Foil Packet Fish

This Baked Fish in Foil Packets recipe is healthy, and delicious and makes a wonderful dinner during any season.  My Foil Packet Fish is loaded with your favorite white fish, colorful vegetables, fresh herbs, lemon, and a touch of butter.  This 30-minute, no-clean-up meal will soon become one of your favorites.  You can also grill these packets in the summer!

Serve it with my Cheesy Foil Packet Potatoes for the ultimate no-clean-up meal.

Baked Fish in Foil Packets Recipe

Baked Fish in Foil Packets just might be the ultimate healthy dinner.  This simple, wholesome recipe features your favorite white fish (mahi mahi, cod, grouper, haddock, etc.) cooked with colorful fresh vegetables like zucchini, squash, bell peppers, and onions.  Both the fish and veggies are wrapped in fish foil packets with aluminum foil.  They are simply seasoned with fresh herbs, lemon, garlic, and just a touch of butter.

You can either bake the fish foil packets in the oven or grill them in the summer for a fabulous, super-healthy meal you can enjoy year-round.  The fish turns out tender, flaky and delicious!  Plus, you can't go wrong with any dinner that requires such little cleanup.

Even if you don't love fish, this is a simple, fool-proof way to make it for the family that doesn't come out to fish AND it doesn't stink up your house!  If you aren't comfortable cooking fish yet and want to eat it more, start here.  Cooking fish in the foil gives you a moist tender fish that gets lots of flavor with what it's cooked with.

I love a long drawn out fancy meal as much as the next person, but during the week dinner needs to be quick and easy and this healthy fish dinner is perfection.  It even gets bonus points because it includes protein and vegetables in one pot or container.

Why You'll Love this Baked Fish in Foil Packets recipe...

• This Baked Fish in Foil Packets recipe is light, healthy, and flavorful.
• One serving is just over 200 calories with 30 grams of protein!
• Fish is full of nutrients including protein, omega-3 fatty acids, choline, vitamin D, and zinc.  It's a great addition to your diet a few times a week.
• This recipe is a pescatarian, gluten-free, low-carb, and clean eating.  I've included notes below to make it dairy-free.
• It's super veritable.  Use your favorite kind of white flaky fish and vegetables or use the ones I photographed.  I put a full guide on how to select the fish for this dinner below.  Mahi Mahi is in the photographs but sea bass, halibut, or cod will work fine too.
• It's FAST! You wrap it all up in foil and put it in the oven for about 15 minutes.
• Since everything is being cooked in the foil, clean-up is a cinch.
• It's so tasty and tender!  If you need a fool-proof fish recipe, do this one.
• It looks so pretty you could even serve this for a dinner party! You can even make ahead the foil packets.

Ingredients:

Here's an overview of what you'll need to make this Baked Fish in Foil Packets recipe, but keep scrolling for the full recipe amounts.

• Fish: You'll need 4 pieces of white fish that are ¾ to 1 inch thick.  Mahi Mahi, Halibut, Grouper, Cod, or Sea Bass are great choices.  See below for my full notes on fish selection and options.
• Vegetables: Each foil packet gets about 2 cups of vegetables so you'll need about 8 cups total.  I used small summer squash, zucchini, red bell pepper, and onion for a great mix of nutrients and color.
• Fresh Herbs: I just love adding fresh herbs to this recipe like thyme or rosemary.  You can use dried but the aroma of the fresh ones, adds something special to the foil packets.
• Butter: I don't cook with butter a lot, but I find just a touch really keeps the fish in packets tender and adds a lot of flavor.  You can leave it out, or add a touch of olive oil.
• Olive Oil: I toss my veggies in just a touch of olive oil too.
• Lemon: One fresh lemon adds brightness to this dish!  To prepare the lemon, cut it in half and cut 4 thin slices out of the center.  Save the sides for lemon juice.
• Garlic Salt: Just a touch of garlic salt, bring out the garlic flavors without a lot of fuss.
• Salt & Pepper
• Extras: You'll need foil or parchment paper.

Fish Selection Tips:

• You can find fish for these Baked Fish in Foil Packets at either a fish counter or in the frozen section of the grocery store, depending on where you live and what's available.
• If you don't have access to fresh fish, don't shy away from using good quality frozen fish.  Frozen fish is often frozen right after coming off the boat and can be the freshest option available.  Unless you live near the coast, often the fish at the seafood counter at the grocery store has been thawed out from frozen anyway, so at least if you buy it frozen you control the amount of time it's been thawed until cooking.
• Thaw out frozen fish overnight in the fridge for best results.
• Look for something that is ¾ to 1 inch thick.  Since we are cooking the vegetables and herbs in the foil packet you want a thicker piece of fish that will take a slightly longer time to cook.  If you used a really thin fish like a tilapia the fish would be done before the vegetables.

Fish Options for Baked Fish Foil Packets:

• Mahi Mahi
• Grouper
• Cod
• Sea Bass
• Snapper
• Haddock

Instructions:

This is an overview of the instructions to make this Baked Fish in Foil Packets recipe, but the full detailed printable recipe is below in the recipe card.

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Get out a baking sheet or sheet pan.
2. Tear 4 large pieces of foil, big enough for the fish and veggies.
3. In a bowl, toss together the olive oil, squash, zucchini, bell pepper, and onions.  Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Place the seasoned vegetables in the middle of the foil.
5. Melt the butter in the microwave.
6. Put the fish in the center of the foil, on top of the vegetables.  Squeeze the ends of the lemon juice on the fish.
7. Brush the fish with the butter and then sprinkle it will salt and pepper and just a touch of garlic salt.
8. Add the fresh herbs and a slice of lemon on top of the fish.
9. Finish the fish foil packets by bringing the middle of the foil together and folding over the ends.  Seal the top and sides completely.
10. Place the foil packets on a baking sheet.
11. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until the fish flakes and the vegetables are tender.  Exact cooking times can vary due to oven temps and fish thickness.  It's best to open up the packet and check one!

Grilling Instructions:

1. Follow the same instructions above to make the foil packets.
2. Preheat the grill to medium-high.
3. Put the foil packets directly on the grill and close them.
4. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until your fish flakes and turns opaque.

Variations

I love this Baked Fish in Foil Packets recipe as written, but here are some fun variations.

• Mix Up the Seafood: You can also make a similar dish with salmon or shrimp.
• Mix Up the Veggies: Other great vegetables to include are asparagus, thinly sliced carrots, green beans, and cherry tomatoes,  I would not include potatoes in the packets because they would take too long to cook compared to the fish.  You can make them separately with this recipe.
• Mix Up the Herbs: You can also mix up the fresh herbs including chives, oregano, or even lavender.
• Use Fresh Garlic: For a really garlicky dish add some fresh minced garlic to the packet.
• Make it Blackened: Easily blacken your fish using my Homemade Blackening Seasoning.

FAQ

Storage & Leftovers

Store leftovers in the foil or an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.  You can reheat it in the oven or remove the fish and vegetables from the foil and reheat it in the microwave.

Freezing

You can actually make these ahead and freeze them!  If you are using frozen fish, prepare the packets with the frozen fish fillet, so you aren't thawing out the fish, just to refreeze it.  That would make the fish mushy.

Can I make these fish foil packets ahead of time?

Yes! This is a great make-ahead dish.  You can prep the foil packets up to 24 hours in advance and then cook them when it's time for dinner. You can also make them ahead for grilling or camping.

Why wrap fish in foil?

Baking the fish in the foil allows for all the flavors to mix together and keeps the fish tender.  It's a great way to prepare without having a lot of cleanups.  The foil also allows the fish to evenly cook, so it's a great way to cook fish if you aren't too comfortable with it.  This one is hard to mess up!

Can I make the fish in parchment paper instead?

Yes, you can easily swap out parchment paper for foil.  Wax paper will not work.

This Baked Fish in Foil Packets recipe is Fast, Healthy & Simple

This Baked Fish in Foil Packets recipe is literally the most perfect healthy dinner.  It's well-rounded, fast, and doesn't make a huge mess.  Plus, you can bake these or grill them, making this a fabulous seasonless meal to enjoy year-round.

This makes a great meal on its own, but you can easily round it out with starch like potatoes, pasta, rice, or quinoa.  Here are a few suggestions to serve it with.  As always, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments below.

Serve it With:

• Crispy Baby Red Potatoes
• Oven Roasted Asparagus
• Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges
• Italian Pasta Salad
• Greek Couscous Salad
• Crock Pot Lemon Rosemary Potatoes
• Everything But the Bagel Roasted Potatoes
• Healthy Potato Salad
• Lemon Garlic Kale

More Foil Packet Recipes to Try:

• Cheesy Grilled Foil Packet Potatoes
• Grilled Zucchini in Foil
• Healthy Grilled Shrimp in Foil
• Salmon Foil Packets with Rainbow Vegetables
• Grilled Asparagus in Foil
• Salmon, Asparagus, and Tomato in Foil

If you make this Baked Fish in Foil Packets recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook too!

Baked Fish in Foil Packets

Julie Wunder

This Baked Fish in Foil Packets recipe is healthy, and delicious and makes a wonderful dinner during any season.  My Foil Packet Fish is loaded with your favorite white fish, colorful vegetables, fresh herbs, lemon, and a touch of butter.  This 30-minute, no-clean-up meal will soon become one of your favorites.  You can also grill these packets in the summer!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 207 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 4 4-6 ounce fish fillet, such as mahi mahi, halibut, cod or sea bass.
• 1 small summer squash, cut in half moons
• 1 small zuchini, cut in half moons
• ½ bell pepper, thinly sliced
• ½ sweet onion, thinly sliced
• 1 lemon
• 8 springs fresh thyme
• 8 springs fresh rosemary
• 1 tablespoon butter
• garlic salt
• salt & pepper, to taste

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Get out a sheet pan.
• Tear 4 large pieces of foil, big enough for the fish and veggies.
• Cut the lemon in half and cut 4 thin slices out of the middle. Save the sides for juice for the fish.
• In a bowl, toss together the olive oil, squash, zucchini, bell pepper, and onions.  Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Divde the vegetables into 4 and place the seasoned vegetables in the middle of the foil. You'll want about 2 cups of vegetables for each packet.
• Put the fish in the center of the foil, on top of the vegetables. 
• Melt the butter in the microwave.
• Brush the fish with the butter and then sprinkle it will salt and pepper and just a touch of garlic salt.
• Add the fresh herbs and a slice of lemon on top of the fish.
• Finish the fish foil packets by bringing the middle of the foil together and folding over the ends.  Seal the top and sides completely. You want it to be completely sealed so all the flavors stay inside the packet.
• Place the packets on the foil lined cookie sheet.
• Cook for 15-20 minutes or until the fish flakes and the vegetables are tender.  Exact cooking times can vary due to oven temps and fish thickness.  It's best to open up the packet and check one!

Grilling Instructions:

• Follow the same instructions above to make the foil packets.
• Preheat the grill to medium-high.
• Put the foil packets directly on the grill and close them.
• Cook for 15-20 minutes or until your fish flakes and turns opaque.

Notes

Storage & Leftovers

Store leftovers in the foil or an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.  You can reheat it in the oven or remove the fish and vegetables from the foil and reheat it in the microwave.

Freezing

You can actually make these ahead and freeze them!  If you are using frozen fish, prepare the packets with the frozen fish fillet, so you aren't thawing out the fish, just to refreeze it.  That would make the fish mushy.

Can I make these fish foil packets ahead of time?

Yes! This is a great make-ahead dish.  You can prep the foil packets up to 24 hours in advance and then cook them when it's time for dinner. You can also make them ahead for grilling or camping.

 

Note on the Vegetables:

You'll need about 8 cups of total vegetables for the foil packets.

Nutrition

Calories: 207kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 33gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 132mgSodium: 178mgPotassium: 980mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1117IUVitamin C: 47mgCalcium: 64mgIron: 3mg

Keyword Baked Fish in Foil Packets

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