Grilled Trout Recipe
This grilled trout is light, flavorful, and incredibly easy to prepare, making it a great grilling choice, no matter how much experience you have. Learn how to grill trout with these step-by-step instructions and two options to prevent the fish from sticking to the grill. Serve the lightly seasoned grilled rainbow trout with a veggie (air fryer broccoli or haricot vert) and a carb (cheesy potatoes or tortellini salad) for a delicious and nutritious meal.
If you love grilling, be sure to try my grilled tilapia in foil, grilled salmon in foil, chicken Caesar pasta salad, or turkey burger sliders next time you need an easy meal.
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
What You’ll Love About Grilled Trout
- Nutritious and delicious
- Simply seasoned, so pairs well with anything
- Made with just a few ingredients
- Just 2 minutes prep time
- About 10 minutes cook time
Ingredients
- Trout – Depending on where you live, you might be able to find fresh lake trout, or you can buy it frozen. Many stores stock trout (at least here in the Midwest!), but buy the best quality you can.
- Butter – Use high quality butter for best flavor.
- Seasoning – Keep things simple with the classic flavor of Old Bay seasoning, or try freshly minced garlic cloves. Both are great options that will let the trout shine. You could also use lemon pepper, which would be delicious.
How to Grill Trout
This is an overview on how to make trout on the grill, the detailed instructions can be found below in the recipe card.
Two Ways to Cook Trout on the Grill So It Doesn’t Stick
This rainbow trout on the grill is so simple, but you do need to be careful that your fish doesn’t stick to the grill. I have two methods that help prevent sticking:
- Fish Grill Basket – Lake trout is pretty fragile, so I highly suggest using a fish grilling basket.
- Aluminum Foil – If you don’t have a grill basket, you can DIY your own foil platter. Fold up edges to contain liquid and make sure to put some olive oil or butter on the skin side so that you can easily flip the fish over.
FAQs
What does lake trout taste like?
Cooking fresh trout on the grill is a great way to simply season this delicate fish! Lake trout is not super-fishy, but more of a mild flavor and delicate white fish that takes on whatever you season it with.
How long should you cook trout on the grill?
As I mentioned above, cooking trout on grill will just take a few minutes per side to cook through. If it’s a thin piece, it will take 3-5 minutes per side.
How do you know when trout is done?
Cook fish to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F, or until it flakes easily and is opaque in color. The best way to know when your trout is done is to use an instant read meat thermometer.
Do you eat the skin on grilled trout?
You can definitely eat the skin, it’s really about personal preference. Fish skin is best when it’s nice and crispy, so I would recommend grilling or searing in a hot skillet until the crispy skin is golden and crunchy.
Can I grill a whole rainbow trout?
Yes, you’ll cook a whole fish in a very similar way. Season the inside of the fish and grill in the same way – foil pack, grill basket, or if you have really clean grates and you oil the skin, directly on the grill. Use a meat thermometer for the most accurate cooking as a whole trout will take longer than fillets.
Is grilled trout healthy?
Well I say everything is healthy. 🙂 Some foods are more nutritious than others, but all food serves a purpose. This rainbow trout recipe is a great source of protein and has great FLAVOR. So I would say, yes, grilled trout is incredibly delicious AND nutritious.
Can you cook trout like salmon?
Salmon is obviously a different fish, but you can use similar cooking methods, check out these recipes for inspiration: grilled salmon in foil, baked salmon with panko, air fryer salmon, or baked salmon with dill butter.
Storage Instructions
Store any leftover grilled trout in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
How to reheat
Reheat fish in a hot skillet or a 350 degree F oven until heated through.
Can you freeze grilled trout?
Yes you can freeze grilled trout in an airtight container for 2-3 months, but it is best fresh.
What to Serve with Grilled Rainbow Trout
All this recipe for grilled trout dinner needs is a simple side or two:
How to Feed Trout to the Whole Family
I get it, feeding kids can be tough! But following the Division of Responsibility and knowing your job and your child’s job makes it SO much more enjoyable. You’ll be able to feed your kids any meal, which will help ensure that they are eating a variety of nutritious foods – with plenty of play food sprinkled in.
I would recommend serving a piece of the rainbow trout in a pinch bowl (taster bowl) if it’s a new or learning-to-like it food. Serve the meal with a few items you know your kids will eat, like fruit, milk, and/or bread and butter.
More Grilling Recipes
If you like grilled trout recipes like this one, you might also like some of these other grilling recipes:
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Grilled Trout Recipe
- Prep Time: 2 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 12 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Grill
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This grilled trout recipe is simply seasoned, delicious, and nutritious. Quick and easy, ready in less than 15 minutes.
Ingredients
- 4 6–oz. lake trout fillets
- 2 Tbsp. butter
- 2 tsp. old bay seasoning OR 4 cloves minced garlic
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pre-heat grill to medium-high heat.
- Season trout. Pat fillet with paper towel and place onto grill basket or foil basket. Top with small pats of butter.
- Season as desired. Sprinkle lightly with old bay seasoning or minced garlic if using. Otherwise season with sea salt and black pepper to taste.
- Grill for about 3-5 minutes per side, skin side down first, until fish flakes easily. Thinner pieces will only take 3 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
- To prevent trout from sticking to grill, use a grill basket or make a foil basket. You can grill directly on grill grates, but make sure they are very clean and you oil the skin a bit to prevent it from sticking.
Food styling and photography by Loren Runion.
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That looks delicious. Can you believe I’ve never had Lake Trout? (And my dad is a MN fisherman through and through.)
Uh oh, you better try it! Can you get it in AZ?
My dad loves to fish, so growing up we’d have lake fish all the time. I love it! Usually my dad would broil it after rubbing it with oil and topping with his favorite: Lowry’s seasoning 🙂
I love trout!! This looks amazing!
I also LOVE the new look of your site! So pretty 🙂
It does remind me of salmon. Now I must try it to taste the difference!
1. Fish looks awesome!
2. Storyboard also looks awesome! 🙂
3. Love the print option with your recipe! Is that new?? That’s on my “list of blog updates” for this summer.
Thanks! 🙂 I’m loving the storyboard.
The recipe thing is a plugin – easy recipe – super easy to add and use!
What’s wrong with hiking in Minnesota? 😉
Ummm, I guess I just haven’t found the right place?! 🙂
Two words: NORTH SHORE.
(Dude, there’s a co-op in Grand Marais! You must eat at the Angry Trout!)
I know! I have been wanting to go up there, I just rarely have free weekends…and when I do…I kind of want to just hang out, you know? North Shore is definitely on my list though, I hear it is GORGEOUS!
I think I was spoiled growing up a mile away from Devil’s Lake State Park that has awesome hikes. 🙂
Mmmm! Trout is one fish we *DONT* have at the restaurant… but it’s so good!!
I don’t think I’ve ever had trout – but it looks SO good. I keep wanting to try more fish (I pretty much stick to salmon, salmon, salmon) so perhaps I’ll venture out with this recipe and add trout to the rotation! 🙂
Love those toes
Great fish pics! Love how simple fish recipes can taste so flavorful! I don’t eat much trout, but I do enjoy it! I live on the coast, so the haddock is cheapest where I’m from.
Great photos!!! It looks delicious!!
Sometimes it’s so refreshing to be outside without any technological distractions…In today’s day in age that is a rarity!
I haven’t eaten trout I awhile, but when I do I always enjoy it! Your recipe looks easy and delicious. I love it with almonds too! The one summer I was in Minnesota, I had Walleye which I really enjoyed!
I always get frustrated when ingredients that are included in the list of ingredients but not included in the instructions. In this case, old bay seasoning and/or garlic are listed in the ingredients but void in the instructions
Super annoying, sorry about that! I updated it. Thanks for letting me know. 🙂
Followed recipe as is and it was delicious!!!
So glad you enjoyed it, thanks Barbara!