Pomegranate Beurre Blanc
This recipe for seared scallops with pomegranate sauce is a simple yet impressive dish that's perfect for holiday entertaining. The scallops are seared to golden perfection, then finished with a vibrant sauce with a stunning ruby-red color. It's a show-stopping, restaurant-worthy main that's easier to pull off than it looks! If you're entertaining at all
Maryland Crab Cakes
Want to learn how to make an authentic Maryland crab cake from scratch? This recipe is perfectly seasoned with barely any filler and is ready in under 45 minutes. I have a few secrets to getting them just right, so keep reading to learn how!
Pan Seared Tuna
This simple recipe for pan seared tuna is more than just a recipe, it's a foolproof method that results in the perfect sear every single time. Learn how to master this simple technique and watch the compliments come rolling in!
Ina's Baked Shrimp Scampi
This easy recipe for oven baked shrimp scampi is always a crowd-pleaser! It's rich, buttery, garlicky, lemony and super quick to toss together. It's a great option for holidays and special occasions, but it works just as well for weeknight dinners.
Flounder Francaise
This family recipe for flounder Francaise is easy to master and turns out perfect every time. Flaky white fish fillets are dipped in a simple egg batter, pan fried until golden brown and finished with a silky lemon butter sauce that will have you licking your plate clean.
Butter Poached Fish
This Butter Poached Fish recipe will teach you everything you need to know for how to poach fish in butter, which is actually really simple. The fish is delicate, rich and so delicious.
Beer Battered Fish
This simple recipe for fried beer battered fish results in a shatteringly crisp coating and moist, flaky fish every time. The light, bubbly batter fries up to a deep golden brown, with a delicate crunch and tender, flavorful interior. Perfect for fish and chips!
Pan Seared Tilefish
The simple technique in this tilefish recipe results in perfectly golden brown pan seared fish with a buttery pan sauce that's seasoned with garlic and thyme. A squeeze of lemon juice at the end brightens the dish and makes the flavors sing.
Swordfish with Olive Pistachio Salsa
Thick, meaty swordfish steaks make an impressive Thanksgiving main that's fresh and flavorful. If it's too cold to grill outside, they cook up perfectly on a grill pan indoors.
Flounder Meunière
This buttery French classic is elegant yet unfussy French dish made with a delicate fillet of fish, lots of browned butter, fresh lemon and parsley. It's perfect for a lighter main course that still feels special.
Lemon Herb Baked Fish
Fresh herbs, lemon, and olive oil give this simple roasted fish a bright, clean flavor that balances rich Thanksgiving sides beautifully.
Sicilian Style Salmon
Tender, meaty fillets of salmon are coated with a flavorful breadcrumb crust and baked until golden brown on the outside and succulent and juicy on the inside. With briny olives, capers, and tomatoes, this baked salmon brings a Mediterranean flair to the table, and is an easy alternative for anyone skipping the turkey.
Flounder Oreganata
Delicate flounder fillets get topped with lemony, garlic-infused breadcrumbs for a restaurant quality fish that's ideal for a light Thanksgiving main dish.
More Thanksgiving Fish Recipes
Looking for even more ways to add seafood to your Thanksgiving menu? These recipes give you even more ways to add seafood to the mix. From cozy chowders and garlicky shrimp to light, flavorful fish dishes, there's something here for every kind of gathering. Use them to round out your spread, balance heavier sides, or bring a little variety to your holiday table.
Linguine alla Vongole
This recipe for linguine alle vongole, aka pasta with clam sauce, is an easy and delicious classic Italian seafood dinner that uses mostly pantry ingredients and only takes 30 minutes to make.
Steamed Clams with White Wine and Garlic
Steamed clams in white wine and garlic butter are simple yet impressive. They're a great way to bring coastal flavor to your Thanksgiving spread.
Crabs in Red Sauce
This classic South Jersey dish turns simple crab and tomato sauce into something truly special. It's perfect for serving with pasta as part of a seafood Thanksgiving feast.
Panko Fried Shrimp
This recipe for panko crusted fried shrimp makes perfectly seasoned, ultra crispy shrimp that cook up golden and light every time. They're easy to prepare at home, ready in minutes, and taste just like the crispy fried shrimp you'd find at your favorite seafood restaurant.
Sicilian Style Fish Pasta
This easy Sicilian inspired fish pasta recipe delivers bold flavors in under 40 minutes. It's hearty yet bright, making it a great choice for a non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
Tips for Success
- Choose recipes that can be prepped ahead or cooked quickly right before serving.
- Always buy the freshest seafood available and store it on ice until ready to use.
- Combine lighter dishes like shrimp or scallops with richer options such as crab or lobster for balance.
FAQs
Absolutely. Seafood and turkey complement each other beautifully. Try serving a seafood starter before the turkey, or offer both as main course options to give guests a choice.
Soups like bisque or chowder can be made a day in advance and gently reheated before serving. Dishes like baked salmon or flounder oreganata also reheat well.
Cioppino or baked salmon are great for feeding a group since they cook in one pot or pan and can be served family-style.
This will vary depending what seafood you're cooking. But as a general rule, cover cooked seafood with foil and keep it in a warm oven (around 200°F) until ready to serve. Just don't leave it too long to avoid overcooking.
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Seafood Dishes For Thanksgiving
Ingredients
Instructions
Serving and Menu Planning
- Seafood can shine just as brightly as turkey at the Thanksgiving table. Start your meal with something warm and comforting, like a creamy bisque or chowder, to ease guests into the feast. These soups can be made a few days ahead and gently reheated before serving, which helps take the stress off when the kitchen's already buzzing.
- For the main course, choose one or two seafood dishes that complement classic holiday sides. A baked salmon or flounder meunière pairs beautifully with roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a simple salad dressed with citrus. If you're cooking for a crowd, opt for recipes that bake in one pan or can be served family-style, like cioppino or oreganata which are both elegant and easy to scale up.
- To round out the menu, add something light and fresh to balance the richer dishes. A citrus salad, lemony asparagus, or roasted Brussels sprouts all work beautifully. Finish the meal with something sweet like traditional pies or pastries, then enjoy the compliments that come from serving a Thanksgiving spread that's traditional in spirit but fresh and coastal in flavor.
