Perfectly Grilled Fish: A Guide to Cooking Fish on a Pellet Grill

Grilling fish on a pellet grill may seem intimidating, but with a few tips you can master perfectly cooked fish with delicious smoky flavor every time. Pellet grills are versatile cookers that use compressed wood pellets to generate heat and smoke, infusing your food with wood-fired taste. While this indirect heat works great for classics like barbecue ribs and pulled pork, it’s also ideal for more delicate foods like fish. Follow this guide to get pro-level results when cooking fish on your pellet grill.

Benefits of Cooking Fish on a Pellet Grill

Pellet grills offer several advantages for fish

• Imparts mild, appetizing smoke flavor from the burning wood pellets. Apple cherry, and alder pellets pair especially well with fish.

• Cooks fish evenly with indirect heat that surrounds the food rather than direct flames. Prevents burning or drying out.

• Allows fat and juices to drip away, keeping fish moist and reducing flare-ups.

• Offers consistent temperature control for perfect doneness. Many grills reach up to 500°F+ for amazing sears.

• Adds fun, distinctive grilled taste to fish like salmon, snapper, cod, halibut, trout, and more.

• Needs only quick preheating for fast weeknight meals. Most grills heat in 15-20 minutes max.

• Provides easy cleanup since pellet fuel burns cleanly, minimizing soot or ash.

With the right techniques, pellet grills yield restaurant-quality fish cooked through yet tender and bursting with flavor.

Picking the Right Fish for Pellet Grills

Nearly any fish works well on a pellet grill. Best choices:

• Salmon: King salmon or Atlantic salmon fillets or steaks. The high fat content prevents drying out.

• Halibut: Firm white fish that benefits from a quick sear over direct heat.

• Trout: Delicate trout fillets become infused with mild smoky essence.

• Snapper: From meaty fillets to whole fish, red snapper cooks up moist and tender.

• Mahi mahi: Large fillets of dolphinfish grill up flaky with grill marks.

• Swordfish: Dense steaks take well to smoky grill flavor.

• Cod: Quick-cooking white fish that soaks up smoke nicely.

• Tuna: Needs just a brief time over high heat to flavor while preventing overcooking.

Fattier fish like salmon and swordfish hold up better on the grill than more delicate options like sole or flounder.

Prepping Fish for the Pellet Grill

Proper prep ensures the fish cooks perfectly:

• Clean the fish thoroughly and remove any bones.

• Pat dry using paper towels to remove excess moisture that can inhibit browning.

• Coat both sides with a thin layer of oil to prevent sticking. Olive or avocado oil work well.

• Season as desired with herbs, spices, salt, pepper, dry rubs, etc.

• Refrigerate 30+ minutes to allow flavors to penetrate.

• Consider marinating 1-2 hours for extra flavor infusion.

• Brush with glaze or sauce just before grilling if using.

Setting Up the Pellet Grill

Dialing in the right temperature and grill setup leads to fish cooked to tender perfection:

• Preheat the grill fully, which usually takes 15-30 minutes. Target 350-400°F for most types of fish.

• Use indirect heat by avoiding direct contact with the flames. The convection heat surrounds the food evenly.

• Place a drip pan with water or apple juice under the fish to regulate temperature and add moisture.

• Clean grates and brush with oil where the fish will go to prevent sticking.

• Don’t overcrowd. Leave space between portions so smoke and heat flow freely around each.

Grilling Times for Fish

Cooking times vary based on thickness and type. Use these general guidelines:

• Fish fillets 1/2 to 1 inch thick – 8 to 12 minutes

• Thicker salmon or tuna steaks – 10 to 14 minutes

• Whole fish – 15 minutes per pound

• Swordfish or halibut steaks – 6 to 8 minutes per side

• Smaller cuts like trout – under 10 minutes

• Flaky fish like cod – 7 to 10 minutes

Monitoring Doneness

With fish’s quick cooking time, it’s easy to go from done to overdone in moments. Monitor closely:

• Use an instant-read thermometer to check for 145°F internal temperature. Insert into thickest area without touching bone.

• Check for flaking flesh and opaque color throughout when pierced with a fork.

• Let fish rest 5 minutes before serving for juices to reabsorb for maximum moistness and flavor.

Pellet Grill Fish Recipes to Try

Expand your fish grilling repertoire with these sensational recipes:

Lemon Garlic Salmon

The zesty combo of lemon, garlic, butter, and herbs makes simple salmon extraordinary.

Cedar Plank Maple Salmon

Get sweet, smoky flavor by roasting salmon on a soaked cedar plank.

Jamaican Jerk Mahi Mahi

Spicy and full of island flavor, this mahi mahi is a Caribbean delight.

Miso Glazed Cod

Sweet and salty miso pairs deliciously with mild white fish.

Bacon-Wrapped Trout

Crispy fatty bacon complements lean trout fillets for a match made in heaven.

Whole Snapper with Chimichurri

Robust chimichurri sauce adds big flavor to meaty red snapper.

BBQ Tuna Steaks

Get that grilled tuna steak flavor without overcooking using a hot grill and basting sauce.

Honey Soy Swordfish Skewers

Marinated swordfish chunks shine on skewers with caramelized edges.

Mistakes to Avoid When Grilling Fish

Steer clear of these common fish grilling pitfalls:

• Putting fish on a cold grill. Always preheat fully first.

• Cooking over direct high heat. Use indirect heat for tender fish.

• Turning fish too often. Gently flip only once unless very thin.

• Allowing flames to directly touch fish. This can make it stick and burn.

• Undercooking. Use a meat thermometer for doneness, not just time.

• Overcooking and drying out fish. Monitor thickness and cook times.

• Letting fish sit in marinades too long. Acids start chemically “cooking” it.

• Putting sauce on too early. Brush on glazes just before removing fish.

• Squishing fish when flipping. Use two spatulas if needed to gently maneuver.

Mastering cooking fish on a pellet grill may take some trial and error. With the right wood pellet fuel, temperature regulation, grill setup, and cooking times you’ll gain grill skills that wow your family and friends.