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    Home » Recipes

    Lemon Garlic Butter Steelhead

    Published: Dec 11, 2018 · Last Updated: May 2, 2022

    Jump to Recipe

    This easy steelhead recipe is ready in less than thirty minutes – perfect for busy weeknights!

    This post is sponsored by our friends at Pacific Seafood.

    Steelhead trout fillet topped with lemon and parsley and cut into slices. this recipe

    Busy people of the world! Have iiiiiiiiiiiiii got the most lickety-split-delicious dinner for YOU!

    We’re working with some amaaaaaaazing (and sustainable! hey-oh!) Columbia River Steelhead Trout today. And we are drenching said Steelhead Trout in butter (and garlic! and lemon!) because everything is better covered in butter. (Yup. I’m pretty sure that’s science).

    Steelhead fillet on a metal baking sheet drizzled with olive oil.

    If you’re like “wait, hold up, did you just say TROUT?” the answer is yes – but stick with me, because while Columbia River Steelhead might not be a super-familiar fish, I promise it’s not scary to cook with at all! (YOU’VE GOT THIS).

    Melted butter, garlic, and red pepper flakes in a small skillet.

    Here’s what you need to know about Steelhead: 

    • It tastes (and looks!) a LOT like salmon – basically, if you like salmon, you’ll probably like steelhead trout.
    • Steelhead packs plenty of omega-3s and other vitamins at a fraction of the cost of salmon – so if you’ve been shying away from wild salmon because of the price point, LOOK NO FURTHER! Steelhead is a great alternative. (Example: Steelhead was $12.39/lb at my store today; Wild Sockeye Salmon was $21.49/lb).
    • The steelhead we’re using today is a farm-raised Columbia River Steelhead from Pacific Seafood. The Columbia River is such a unique place (I grew up close by!) and it shines through in the flavor of this fish. Pacific Seafood raises its Columbia River Steelhead without hormones, pesticides, or herbicides – learn more about their facilities and sustainability practices in this video!
    Steelhead fillet topped with four lemon slices on a baking sheet.

    But wait. I thought farmed fish was bad? 

    If you’ve been following LAAS for awhile, you’ve likely heard me talk about the importance of choosing wild salmon when it comes to seafood (PS – Pacific Seafood also sells Wild Salmon! Get it get it).

    And while I still absolutely recommend you choose wild salmon, here’s the hard thing about sustainable seafood: There’s no one-size-fits-all sustainability checklist.

    Different seafood species have different needs, which means they impact their environment in different ways. And with a growing world population, there’s also a growing need for protein – a need that wild fish and land-based protein alone can’t support.

    Aquaculture (aka Fish Farming) is emerging as an answer to the increasingly important question of how we’ll feed the world in years to come. (PS – For an in-depth look at sustainable aquaculture and its role in feeding the world, check out At The Table Podcast Episode 3!)

    Baked steelhead trout portions topped with parsley and lemon slices.

    So. Is steelhead trout sustainable?

    The short answer? YES – when you buy it from a sustainably-managed fishery (like our friends at Pacific Seafood!)

    This particular steelhead is a certified “Best Choice” from Monterey Bay’s Seafood Watch program (WOOT). Pacific Seafood’s farm-raised steelhead also has a Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification from the Global Aquaculture Alliance – basically the industry standard for sustainable aquaculture.

    Fun Fact: Pacific Seafood was actually the first U.S. salmon/steelhead farm to be BAP certified!

    Roasted steelhead topped with lemon slice and parsley on a white plate with roasted asparagus.

    SO. Shall we talk about this easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy (FOR REAL, THOUGH! There’s a lemon in there) Garlic Butter Steelhead recipe?

    Let me hit you with the highlights:

    • Ready in 30 minutes! I GOT YOU.
    • Butter + Garlic + Lemon + Red Pepper Flakes = the BEST quick sauce. Add some grated parmesan, lemon zest, or rosemary if you’re feelin’ fancy.
    • Perfect alongside roasted veggies, pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice. It also keeps well in the fridge – toss any leftovers on a quick salad or into your scrambled eggs the next day!

    PS: If you’re in the mood for an all-the-feels video about EXACTLY how this steelhead is raised – from the hatchery to the farm to the processing plant – check out this video! It’s basically like a visit to the Pacific Seafood Steelhead Farm. Except you can be on your couch in your sweatpants.

    Slice of baked steelhead topped with a lemon slice on a white plate next to roasted asparagus.

    Video: How to make lemon garlic butter steelhead

      Print
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    Baked steelhead fillet on a metal sheet pan, topped with fresh parsley and lemon slices and cut into portions.

    Lemon Garlic Butter Steelhead

    ★★★★★ 5 from 25 reviews
    • Author: Jessie
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 20 minutes
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: Serves 6
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    Description

    An easy weeknight steelhead recipe with a quick lemon butter garlic sauce.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 large lemon
    • 1.5–2 lb. Steelhead Fillet
    • 4 Tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced (use 4 cloves if they’re on the smaller side)
    • ½ tsp. red pepper flakes
    • 1 tsp. Kosher Salt
    • Fresh ground black pepper to taste (I use about ½ tsp)
    • ¼ cup fresh chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)

    Instructions

    1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
    2. Cut the lemon in half. Juice one half and reserve the juice for adding to your sauce. Cut the remaining half into 4-5 thin lemon slices and set aside.
    3. Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat.
    4. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to melted butter and sauté, stirring frequently, for about one minute until garlic is fragrant and slightly soft.
    5. Remove skillet from heat. Stir in reserved lemon juice and set aside.
    6. Lightly oil a large sheet pan. Place steelhead fillet on pan.
    7. Pour butter mixture over steelhead fillet. Use a pastry brush, the back of a spoon, or your hands to lightly rub the butter mixture into the fish.
    8. Lay reserved lemon slices across the surface of the steelhead. You’re ready to bake!
    9. Bake steelhead at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes until cooked through. When it’s cooked, the steelhead will have slightly lightened in color and will be easily flaked with a fork.
    10. Top cooked steelhead with fresh chopped parsley. Serve immediately.

    Notes

    Don’t worry too much about the weight of your steelhead fillet – if you’re in the ballpark of 1.5 or 2 pounds, you’ll be fine! If you’re using a much larger fillet, you may want to double the amount of sauce.

    What should I serve with this steelhead? Serve this lemon garlic butter steelhead with your favorite roasted vegetables, pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice.

    If you don’t have a lemon, use 2 Tablespoons bottled lemon juice in the sauce (in place of the juice of ½ a lemon) and skip the lemon slices when baking.

    Change up the sauce by adding fresh herbs (I like rosemary, thyme, and cilantro), grated parmesan cheese, or a Tablespoon of honey. This sauce is very forgiving – don’t be afraid to make it your own!

    If you can’t find steelhead, use Wild Alaskan Salmon instead.

    If you have leftovers, let cooked steelhead cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 2-3 days. Use cold steelhead in salads or sandwiches, or toss some flaked steelhead into your scrambled eggs or a hash the next morning.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @lifeasastrawberry on Instagram

    Thanks again to my friends at Pacific Seafood for sponsoring this post. Click here to find Pacific Seafood at a store near you, and don’t forget to check out this video to see exactly how their steelhead is raised, harvested, and processed!

    I'm Jessie, and I like to talk about food. Tag your recipes #LifeAsAStrawberry on social media to share your creations!

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    Discussion

    1. Debra D :
      April 30, 2022

      This was fantastic,! TBH, I only chose this recipe because I needed to cook some steelhead I had. I had all the ingredients for this and I wanted something I could bake without a lot of fuss. Turns out, those are add on bonuses to the absolute deliciousness of this recipe. I ate way more of this than I should have, because it was like crack. I will make this again and again

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry :
        May 1, 2022

        WAHOO! We’re so happy to hear you loved it!

        Reply
    2. Justin Mcalhany :
      April 25, 2022

      Absolute 5 star recipe. Today was my first time buying steelhead trout and I stumbled upon this recipe. I do not regret it either. Wonderful flavor and it turned out amazing. I highly recommend and will be doing this again. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry :
        April 26, 2022

        YIPPEE! We’re thrilled to hear that you loved this recipe!

        Reply
    3. Melinda :
      March 30, 2022

      Amazing flavor! Thank you!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry :
        March 30, 2022

        YIPPEE! We’re so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    4. James Trapp :
      February 27, 2022

      Totally enjoyed every morsel of this easy and delicious recipe.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry :
        February 28, 2022

        YIPPEE! So happy to hear you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    5. Amber Lee :
      February 25, 2022

      Omg, y’all this recipe has my whole family raving!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry :
        February 26, 2022

        WAHOO! So happy your whole family loves it!

        Reply
    6. Anne :
      February 7, 2022

      Found some beautiful steelhead at Costco and then found this recipe. Wow! Fantastic recipe. I only made half the recipe and put asparagus on the same pan with a little of the butter sauce. Better than any restaurant fish I’ve had in a long time. Thank you so much for sharing this!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry :
        February 7, 2022

        WAHOO! We’re so happy to hear that you loved it!

        Reply
    7. Eric :
      January 18, 2022

      Have you tried looking at your site on mobile? Dang near unusable with all the pop ups, ads and video. Just saying…

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry :
        January 19, 2022

        Thanks for letting us know! We’ve made a few updates to make the experience better, let us know if it’s still an issue!

        Reply
    8. CA :
      January 16, 2022

      Fabulous! This will definitely make a return engagement in meals to come!

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry :
        January 17, 2022

        WAHOO! We’re so happy you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    9. Debra :
      January 7, 2022

      This is delicious.. I had to modify some but, only the salt and pepper type.
      Paired it with GF Mac and cheese because that’s how my kids like their fish.. I embellished the m&c which made this a gourmet meal.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry :
        January 8, 2022

        WAHOO! We’re so happy you hear you and your family loved it!

        Reply
    10. Willie :
      December 17, 2021

      I’ll try the recipe. Also use the leftover in my eggs with spinach and onions. Yummy.

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry :
        December 17, 2021

        We hope you enjoy it! Such a great idea to use any leftovers with eggs!

        Reply
    11. Barbara :
      September 8, 2021

      I make a lot of steelhead and this recipe is the best I’ve had.. definitely 5 star plus 5 more stars. I mean it is absolutely delicious so so easy to make thank you so much for posting it!! I loved it so much I joined your team thank you again!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry :
        September 9, 2021

        Thanks SO much, Barbara! We’re thrilled that you loved the steelhead!

        Reply
    12. Blaine :
      July 22, 2021

      This came out really well it’s easy to fix I had about 1.25 lb of fish the cuts were sort of thin so I backed up on the time a little bit. But everything came out really good very flavorful not too overwhelming with the red pepper I like spicy food but this was just about perfect The lemon helps tame out the red pepper a little bit and adds another dimension to the fish along with the lemon juice highly recommend.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry :
        July 23, 2021

        WAHOO! We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    13. Carmen :
      July 9, 2021

      Smells good! Can’t wait to try w my steamed rice!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry :
        July 13, 2021

        YIPPEE! Love the addition of steamed rice!

        Reply
    14. Melissa :
      May 18, 2021

      I’ve made this several times now–so simple and so good! Thank you for posting it. It’s now a part of our regular rotation.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry :
        May 21, 2021

        We’re SO happy to hear you loved it!

        Reply
    15. Zoldie :
      April 16, 2021

      Absolutely wonderful! I baked fish in a foil packet– I had a leek, cut it into segments, fried it in the garlic butter, then put it on top of the fish (seasoned with the red pepper flakes, rosemary and parsley) folding the foil over the top to make a packet. Wow!!! The fresh lemon juice really gave it some flavor punch at the end (I squeezed some on before serving) My pieces were thin and smaller, so I watched the baking time, and took it out when just done (15 minutes)

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry :
        April 17, 2021

        WAHOO! We’re so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    16. Annie :
      March 8, 2021

      Very tasty recipe! I added scallions, paprika, and a tad more butter for my pan, turned out perfectly!

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry :
        March 12, 2021

        Thanks so much, Annie! We love your fun additions!

        Reply
    17. Lara :
      February 20, 2021

      Made this tonight for dinner with roasted potatoes and sugar snap peas….so simple and absolutely delicious!!

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry :
        February 21, 2021

        Thanks so much, Lara! What a great recipe to pair with those sides!

        Reply
    18. betsie :
      February 12, 2021

      First time trying Steel head Trout. Recipe was wonderful and fish was beautifully flavored. I cut the fresh garlic back a bit and since I didn’t have fresh lemon, I used crystallized lemon from True Lemon. This dish was a hit and I’ll be adding this recipe as a “keeper”.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry :
        February 14, 2021

        YAY! We’re so happy to hear it’s a new favorite!

        Reply
    19. Adrienne :
      January 30, 2021

      This is a very reliable recipe with the steelhead trout coming out better and more predictable than salmon. I now by a large filet of the steelhead and break it up for several meals using this recipe when I cook it.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry :
        January 31, 2021

        WAHOO! We’re so happy you’re enjoying it, Adrienne!

        Reply
    « Older Comments

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