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These 13 Sheet Pan Fish Recipes Will Make Any Kid Like Seafood

by Grace Gallagher
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When you think of dinners kids will eat without complaint, pizza, chicken nuggets, and anything white and starchy probably rank a little higher than fish. That doesn’t have to be the case however, and these 13 sheet pan fish recipes prove that getting little ones to eat salmon, cod, or tuna (to name a few) doesn't have to be a battle.

There are plenty of reasons to introduce your kids to fish. It’s a quality protein that’s packed with vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats like DHA, which is essential for brain development, per Healthy Children (the website provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics). Plus, it tastes really good, and it's nice to make one meal everybody in the family enjoys.

A serving size of fish for kids is much smaller than an adult’s portion, so you don’t need to load their plate up, either. In fact, the recommended serving size of seafood for children ages 2-3 is just one ounce according to Healthy Children. Visually, one ounce of fish is about the size of half a deck of cards, so really not much at all.

From classic favorites like nuggets to more unexpected dishes like salad niçoise, you just might find that your kids as for these 13 sheet pan fish recipes again and again.

1Blackened Salmon With Potatoes

This blackened salmon bowl from Half Baked Harvest is served with rice, potatoes, creamy avocado dressing, and a sprinkling of feta (or your favorite) cheese. You can always cut your kiddos' salmon into tiny pieces if they're still warming up to fish.

2Lemon Butter Fish

This dish by Simply Delicious had me at lemon and butter. White fish has a mild taste that kids will probably like, plus the recipe is so easy because the fish and the asparagus cook at the same temperature for the same amount of time (which is just a quick 12 minutes).

33.Chili Lime Cod

If your kiddo isn't super into food that's "too spicy" you could always go light on the chili powder, or swap it out entirely. The cod recipe from Inside BruCrew Life tastes great paired with any of your favorite veggies.

4Baked Fish Nuggets

Fish sticks are a reliable staple in many kids' diets, and the classic gets a little twist from Simply Scratch by baking them in the shape of nuggets. They're so good you'll want to eat them too, and cooking on parchment makes clean up a breeze.

5Shrimp & Broccoli

You don't have to order from your favorite Chinese restaurant next time your family has a craving for shrimp and broccoli. While shrimp may not technically be a fish, this savory dish by Well Plated incorporates honey, soy sauce, and rice vinegar, and it's so good I had to include it.

6Lemon Maple Salmon

This recipe from A Pretty Life In The Suburbs is made with a delicious maple barbeque sauce that whole family will be licking off their fingers, and you can always swap broccolini for another vegetable.

7Salmon Tacos

Fish tacos are one of my absolute favorite foods, and this recipe from Feed Me Phoebe holds up against some of my restaurant faves. These get a great flavor balance from the pickled salsa, and you can top the tacos with anything else you have around like avocado, shredded cabbage, or sour cream.

8Fish & Chips

Even the pickiest of eaters will likely enjoy the classic British pub food, fish and chips. This recipe from Cooking For Keeps is breaded using salt and vinegar chips, which is delicious, but if it's too much flavor for your little one, regular potato chips work well too. Best of all, it's baked instead of fried.

9Sriracha Ranch Fish Tacos

Cod is the star of this recipe from Inside BruCrew Life. It couldn't be much easier: just whip up a simple salsa (she uses pineapple for a bit of sweetness) then bake frozen cod according to package directions. Dinner is ready in no time.

10Mustard Salmon

This sheet pan salmon gets a burst of flavor from lemon, dill, and of course, mustard. Even if your kiddo isn't a major mustard fan, they might still love this tangy dish.

11Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia

Parmesan-crusted anything is good in my book, and this crispy tilapia is a stand-out recipe. Deborah of Taste And Tell says, "I even got the thumbs up from the 5 year old. She is becoming quite the fish lover!"

12Barbeque Salmon With Slaw

Paprika, brown sugar, spicy chipotle powder, and garlic powder give this crispy salmon tons of smoky flavor that pair so well with the rich barbecue sauce. The brussel sprout slaw lends a nice crunch to the soft salmon.

13Tuna Niçoise Salad

I never expected to see a salad made on a sheet pan, but stranger things have happened. This salad niçoise from The Healthy Foodie is chock full of healthy fats, greens, and veggies, plus it's good warm or cold and makes for great leftovers.

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