Pan-Seared Red Snapper with Cajun-Spiced Tomato Gravy

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-30 · Updated 2026-06-30

Red snapper fillets pan-seared to a golden crust and served with a spicy, flavorful Cajun tomato gravy. This Southern-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs red snapper fillets, olive oil, salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 330 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 4 fillets (5 oz each) red snapper fillets
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 medium green bell pepper, diced
• 1 celery stalk, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
• 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
• 2 tbsp green onions, sliced

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat 4 red snapper fillets dry and season both sides with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp paprika.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add fillets skin-side down and cook for 4-5 minutes until skin is crisp and golden; carefully flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes until fish is opaque. Remove and keep warm.
3. Step 3: In the same skillet, add remaining 1 tbsp olive oil and 2 tbsp unsalted butter. Sauté 1 medium finely chopped onion, 1/2 diced green bell pepper, and 1 diced celery stalk for 5 minutes until softened.
4. Step 4: Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes, 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning, 1/2 cup chicken broth, and 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves.
5. Step 5: Simmer the tomato gravy for 8-10 minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally.
6. Step 6: Spoon the Cajun tomato gravy over the pan-seared red snapper and garnish with 2 tbsp sliced green onions before serving.