Blackened Grouper

This blackened grouper fish recipe is one of my favorite meals to make when I have guests coming over. The blackened seasoning gives the grouper great flavor and a beautiful color. I love serving this mouth watering blackened grouper with veggies and some rice on the side. I’ve also served it with Arugula Avocado Salad with Homemade Lime Vinaigrette. The reason it pairs so well with this arugula salad is because of the lime vinaigrette. Seafood and lime just make a great combination. If you enjoyed this blackened grouper recipe, make sure to try this Blackened Ahi Tuna as well.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

What Does Grouper Fish Taste Like?

Grouper fish actually has a very mild taste compared to most fish. If I had to compare the taste of grouper to another fish, it would be the seabass. These two fish have very similar tastes. There are also so many ways you can add flavor to grouper through different spices and cooking methods. This fish is great for frying, searing, baking, grilling and so much more! In this recipe, I chose to pan sear blackened grouper. So if you’d like to know how to cook grouper fish this way, just keep reading.

What Is Blackened Seasoning?

Blackened seasoning is a combination of different spices and herbs like chili peppers, onion, garlic, thyme, oregano and a few others. You can definitely make your own homemade blackened seasoning but I always choose store bought because it’s just easier. And when you have a house full of kids running around, sometimes the easy choice is the best choice. I recommend this Old Bay blackened seasoning. I’ve compared it to a couple of other brands and it definitely beats out the others I have tried.

How To Make Blackened Grouper

1. First, start by squeezing fresh lime or lemon juice over the grouper. Then pat dry with a paper towel.
2. Season the grouper with blackened seasoning. Make sure to coat the fish on both sides.
3. In a pan over medium high heat, add olive oil and wait for the oil to heat up.
4. Add the blackened grouper to the pan. Be careful because the oil will splash. Try a splatter guard to help with this.
5. Cook the fish for 4-5 minutes on each side or until it begins to flake. If you’re cooking a very large grouper fillet, it may take longer than 5 minutes. You may also have to slightly lower the heat if the outside of the fish is cooking faster than the inside.
6. Transfer the cooked grouper fillets to a plate and squeeze more fresh lime or lemon juice over it.
7. Finally, serve with veggies, rice or salad and enjoy!

Tips & Variations

• Check the grouper fillets for doneness by cutting into the thickest part of the fish. If the texture is flakey with an opaque color, that means it’s done. However, if it still looks raw and wet in the center, then it needs more time to finish cooking.
• If you don’t like blackened seasoning, you can substitute it for your favorite herbs and spices.
• Try using a splatter guard to avoid too much splashing of oil when you are cooking the grouper fillets.