With multiple 5-star reviews, our Grilled Red Snapper recipe is a keeper and may have you grilling your fish from now on. The smoky spice blend gives a deep, not-too-spicy flavor that pairs well with the neutral flavor of the red snapper variety. One serving of this high-protein fish gets you on your way to meeting the recommendation of eating two servings of fish each week. Pair this with a fresh antioxidant-rich green salad, fiber-filled whole-grain side and grilled vegetables. Keep reading for our expert tips on how to choose your red snapper, other cooking variations and more!

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

• To oil the grill grates, oil a folded paper towel, hold it with tongs and rub it over the grates. (Do not use cooking spray on a hot grill.)
• Snapper is an easy fish to cook. You can grill it as we do here, roast it or sauté it. Snapper is a firm fish that holds together well on the grill.
• In this recipe, we remove the fish skin to reduce calories, but leaving it on can help keep the fish together when cooking. (And yes, you can eat the skin!)
• In this recipe, we load up red snapper fillets with the bold flavors of smoked paprika, onion and garlic powder, oregano, thyme and cayenne for some heat. However, you can opt for a simple seasoning by adding just a little salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon.

Nutrition Notes

• Red snapper is an excellent source of lean protein. Foods high in protein help curb hunger, keeping us satisfied longer. Red snapper is a good source of choline, which is essential for good brain health at all ages, and it is a natural source of vitamin D—excellent for immunity and overall health.
• Dried spices don’t get much love, but when eaten regularly, they provide nutrients to your diet. Chiles, in particular, like the smoked paprika and cayenne pepper, contain a compound called capsaicin, which may reduce inflammation and benefit heart health. The herbs oregano and thyme contain polyphenols that also target inflammatory pathways in the body—so add herbs and spices to your meals with delight.