21 Easy, No-Stress Recipes For Your Feast Of The Seven Fishes Dinner This Year (That Even Seafood Skeptics Will Love)

Crispy fried calamari is a Feast of the Seven Fishes classic, and this version delivers that irresistible light crunch without turning greasy or tough. A few smart technique tips help the squid cook up tender and golden every time, perfect for piling onto a platter with lemon wedges and marinara.

Recipe: Crispy Fried Calamari 

I used to believe I wasn’t an anchovy person...how wrong I was. This pasta combines the rich, umami flavors of anchovies with an anchovy-Parm breadcrumb topping for a dish that’s both unfussy and deeply flavorful.

Recipe: Tomato and Anchovy Pasta

Steamed mussels feel like a restaurant dish, but this version couldn’t be more doable at home. They cook in a white wine broth infused with garlic, shallots, herbs, and a squeeze of lemon, resulting in a light, aromatic sauce.

Recipe: Mussels with White Wine Broth

If you love oysters, roasted oysters are one of the easiest ways to serve them at home (in other words, no shucking required). A quick blast in a hot oven naturally pops the shells open, leaving you with tender oysters ready for drizzling. 

Recipe: Roasted Oysters

This one-pan salmon is quick, cozy, and perfect for a busy Christmas Eve kitchen. The garlic butter sauce keeps the fillets tender while the broccoli roasts alongside, resulting in a full dish with minimal cleanup.

Recipe: One Pan Garlic Butter Salmon

An ode to his father’s linguine, this nostalgic, garlic-forward dish uses canned clams for convenience and affordability. It’s saucy, comforting, and of course, like many of the dishes in this list, you’ll want a nice hunk of warm bread to soak up every bit of that subtly sweet broth.

Recipe: Doug’s Clams Linguine

This super simple baked cod is roasted with burst tomatoes, garlic, lemon, and herbs. It’s a nice, lighter addition that will help balance some of the heavier dishes (and requires just 10 minutes of hands-on time before you pop it in the oven).

Recipe: Baked Cod

This delightful dish combines fresh-cut pasta, buttery poached lobster and shrimp, and a tomato cream sauce. It’s luxurious, celebratory, and fits perfectly on a Christmas Eve table.

Recipe: Tomato, Lobster, and Shrimp Fettuccine

Snowy grilling session, anyone? Grilled whole branzino might feel intimidating, but it’s surprisingly simple to make. With its crispy skin, tender flaky flesh, and bright lemony herbs, it brings a rustic Mediterranean flair to your table. (If branzino isn’t available, any mild whole fish works just as well.)

Recipe: Grilled Branzino

This fiery shrimp dish brings the perfect amount of heat to your Feast of the Seven Fishes, thanks to an aromatic tomato sauce infused with garlic, white wine, and plenty of chili flakes. It’s fast, colorful, and ideal for serving with bread or pasta.

Recipe: Shrimp Fra Diavolo

These crisp, pan-fried crab cakes are packed with lump crab and just enough seasoning. They chill, fry, and serve beautifully, which makes them a great make-ahead appetizer for a busy Christmas Eve spread.

Recipe: Crab Cakes

This garlicky lemon shrimp adds a little decadence to the table with minimal effort. The shrimp cook in minutes and finish in a buttery citrus pan sauce (that you’ll want to spoon over everything).

Recipe: Garlic Lemon Shrimp

This luxurious riff on linguine alle vongole uses Champagne and a splash of cream to create a lovely, silky sauce. It’s classic Italian comfort with a festive twist and a fantastic pairing for a glass of Christmas Eve bubbles.

Recipe: Champagne and Cream Clams with Linguine

These scallops get a deep golden crust in just a few minutes, then finish in a buttery garlic pan sauce. (Are you sensing the garlic sauce theme yet?) They’re elegant, fast, and a nice choice for adding something a little fancy to your lineup. Serve with fresh chives.

Recipe: Seared Scallops

Made with tender squid tossed with celery, red onion, roasted peppers, garlic, and plenty of fresh parsley, this light, lemony salad whips up fast and only gets better as it marinates.

Recipe: Chilled Calamari Salad

This spicy, seafood-packed pasta comes together in just 30 minutes and is loaded with shrimp, mussels, clams, and squid simmered in a garlic-packed, chili-kissed arrabiata sauce. Guests will assume you spent hours over the stove (when you absolutely did not).

Recipe: Frutti Di Mare 

This longtime reader favorite proves that simple ingredients really do shine. The shrimp bake quickly in a buttery, garlic sauce. And we love the drizzle of extra lemon juice and sprinkle of fresh parsley.

Recipe: Garlicky Baked Shrimp

This octopus salad brings tender octopus together with creamy potatoes, olives, and an olive oil and vinegar dressing. It’s a beautiful way to incorporate the octopus tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes with a hearty twist (thanks to the potatoes).

Recipe: Mediterranean Octopus Salad

Brushed with a buttery mix of paprika, garlic, lemon, and parsley, this lobster bakes in under 15 minutes. For those looking for an elegant lobster dish for your feast, this one delivers just that. 

Recipe: Baked Lobster Tails

This quick sautéed calamari skips the heavy breading and deep frying in favor of a bright, Mediterranean twist. Tender rings cook in minutes with garlic, white wine, and a squeeze of fresh lime, then finish with fresh dill for a light and easy dish.

Recipe: Mediterranean Calamari