Tender halibut and bright vegetables tossed in a bold Mediterranean sauce with lots of citrus, olive oil, fresh garlic, and spices. An easy one-pan baked halibut recipe that’s ready in 20 minutes or less!
In this one-pan baked halibut recipe, a flavor-packed, decidedly Mediterranean sauce does the work of adding great flavor and also keeping this delicate white fish moist and tender as it bakes.
And since the vegetables are already cooked with the fish, you don’t need much else. But you can totally serve it over a bed of hearty grains like barley or bulgur to make use of the delicious sauce!
Halibut
Halibut fish is a tender white fish that is mild in flavor with a firm yet flaky texture. Like cod or sea bass, halibut cooks quickly and is an excellent source of protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, as well as nutrients like selenium, niacin, and more.
And if you're not big on the taste of fish, you’ll likely appreciate its mild, slightly sweet taste, which makes it a great candidate for all sorts of seasonings and flavors!
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Tips for buying halibut fish
When buying fresh halibut, be sure the flesh looks white and glossy (no brown spots). The fish should also be moist and smooth. Give it a quick sniff, it should not be too pungent or overwhelming (yes, all fish will have some fishy smell, but you should not need to pinch your nose shut).
If you can’t find halibut fillet at the fish counter, look in the freezer section instead! That may even be the better option in terms of freshness because 80 percent of Pacific halibut are harvested in Alaskan waters and flash-frozen while still on the boat! Of course, be sure to properly thaw frozen fish in the fridge before using.
Halibut recipe ingredients
This halibut recipe has 3 main components: the fish, the vegetables, and the delicious Mediterranean sauce that pulls them together. Here is what you need to make this baked halibut recipe:
For the fish
You’ll need a 1 ½-pound halibut filet, cut into 1 ½-inch wide pieces. If you can’t find halibut, use other white fish filets like haddock or cod.
The vegetables
You can use whatever vegetables you have on hand for this baked fish and vegetables recipe. I like fresh green beans and cherry tomatoes, and a yellow onion sliced into half moons. Mushrooms, sliced bell peppers, and asparagus are also delicious options that would pair well with halibut.
Sauce or marinade for halibut
This bold Mediterranean sauce with lots of lemon and garlic can also be used as a marinade for the fish. If you use it as a marinade, simply toss the fish in it and cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or so. Here is what you need for the sauce:
- Lemon juice and zest - Citrus helps to counter the brininess of fish, while also toning down any remaining fishy smell that might be present.
- Extra virgin olive oil - You’ll need a cup of good olive oil of moderate intensity and milder flavor in this halibut recipe to complement the other flavors in the sauce without being overpowering. I recommend our Spanish Hojiblanca EVOO.
- Garlic - A generous amount of fresh minced garlic adds bold flavor to the fish and vegetables.
- Spices - You’ll need dry dill weed, dry oregano, and ground coriander.
How to make baked halibut
The secret to this moist, flaky baked fish recipe is in the quick sauce, which lends flavor and keeps the fish nice and tender! Once you make the sauce, you toss the vegetables and fish with it and you pop everything in the oven. Here’s how to bake halibut:
- Make the sauce. Combine the following sauce ingredients in a large mixing bowl: zest and juice of 2 lemons, 1 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1 ½ tablespoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon seasoned salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 2 teaspoon dill weed (I use dry), 1 teaspoon dried oregano, and ½ to ¾ teaspoon coriander.
- Prepare the vegetables. Toss the vegetables in the sauce. I used 1 pound each fresh green beans and cherry tomatoes, as well as 1 large yellow onion sliced into half moons. Remove the vegetables from the mixing bowl using a slotted spoon, because you will need the rest of the sauce for the halibut. Place the vegetables on one side of a large sheet pan.
- Prepare the fish. Cut a 1 ½-pound halibut filet into 1 ½-inch pieces. Like you did with the vegetables, toss the halibut in the sauce until well coated.
Place the fish on the sheet pan next to the veggies. If you have any sauce left, drizzle it all over the fish and vegetables. - Bake the fish and vegetables. Bake in a 450 degrees heated oven for about 15 minutes until the fish turns from translucent to opaque. If you like, place the sheet pan under the broiler for about 3 minutes (I like the cherry tomatoes to pop a bit). Watch carefully.
Serve it with
Since the vegetables are cooked right along with the baked fish, there is really no need to add more sides. But, if you like, you can serve the halibut and veggies on a bed of barley or bulgur for a more hearty dinner.
But it’s never a bad idea to start a fish dinner with a big salad and maybe a plate of creamy avocado hummus to share with some pita chips.
Leftovers and storage
Baked halibut is best enjoyed immediately, but if you do have any leftovers, you can store them in tight-lid glass containers in the fridge for about 2 days. Personally, I prefer to eat leftover fish at room temperature so it doesn’t get rubbery. But if you want, you can heat the fish in a skillet over medium-low heat just until warmed through (add a little bit of liquid and cover briefly).
Additional baked halibut recipe questions
If you can’t find halibut, you can use another white fish fillet for this recipe. Try cod, sea bass, haddock, or even red snapper fillets.
Your fish is ready when it turns from translucent to opaque, and flakes easily with a fork. It’s recommended to cook fish to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. This can sometimes lead to dry fish, however, so I often remove my halibut from the oven at around 135 degrees F and allow it to sit briefly. Fish will continue to cook for a bit after it’s been removed from the heat.
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One-Pan Baked Halibut Recipe with Vegetables
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
- Zest of 2 lemons
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ tablespoon freshly minced garlic
- 2 teaspoon dill weed
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt, more for later
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon ground coriander
For the Fish
- 1 pound fresh green beans
- 1 pound cherry tomatoes
- 1 large yellow onion, sliced into half moons
- 1 ½ pound halibut fillet, slice into 1 ½-inch pieces
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the sauce ingredients together. Add the green beans, tomatoes, and onions and toss to coat with the sauce. With a large slotted spoon or spatula, transfer the vegetables to a large baking sheet (21 x 15 x 1 inch baking sheet, for example). Keep the vegetables to one side or one half of the baking sheet and make sure they are spread out in one layer.
- Now, add the halibut fillet strips to the remaining sauce, toss to coat. Transfer the halibut fillet to the baking sheet next to the vegetables and pour any remaining sauce on top.
- Lightly sprinkle the halibut and vegetables with a little more seasoned salt.
- Bake in 425 degrees F heated oven for 15 minutes. Then transfer the baking sheet to the top oven rack and broil for another 3 minutes or so, watching carefully. The cherry tomatoes should begin to pop under the broiler.
- When ready, remove the baked halibut and vegetables from the oven. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Tips for moist, never dry white fish: Cooked fish has an internal temp of 145 degrees F, but this can sometimes cause fish to become dry and overcooked. I remove my halibut from the oven around 135 degrees F and let it sit for a few minutes. It will continue to cook a little as it rests. The flesh of the fish will also turn from translucent to opaque as it cooks.
- Halibut substitutes: Try another white fish like cod, sea bass, haddock, or even red snapper fillets. You may have to adjust the cooking time depending on the thickness of the fish fillet.
- Serving suggestions: This sheet pan fish recipe is filling by itself, but a bed of barley or bulgur to soak up the sauce wouldn't hurt!
- Leftovers and storage: You can store leftovers in tight-lid glass containers in the fridge for 2 days. Personally, I prefer to eat leftover fish at room temperature, but if you want, you can heat it in a skillet over medium-low heat just until warmed through (add a little bit of liquid and cover briefly).
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Nutrition
*This post first appeared on The Mediterranean Dish in 2019 and has recently been updated with new information and media of readers' benefit.
The dish turned out very well, as written! However, there was not room to spread it in one layer. I turned the vegetables half way through and felt like it needed 5 more minutes before turning on the broiler. I used Old Bay seasoning and added about a half teaspoon of sea salt.
The taste was amazing! I had never tried the dill, oregano, and coriander combination before.
Definitely will make this one again!
Thank you!!