This 5 ingredient baked halibut is so flavorful and amazing, after having a bite, it justfied the outrageously expensive price of the fish!
Soooo, I learned that halibut was in season, like NOW! I was in downtown Milwaukee and had to make a stop at the Milwaukee Public Market (which is where my husband and I had our wedding reception, so it holds a special place in my heart.) In the Public Market, there are both vendors that serve cooked food, and ones where you can buy ingredients to then take home and cook with.
Long ago, my husband and I went to a fish monger and when we asked what was in season, we were told “everything” with a half hearted shrug, so I was a little hesitant to ask the same question at the fish monger in the Milwaukee Public Market. However, this time, the fish monger was SO enthusiastic and passionate about fish. He told me how the halibut was in season and was so incredible it was worth every penny (it was $26 a pound, eek, that’s pricey!) But the way he was talking about the freshness and how it was in season, I just had to try it. $43 dollars later (dinner and lunches for the hubby and I) I was at home telling my hubby about my awesome experience (and saying how this fish better be good, because that’s a lot of money for dinner!)
I’m happy to report, that after making this fish with a few simple seasonings (a little heat from some chili peppers, salt/pepper and lemon), it was worth every penny.
The fish tasted delicious and was so flakey and all around aaaaahhhmazing. Words elude me on how good it was!
In the past I have only had halibut which was frozen (I made halibut steaks with a roasted red pepper tapenade last year) but after trying this fresh halibut, I can’t go back, you can totally tell the difference!! I’m really digging seafood lately – this week alone I posted white wine chili garlic shrimp and a recap of my Minneapolis road trip where I had a super unique octopus appetizer (and where I got the cool off/white background you see in these photos)- which leads me to asking you – do you like seafood? And if so, what kinds? Have you ever had fresh halibut?
Tag me on Instagram, @philiakelnhofer if you make this recipe!
Other recipes you might enjoy:
- 5 Ingredient Spinach Hummus Feta Wraps
- 5 Ingredient Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo
- 5 Ingredient Buffalo Cauliflower Nuggets

5 Ingredient Baked Halibut
Ingredients
- 1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 lbs center cut halibut
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
- 1 teaspoon finely diced chili pepper fresno/habanero or jalapeno or 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, (optional)
- 1/2 lemon sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and drizzle a little bit of the olive oil on the lined baking sheet.
- Place halibut on the baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with kosher sea salt and fresh cracked pepper and then top with the finely diced chili peppers if using.
- Lastly, lay lemon slices on top of the halibut.
- Bake for 25 minutes, remove from oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes, then divide, serve, and enjoy!
Nutrition
The star of this dish was definitely the halibut, alongside it I served simple roasted vegetables – cauliflower, zucchini and a potato oven roasted with chopped parsley, olive oil, salt and garlic salt.
As you know from my faves and life lately post, this weekend I am visit my bestie Lynn in Charlotte, NC – you can follow along on Instagram & Snapchat: username sweetphi (I love when you guys snap me or comment leaving recommendations!)
Andrea rentea says
I love how beautiful the halibut presentation with the lemon slices is. Halibut will be the next meal for us. Thank you for making it appear so easy to prepare. Hope we find a fresh place to get it!
Sweetphi says
I hope you enjoy the halibut baked like this – it’s such a light and delicious dinner 🙂
Sarah says
Omg!!! I’ve been going crazy for halibut right now too! I also just learned that apparently *right now* is halibut season. Love that you can get it in WI! This recipe looks like the perfect way to highlight the fish- simple and delicious flavors 🙂
Sweetphi says
You are so right, it IS halibut season right now! I’d never had SUCH fresh fish, it was SO delicious, and now I want it for dinner again!!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
We eat a lot of fish, but very rarely make halibut. Thanks for the reminder, I might make this this week 🙂
Sweetphi says
I think you’d love this recipe – it’s so simple and the flavors are super delicious! Thank you for commenting.
Little Cooking Tips says
We liked that you cooked the fish in a simpler manner, to appreciate its taste. We both love seafood, both fish as well as oysters and clams (it’s a bit hardcore, but we eat those raw, alive), mussels, octopus, squid, shrimp, crayfish and crabs. We also love lobster (and caviar), but it’s extremely expensive here.
Our favorite fish is smaller than halibut, we eat a lot of red mullets, sardines, sea bass, sea bream, mackerel, which are fresh, straight from the Aegean. Halibut mostly lives in colder seas, like the Atlantic, so it’s sold frozen or salted here.
Red mullets are usually small, so we prefer to fry them in olive oil. The rest, we prefer to grill on the bbq.
Thank you for another wonderful post dear! xoxoxo
Sweetphi says
Isn’t fish amazing? Your comment has me craving fish for dinner, that’s for sure. I’ve never had red mullets so I’m going to have to be on the lookout for them!
Jen says
Can a cheaper fish be used in the Halibuts place? If so, what do you recommend?
Sweetphi says
A cheaper fish can definitely be used in place. I’d recommend a light fish, like tilapia 🙂
cheri says
Hi Phi, halibut and salmon are my favorites, your fish looks perfectly cooked.
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much Cheri, I had thought salmon was my favorite, but I have to tell you…I think fresh halibut is my new fave 🙂
Rachel @ Bakerita says
I adore fresh halibut! It’s one of my favorite fishes, and I love your simple preparation. This looks delicious!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much – I’m all about simple preparations, especially when it’s such an amazing piece of fish like halibut. I’m pretty much obsessed with this kind of fish and want it for dinner every night now 🙂
Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness says
Whenever I see seafood recipes, I am always craving them for the next few days. I rarely (if ever) cook with seafood! This needs to change!
Sweetphi says
I think you would love this halibut recipe, it’s so simple and is truly delish 🙂
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings says
I love using halibut for a quick, healthy weeknight meal. My kids like it because it has a mild flavor. Thanks for the idea!
Sweetphi says
I too am like your kids – I like mild flavors in my fish, I don’t want my whole house to smell like fish for days lol. Halibut is definitely the way to go because it is so light and mild, it’s just amazing, isn’t it?