Looking for healthy pescatarian meals for beginners? These pescatarian recipes are all easy, delicious, and tasty dinners that are satisfying so you will never miss the meat. From hearty shrimp dinners to oven-baked salmon, and hearty vegetarian dinners, this collection of recipes will have you cooking healthy pescatarian food in no time!
Learn More About the Pescatarian Diet: Pescatarian Diet Guide, Pescatarian vs Vegetarian, & Pescatarian Meal Prep
Pescatarian Recipes & Pescatarian Meals
Looking for more pescatarian recipes or pescatarian meals for beginners? Start here with this recipe guide that brings you 20 super easy, tasty, and filling meals that are either made with seafood, or fish or are vegetarian. All of these are fabulous dinners for weeknights that can be on the table in 30 minutes or less.
The pescatarian diet is a simple diet that basically adds fish and seafood to a basic vegetarian diet. The eating lifestyle is gaining popularity because it allows people to eat mainly healthy plant-based food but also enjoy super tasty fish like salmon and seafood like shrimp or oysters. It's a flexible, healthy diet that is easy to love. In fact, I've eaten this way for more than 20 years!
Pescatarians eat everything from vegetables, grains, rice, pasta, oils, eggs, butter, and more plus salmon, fish, lobster, trout, sardines, shrimp, oysters, clams, mussels, and tuna. The options are endless. They do not eat meat of any kid including chicken and red meat.
Just as a refresher, this post is part of a series on the pescatarian diet that starts with my Pescatarian Diet Guide which answers all of your questions like what is a pescatarian, is being a pescatarian healthy, and what pescatarians eat. This series continues by sharing my5-Day Pescatarian Meal Plan- Grocery List, Pescatarian Meal Prep, and information about Pescatarian vs Vegetarian diets.
These pescatarian recipes though are the perfect place to dive into the pescatarian lifestyle and start cooking.
Where do I find pescatarian meals?
Today I thought I'd dive into some of my favorite dinner pescatarian recipes and share some healthy pescatarian meals for beginners. All of these make an easy meal. I know getting dinner on the table daily is a chore no matter what your diet is so I thought I'd share the pescatarian recipes that I make pretty frequently as a pescatarian. These are the pescatarian recipes that are hearty enough to fill my meat-eating hubby, my 4-year-old twin boys, and me. Need a weeknight dinner idea? I have plenty!
Since being a pescatarian doesn't mean I eat fish for every meal, I wanted to share a good balance of vegetarian recipes and fish or seafood-based, or pescatarian recipes. They are all vegetarian or vegan or fish or seafood-based. I try to feature lots of fresh vegetables in most of my meals! You'll get lots of health benefits from eating this way.
Seafood Cooking Tips
Before we dive into the pescatarian recipes I wanted to share a few quick tips for those of you who aren't used to cooking seafood. I also have a quick Q & A at the bottom of this post if you wanted to learn more about being a Pescatarian.
The first is that it is surprisingly easy. Fish is simple to prepare and season. I find cooking it in the oven is easiest for me but grilling works very well too. It's also really delicious to pan-sear it on the stovetop but for beginners, I find it's easiest just to bake.
The second is to not overcook your fish or seafood. Fish and seafood cook fast and overcooking them is the easiest way to make them taste bad. Fish usually cooks for around 10 minutes in the oven... depending on the type and thickness. It is done as soon as it starts to flake apart with a fork. Shrimp takes just a few minutes to cook and is done when the shrimp turn pink and just start to curl. I give individual cooking times in my recipes but it does vary due to the size and thickness of the seafood you happen to have.
Now let's get cooking! Here are my favorite healthy pescatarian recipes and pescatarian meals for beginners.
Healthy Pescatarian Recipes and Pescatarian Meals for Beginners
Sheet pan meals are my jam and make the perfect pescatarian meals for beginners. They are an easy way to make dinner without a lot of hands-on time or cleaning up. This veggie-packed meal uses simply packaged gnocchi (which are hearty and delicious) and adds a rainbow of fresh veggies. My version of this meal features Italian seasoning and veggies, but you can customize this idea to fit your taste in veggies and spices. It's a great meal that everyone will love and that features lots of vegetables. This is a fabulously healthy meal without a lot of fuss.
Oven Baked Lemon Rosemary Salmon
Salmon is the epitome of healthy pescatarian recipes. Here are my go-to salmon recipes for busy weeknights - Oven Baked Lemon Rosemary Salmon. I make this every week or two and my family loves it. This is the perfect pescatarian meals for beginners because it is so easy! And salmon is a great choice of fish to eat because it's high in omega-3 fatty acids.
Blackened Mahi Mahi
There are so many other fish options to try in your pescatarian recipes! Mahi Mahi is another one that's pretty easy to find and prepare. My Healthy Blackened Mahi Mahi bakes the fish instead of pan-fried. It's super tasty, simple, and delish.
Shrimp Taco Bowls
Shrimp Taco Bowls are another go-to on the list of pescatarian meals or pescatarian recipes. This dinner looks fancy but comes together in a flash, thanks to some shortcuts. I love this for a fast weekday dinner.
Sheet Pan Teriyaki Shrimp
Shrimp are so versatile and make a great base for so many pescatarian meals. I love this Sheet Pan Shrimp Teriyaki because it's flavorful, unique, and easy to prepare.
Ahi Tuna Tacos
Think making tuna is hard? It's not! These Ahi Tuna Tacos are a super tasty addition to your pescatarian recipes collection. You'll be surprised at how quickly this dinner comes together.
Healthy Crab Cakes
Healthy Crab Cakes are so delicious and another on the list of fabulous pescatarian recipes. My version is healthy-made with no mayo- and filled with crab meat. They are also broiled and not fried.
Seared Scallops with Coconut Rice and Mango Salsa
Seared Scallops with Coconut Rice and Mango Salsa are super tasty, simple and so healthy. Seared scallops are another fabulous addition to your pescatarian recipes and this recipe shares my tips on how to make them.
Vegetarian Taco Stuffed Mushrooms
Mushrooms are such a great base for vegetarian dishes and pescatarian recipes. They are rich and meaty giving you the satisfaction of eating something more substantial. I love this taco stuffed mushroom because it's filled with a high-protein blend of quinoa and beans that is perfectly spiced. If that's not enough it's topped with cheese and yummy guacamole.
Another one of my favorite stuffed mushroom recipes is this Lightened-Up Three and Spinach Cheese Stuffed Portobellos.
Black Beans and Cilantro Lime Rice
This humble meal never looks as nice as I want it to in photos BUT give it a chance. I have been making a version of this recipe for nearly 20 years because I love it so much. It features peppers, onions, canned tomatoes, and canned black beans. I add lots of tasty spices. It tastes so good and is super satisfying.
The rice here is my homemade Cilantro Lime Rice. You can serve it with any type of rice you prefer though. Top it with lime, cilantro, cheese, or even avocado depending on what you like.
Crock Pot Vegetarian Taco Soup
This Crock Pot Vegetarian Taco Soup recipe is a staple in my house during the cooler months. It's simply made with canned beans, peppers, onions, and lots of spices. I serve mine with cheese, plain greek yogurt, and a handful of tortilla chips. This is a great option for healthy pescatarian meals for beginners.
If you like cooking in a crock pot or slow cooker, also check out my 20 Vegetarian Crock Pot Soups.
Crock Pot Award-Winning Vegetarian Chili
Here's another great soup recipe where you will never miss the meat. Click over to the post to find out how this chili won a cookoff against meat competitors.
Homemade Southwest Black Bean Burger
If you think you will miss the burgers on a pescatarian diet, think again! My Homemade Southwest Black Bean Burgers are filled with flavor and healthy goodness. It is another fabulous one on my list of pescatarian recipes. You'll love the guacamole on top. They are simple to make and a total crowdpleaser.
You could also try my Portobello Mushroom Burger if you want a different type of vegetarian burger. No need for a beef burger here.
Kale Pasta
This Kale Pasta recipe isn't flashy but it is another staple in our house. I love the way the lemony kale comes forward with creamy greek yogurt pasta. It's the perfect combination of comfort food and healthy food. I usually make it with some sort of protein-boosted pasta. It's a great way to get some greens when you aren't in the mood for salad.
6 Ingredient Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad
This simple Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad recipe is so tasty and good. It starts with your favorite frozen tortellini and gets a nutrient boost with all sorts of fresh and colorful veggies. I use my Homemade Greek Salad Dressing and feta cheese to give it a big flavor boost.
4 Ingredient Stuffed Stuffed Spaghetti Squash Marinara
Here's another recipe that's on regular rotation at my house. It's like a rich baked pasta topped with cheese BUT instead of pasta, I used spaghetti squash giving this dish all sorts of veggie-packed nutrients. Plus can you beat a 4 ingredient dinner?
I usually serve it with garlic bread!
You can also make this into a casserole with my Baked Spaghetti Squash Casserole.
If you like Asian or Thai flavors, you will love this Thai Noodle Salad. It uses my Thai Peanut Dressing which is flavorful and delish.
6 Ingredient Shrimp Pineapple Kabobs
This simple shrimp recipe is nearly foolproof and one of my favorite pescatarian recipes! You marinate the shrimp in a simple sauce and then grill the shrimp. In the cooler months, you could skip the skewers and bake this in the oven.
Serve it with rice and a salad.
If you think you can't cook fish... start here! This is the perfect pescatarian recipes idea because of how easy it is. This salmon dish cook in foil WITH the veggies and could not be tastier. The fish comes out moist and delicious. This is the perfect place to start for healthy pescatarian meals for beginners.
I like to serve this with a simple baked potato.
No Clean-Up Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas
Here's another great sheet pan meal using shrimp! I make the fajitas in the oven and then have warm tortillas, greek yogurt, salsa, cheese, and cilantro, and the table. Sometimes even guacamole or avocado. So much healthier than going out.
This salmon salad is perfection! The salmon is perfectly roasted with a lemon on top. The salad has my Lemon Tahini Dressing, pine nuts, pomegranate, and avocado. It's a superfood explosion and another fabulous one on the list of pescatarian meals for beginners.
This recipe also includes the recipe of how I cook my salmon most of the time, so be sure to check it out. If you aren't in the mood for a salad you can use the salmon recipe and serve it with other vegetables.
Shrimp Burgers with Mango Avocado Salsa
This is recipe is amazing. If you haven't tried shrimp burgers out yet you MUST! Trust me! Also, try my Cajun Shrimp Burgers. This twist on a classic beef burger might be my all-time favorite on the list of pescatarian recipes.
Where do I find more Healthy Pescatarian Meals for Beginners?
My entire site is filled with healthy vegetarian and pescatarian meals! As a pescatarian for over 20 years and a food recipe developer, I'm the perfect source for pescatarian recipes you'll love. I'm sure you've seen the main page of my site but I also have a recipe page that features the recipes by category to help you find something you'd like to make.
Scroll down and you'll see green boxes showing categories like smoothies, salads, soups, crock pot, breakfast, and even seafood! Click here for my complete recipe archive.
Meal Plan Including Healthy Pescatarian Meals for Beginners
Need an entire meal plan full of pescatarian meals and recipes? Make sure to pop over to my 5 Day Pescatarian Meal Plan for Beginners. It includes everything you need to cook healthy pescatarian and vegetarian meals for 5 days including a shopping list.
Pescatarian Recipes FAQ
I get a LOT of questions about being a pescatarian so I thought I'd answer a few of them here.
What can a Pescatarian eat?
Pescatarians eat a mainly vegetarian and plant-based diet with fish, shellfish and seafood also included. They eat fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts, whole grains, beans, eggs, and dairy. No, they don't eat chicken, beef, pork, poultry, or lamb.
Can you eat eggs if you are a pescatarian?
YES! Many pescatarians eat eggs AND dairy. I do and enjoy both. However, diets vary from person to person so this if often a personal choice for the person who decided to become a pescatarian.
Is a pescatarian diet low carb?
It can be! Just omit the pasta, rice, and potatoes for greens and more vegetables.
Can you lose weight being a Pescatarian?
YES! A pescatarian diet can be very healthy if you also include lots of colorful plants and seafood that are low in mercury. Seafood is often lower in calories and fat and most plant-based diets where you eat lots of fresh vegetables is a very healthy way to eat. If done in the right way, without a lot of processed junk food, you can lose weight.
There are LOTS more questions about being a Pescatarian and I answer them all in the first post in this series.Don't forget to check out the first post in my series... A Starters Guide for Pescatarians.
More Pescatarian Diet Resources
- Pescatarian Starters Guide
- Pescatarian vs Vegetarian: Which Diet Might Work for You
- Pescatarian Meal Prep
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Your turn!
Do you have any other questions about being a pescatarian?
