Easy Baked Halibut

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Baked halibut topped with a creamy, herbed mayonnaise crust is a dinner sensation! This quick and easy recipe gives you moist and flakey filets with an utterly delicious topping that will have everyone wanting more. 

Baked halibut with herbed mayonnaise crust on a plate.

If you need one go-to, no-fail halibut recipe, this is it! While it’s fun to get creative with halibut and make something like halibut ceviche, when you’re looking for the perfect foolproof weeknight meal it’s got to be this baked halibut. It’s the halibut recipe I make most often in my house and I never tire of it.

When I was a kid I visited my aunt and uncle in Alaska and caught a huge halibut (see photo proof on the video below!), and I’ve been a fan of halibut ever since. It’s light yet meaty, boasts tons of nutrients, and doesn’t need much to make it taste amazing.

But to keep it extra moist as it cooks, I took the same route of my dijon baked salmon and whipped up this herby, lemon-y, mayonnaise spread to slather on top. And when you take that first bite, you won’t believe how easy it was to create such a healthy yet impressive dinner recipe!   

Ingredients for baked halibut on a table

Baked Halibut Ingredients

Just 5 ingredients plus the halibut are all you need!

  • Mayonnaise: I always default to my homemade mayonnaise recipe, but feel free to use store-bought as well.  
  • Shallot: Adds a mild onion and garlicky flavor with a beautiful pop of pink! 
  • Lemon Juice: Definitely use fresh squeezed lemon juice for the freshest flavor.
  • Herbs: I love chives for this recipe, but any fresh herbs will work!
  • Dijon Mustard: Gives it just a kick of that spicy mustard flavor without being overpowering. 
  • Halibut: This recipe calls for 4 fillets, but keep reading to see how to shop for the perfect ones! 

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

How To Buy Halibut

While you can find halibut year-round, peak season for fresh-caught Pacific halibut (which I recommend) is March through October. So when you’re in the midst of halibut season, keep your eyes peeled for fish with a firm flesh that’s translucent and glistening. Avoid any fillets with discoloration, yellow-ish fat, or chalky white spots. 

Can you buy frozen halibut? You sure can! Frozen halibut is flash frozen right when it’s caught, which helps maintain its freshness, and allows you to store it in your freezer. It’s a win-win option!

Making baked halibut in a ceramic baking pan.

How To Make This Easy Baked Halibut Recipe

In a short 20 minutes, you’ll have beautiful halibut fillets ready to serve! To get started, preheat your oven to 400F, then follow along below. 

  • Make the herbed mayonnaise. In a small bowl, mix together the mayo, mustard, shallots, parsley, half of the chives, lemon juice, and pepper.
  • Spread the herbed mayonnaise on your fillets. Place your halibut fillets in a baking dish brushed with oil. Then evenly spoon the mayo mixture on top of each fillet.  
  • Bake away! Pop this dish in the oven and bake for 15-17 minutes. Then right before the fish is done, turn on your broiler for an extra 1-2 minutes to give it that slightly golden crust. 
  • Garnish and serve. Sprinkle the rest of the chives on top for a fresh green touch, and you’re ready to serve!
Baked halibut fillets on a plate next to cilantro

A Few Extra Tips

  • Try to buy fillets the same size. This will ensure even cooking amongst all the fillets, and hopefully prevent overcooking them. 
  • Speaking of overcooking. It’s best to slightly undercook the halibut rather than overcook it. Halibut doesn’t contain much oil, so it’s prone to drying out more quickly. But good news, the mayonnaise crust acts as a barrier to prevent overcooking as well! 

Ways To Serve Baked Halibut With Mayo

With how light and fresh these fillets are, think leafy greens and a variety of cooked veggies for the perfect pairing. 

A fork breaking into a baked hallibut.

How To Store And Reheat Baked Halibut

  • For storing: Have leftover fillets? They’ll keep for up to 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container. 
  • For reheating: To avoid drying out your halibut, reheat it low and slow. The microwave can be convenient and works just fine. But if you have spare time, reheat it in the oven at 275F for about 15 minutes until it’s warmed through.

More Tasty, Easy Fish Recipes

The beauty of seafood is how easy it is to make in a wide variety of recipes. You can start with my best salmon recipes roundup, or a few of these reader favorites!

If you make this baked halibut, let me know how it turned out! I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below.

Easy Baked Halibut

4.96 from 44 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Lisa Bryan

Description

Baked halibut topped with a creamy, herbed mayonnaise crust is a dinner sensation! This quick and easy recipe gives you moist and flakey filets with an utterly delicious topping.

Video

Ingredients 
 

  • cup mayonnaise
  • 1 shallot, finely diced
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chives, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 4 halibut fillets

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 400F. In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, shallot, lemon juice, parsley, one tablespoon of chives (save the remaining for garnish), mustard, salt and pepper.
  • Lightly coat the inside of the baking dish with oil or butter (to prevent the halibut from sticking). Place the halibut filets in the baking dish. Then evenly spoon your mayonnaise mixture onto the top of the halibut filets.
    A baking dish of halibut fillets before baking.
  • Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes minutes being careful not to overcook. Just before the fish is done, turn on the top broiler of your oven for 1-2 minutes to make the top golden. The fish is done when it becomes opaque and flakes easily.
  • Remove the halibut from the oven and sprinkle the remaining chives on top before serving.
    Baked halibut fillets with an herbed mayonnaise crust.

Nutrition

Calories: 289kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 250mg | Potassium: 784mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 277IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baked halibut, baked halibut recipe, how to bake halibut
Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!

Recipe originally posted Oct 2014, but updated with new information.

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About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

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