If you’ve got picky eaters at home, convincing them to try fish and seafood can feel like a culinary challenge. But with a little creativity, you can turn healthy seafood into a mealtime favorite. These 10 easy ways will help even the most hesitant eaters enjoy the flavors and benefits of fish and seafood.
Start by choosing mild-flavored fish like cod, tilapia, or haddock, which have a gentle taste that’s less intimidating. Pairing fish with familiar flavors—like lemon butter, garlic, or mild herbs—can also make it more appealing. Another great approach is to bread and bake it for a crispy, kid-friendly texture that resembles chicken tenders.
For those who love finger foods, fish tacos with soft tortillas, fresh toppings, and a drizzle of sauce can be a fun, interactive way to try seafood. You can also sneak nutrition in by mixing flaked fish into pasta dishes or creamy casseroles, letting the familiar comfort of the dish do the convincing.
Don’t overlook seafood soups or chowders, where the fish is tender and surrounded by comforting broth, potatoes, and vegetables. Making homemade fish sticks with wholesome ingredients is another win—they’re crunchy, delicious, and perfect for dipping.
If texture is the issue, try blending seafood into patties like salmon cakes or tuna burgers, which offer a familiar bite. You can also add shrimp to stir-fries with colorful veggies and savory sauces for a balanced, flavorful meal. And for a lighter approach, grilling fish on skewers with vegetables turns dinner into a fun, customizable activity.
With these easy seafood ideas, you can gradually introduce new flavors and textures, making fish and seafood a welcome part of your family’s meal rotation—without the dinner table battles.
Make Fish Burgers
Skip the typical beef or turkey burgers, and use a chunky fish (like salmon or white fish) in your next batch of burgers. Salmon and haddock are especially great for fish burgers because they combine well with binders like bread crumbs, peppers, onions, and spices.
Pick Fish Sticks
Fish sticks are synonymous with cafeteria food, but the nostalgic nibbles are just what some people need to make the switch to fish. The crispy coating on the flaky fish, reminiscent of chicken fingers, may convince picky eaters, especially kids, to eat their dinner.
A grill imparts a delicious smoky flavor to fish, which might help disguise some of the strongest fishy flavors. Bonus: Cooking the fish outside keeps any accompanying odors out of your house, because one whiff of fish may send up red flags for picky eaters.
Shrimp Tacos with Cilantro-Lime Crema
These sensational shrimp tacos with spicy shrimp, zesty lime crema, and avocado in corn tortillas are easy to make and so delicious! This is the perfect shrimp taco recipe for a crowd.
Ragin’ Cajun Pasta
“This recipe includes lots of our favorite things — shrimp, smoked sausage, chicken, and fresh veggies — and can easily be adapted to use what you have on hand,” says Staci. “A crusty bread for dipping in the sauce would be great with this!” It’s ready in 35 minutes.
Avoid Overcooking
Overcooking pork, chicken, or beef dries it out until it’s a barely-chewable mess. The same happens to overcooked fish, and if that’s what someone thinks of when imagining a fish dinner, it’s no wonder they’d rather skip the meal altogether.
Mexican Baked Fish
“When I read the recipe I thought this was too simple to taste good … well I was wrong,” says reviewer Darlene. “This is so easy and delicious! My husband absolutely loved it. This will become a regular in our home.”
Grilled Chicken with Peach Sauce
“This was a very very close copycat recipe for Olive Garden’s new Moscato Peach Grilled Chicken. Yum yum.” — jsch638
Restaurant-Style Tequila Lime Chicken
“I love Applebee’s fiesta lime chicken and this is the best imitation recipe I have found so far.” — Jim and Kim Halada
Pistachio-Crusted Salmon
“Make ordinary salmon extra special by topping it with a pistachio-panko-Parmesan crust,” says France C. “You can have it on the table in under 30 minutes for a quick weeknight meal or a dinner party for guests. Serve with a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc.”
