The Ultimate Summer Seafood BBQ Guide

by Paul Levy May 12, 2026

Summer is the perfect time to get outdoors, light the barbecue and enjoy relaxed food with family and friends. While burgers and sausages often dominate traditional BBQs, seafood is one of the best and most underrated things you can cook over fire.

From quick and easy skewers to whole fish cooked over charcoal, seafood offers incredible flavour, lighter summer eating and endless variety for outdoor cooking. Whether you are planning a quiet evening meal in the garden, a Bank Holiday gathering, or a full seafood feast for guests, there are options for every level of confidence on the BBQ.

This guide covers everything from simple seafood BBQ ideas and nibbles to whole fish cooking, marinades, preparation tips and serving suggestions to help you make the most of seafood this summer.

Why Seafood Works So Well on the BBQ

Seafood and fire are a perfect combination. The smoky flavour from charcoal or flame complements fish beautifully, while the high heat helps create crisp skin, caramelisation and rich grilled flavour without needing complicated preparation.

Unlike heavier BBQ foods, seafood also cooks quickly, making it ideal for entertaining. You spend less time standing over the grill and more time enjoying the occasion.

Seafood BBQs also feel naturally summery. Fresh citrus, herbs, salads and grilled vegetables pair perfectly alongside fish and shellfish, creating meals that feel lighter and fresher without sacrificing flavour.

Fast cooking times
Great smoky flavour
Less heavy than traditional BBQ food
Excellent for sharing
Perfect for summer entertaining
Huge variety of cooking styles

Easy Seafood BBQ Wins

If you are new to cooking seafood on the BBQ, starting with simple, reliable options is the best approach. Firm fish, prepared skewers and marinated seafood products are often easiest to manage because they hold together well and cook quickly.

Tuna Steaks

Tuna is one of the easiest fish to barbecue successfully. Because it is firm and meaty, it behaves more like steak on the grill than delicate white fish.

Fresh Tuna Steaks are ideal for summer BBQs and work best cooked rare to medium-rare with a quick sear over high heat. A little olive oil, sea salt and black pepper is often all you need.

For a stronger flavour, Teriyaki Tuna is a great option for BBQ cooking, especially when served with rice, grilled vegetables or an Asian-style salad.

Swordfish Steaks

Swordfish is another excellent BBQ fish thanks to its firm texture and ability to hold together over direct heat. It is a brilliant option for anyone who wants something substantial and filling while still keeping meals fresh and summery.

Chilli, Ginger & Lemon Swordfish works particularly well on the barbecue, with the marinade helping create rich caramelisation and smoky flavour.

For a simpler base, Swordfish Portions can be seasoned with lemon, garlic, herbs or chilli before grilling.

Prawn Skewers

Skewers are one of the simplest and most popular seafood BBQ options. They are easy to cook, easy to serve and perfect for relaxed summer entertaining.

Marinated Prawn Skewers are ready for the grill and packed with flavour, making them ideal for quick summer meals or larger BBQ spreads.

Serve them with fresh salad, rice dishes, flatbreads, grilled vegetables or sauces from the condiments and sauces collection.

Salmon Fillets

Salmon is another fantastic BBQ option, particularly when cooked skin-side down over medium heat. The skin protects the fish while cooking and crisps beautifully on the grill.

Fresh Salmon Fillets are a reliable choice for family BBQs, while Chilli, Ginger and Lemon Salmon adds extra flavour with very little effort.

Salmon also works well with lemon, dill, garlic butter, honey glazes or soy-based marinades.

Scallops

Scallops cook incredibly quickly and develop beautiful caramelisation on the BBQ. The key is not overcooking them. A few minutes per side over high heat is usually enough.

Fresh Scallops, King Scallops and Queen Scallops all work well with lemon butter, garlic and fresh herbs.

For an easy sharing option, Queen Scallops in Half Shell can be cooked and served directly in the shell for a simple but impressive BBQ starter.

BBQ Nibbles & Sharing Food

Not every seafood BBQ needs to revolve around large cuts of fish. Smaller seafood dishes and sharing food can completely transform summer gatherings and are often some of the most popular things on the table.

Squid Rings and Squid Bites

Squid works brilliantly as a BBQ nibble or sharing dish. It can be cooked quickly, served with dips and enjoyed as part of a larger seafood spread.

Plain Squid Rings are a useful base for seasoning and grilling, while Salt & Chilli Squid Strips, Sweet Chilli Squid Bites and Crispy Squid are great for easy summer sharing food.

Serve with lemon wedges, garlic mayonnaise, sweet chilli sauce or aioli.

Whitebait

Crispy whitebait makes a fantastic seafood nibble for summer entertaining. It is easy to serve, quick to prepare and works well with simple dips.

Whitebait is ideal for sharing boards, starter plates or casual garden gatherings.

Tempura Prawns

While not traditionally cooked directly on the grill, tempura prawns work brilliantly alongside BBQ dishes as part of a seafood spread.

Tempura Prawns add crunch and variety, making them ideal for guests to pick at while the main seafood cooks on the BBQ.

Mussels and Clams

Mussels and clams can be cooked on the BBQ in trays or pans with garlic butter, white wine, chilli and parsley. As they steam open, they absorb smoky flavour from the grill and create one of the best seafood sharing dishes possible.

Menai Mussels and Conwy Mussels are both excellent options for a local seafood BBQ. For shellfish trays, Frozen Clams in Half Shell can also work well with garlic, parsley and lemon.

Always discard any shells that do not open after cooking.

Cooking Whole Fish on the BBQ

Cooking whole fish on the BBQ might sound intimidating at first, but it is one of the most rewarding ways to cook seafood outdoors. Whole fish retains moisture beautifully and develops incredible flavour over charcoal or flame.

It also creates a real centrepiece for summer entertaining.

What is Butterflying?

Butterflying is a preparation method where the fish is split open and laid flat. This helps it cook more evenly, allows smoke and flavour to penetrate, creates crispier skin and reduces cooking time.

Butterflied Rainbow Trout is a great example of fish prepared in a way that works beautifully on the BBQ.

Best Whole Fish for BBQ Cooking

Some fish naturally work better than others over direct heat. The best choices usually have firmer flesh, skin intact and enough natural oil to stay moist during cooking.

Good options include Fresh Whole Mackerel, Whole Rainbow Trout, Whole Sardines and Whole Sea Bream.

These fish hold together well while developing fantastic grilled flavour.

Stuffing Whole Fish

One of the best things about cooking whole fish is the ability to stuff flavour inside the cavity. Classic combinations include lemon and parsley, rosemary and garlic, chilli and lime, or thyme and butter.

As the fish cooks, these flavours infuse throughout the flesh.

Cooking Whole Fish Properly

Whole fish benefits from medium rather than aggressive heat. Too much direct flame can burn the skin before the inside cooks properly.

Helpful tools include fish baskets, grill mats and lightly oiled grates. The fish is usually ready when the flesh flakes easily, the skin lifts cleanly and the backbone pulls away smoothly.

More Adventurous BBQ Seafood Ideas

Once you are confident with steaks, skewers and whole fish, there are plenty of more adventurous seafood options to try.

Octopus

Octopus can be brilliant on the BBQ, but it usually needs pre-cooking first to make sure it is tender. Once prepared, it can be finished over high heat to create charred edges and smoky flavour.

Whole Octopus is a great option for confident BBQ cooks looking to try something more distinctive.

Sea Bass

Sea bass is a summer favourite thanks to its delicate flavour and versatility. While whole sea bass is excellent on the BBQ, fillets can also work well when cooked carefully.

Fresh Sea Bass Fillets are best cooked with care, either in a fish basket, on a grill mat or with a little foil support to prevent sticking.

Sardines

Sardines are ideal for charcoal grilling. Their natural oil content helps them stay moist and gives them a rich, smoky flavour.

Whole Sardines are perfect with lemon, sea salt, parsley and crusty bread.

Seafood Marinades & Flavours

Seafood absorbs flavour quickly, making marinades and dressings an excellent way to add variety to summer BBQs. Unlike some meats, seafood rarely needs hours of marinating. Often 20 to 30 minutes is enough.

Citrus & Herb

Lemon, lime and herbs are classic seafood BBQ flavours for good reason. They keep dishes tasting fresh and complement smoky grilled flavour beautifully.

Great herbs include parsley, dill, coriander and thyme.

Garlic Butter

Garlic butter is one of the easiest and most effective seafood accompaniments. It works brilliantly with prawns, scallops, lobster, mussels and whole fish.

Chilli & Ginger

Chilli marinades add heat and sweetness that work especially well with firmer fish like tuna, salmon and swordfish. Chilli, Ginger & Lemon Swordfish and Chilli, Ginger and Lemon Salmon are both strong BBQ choices for this flavour profile.

Soy & Sesame

Asian-inspired flavours also work exceptionally well with seafood. Soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger and spring onions pair brilliantly with tuna, salmon and prawns.

Browse the condiments and sauces collection for easy ways to add extra flavour to seafood BBQ dishes.

Essential Seafood BBQ Tips

Cooking seafood outdoors is straightforward, but a few simple techniques can make a huge difference.

Preheat the Grill

Seafood benefits from a properly heated grill. Hot grates help prevent sticking, create grill marks and cook seafood quickly and evenly.

Oil the Grill Lightly

Fish is naturally more delicate than meat. A lightly oiled grill helps prevent tearing and sticking.

Don’t Overcook

One of the most common mistakes with seafood is overcooking it. Seafood cooks much faster than most meats and can dry out quickly if left unattended.

As a general rule, prawns cook in minutes, tuna should stay slightly pink inside, squid needs quick high heat and scallops should remain soft in the centre.

Use Two Heat Zones

If using charcoal, having both high and lower heat areas helps massively. You can sear over direct heat, then move seafood to gentler heat to finish cooking.

Keep Seafood Simple

One of the biggest mistakes with seafood BBQs is overcomplicating them. Fresh seafood rarely needs excessive seasoning or sauces. Good ingredients cooked properly are usually enough.

Great Summer BBQ Side Ideas

Seafood works brilliantly with lighter summer sides and grilled vegetables.

Charred asparagus
Corn on the cob
Mediterranean salads
New potatoes
Garlic bread
Grilled courgettes
Fresh slaws
Citrus dressings

Simple side dishes help seafood remain the focus of the meal.

Hosting a Seafood BBQ

Seafood BBQs feel naturally social and work perfectly for entertaining. Because seafood cooks quickly, it allows hosts to spend more time with guests and less time cooking.

Sharing boards and mixed seafood spreads also work brilliantly, especially when combining grilled prawns, skewers, whole fish, scallops, sauces, dips, grilled vegetables, salads and breads.

For a balanced BBQ spread, combine easy items such as Marinated Prawn Skewers with more substantial options such as Fresh Tuna Steaks or Chilli, Ginger & Lemon Swordfish.

Seafood BBQs for Every Skill Level

One of the best things about seafood BBQ cooking is that it works for every level of confidence.

Beginners can start with skewers, tuna steaks, salmon, prawns and prepared squid. More experienced BBQ cooks can progress towards whole fish, butterflied fish, shellfish trays, octopus and mixed seafood feasts.

There is always something new to try.

Fresh Seafood Delivered Across the UK

Planning a seafood BBQ is easier when high-quality fish and shellfish can be ordered online and delivered directly to your door.

Mermaid Seafoods offers free local delivery on qualifying orders, delivery across all LL and CH postcodes for £4.50 per box, and nationwide UK delivery for customers further afield.

Popular BBQ choices include:

Browse the full Mermaid Seafoods range online and get everything ready for your next summer BBQ.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish is best for the BBQ?

Firm fish such as tuna, swordfish, salmon, mackerel and whole trout work particularly well because they hold together during cooking.

Can seafood be cooked directly on the grill?

Yes, although lightly oiling the grill first helps prevent sticking. Delicate fish can also be cooked in a fish basket, on a grill mat or over citrus slices.

How long does seafood take to cook on a BBQ?

Most seafood cooks very quickly, often within just a few minutes per side depending on thickness. Prawns, squid and scallops are especially quick.

Are seafood skewers good for BBQs?

Yes. Seafood skewers are one of the easiest and most popular options for outdoor cooking and entertaining.

Can you BBQ whole fish?

Yes. Whole fish is excellent on the BBQ, especially when cooked over medium heat with herbs, lemon and a little oil. Butterflied fish can also be easier to cook evenly.

About Mermaid Seafoods

Mermaid Seafoods is a family-run seafood business based in North Wales, supplying fresh, frozen and prepared seafood to homes and businesses across the UK.

Known for quality produce, reliable service and carefully selected seafood, Mermaid Seafoods supplies everything from everyday fish and shellfish to BBQ favourites, smoked products and prepared seafood dishes.

Wherever possible, products are sourced locally and prepared with freshness and quality in mind.

Whether you are planning a summer BBQ, stocking up for entertaining or simply looking for high-quality seafood delivered to your door, Mermaid Seafoods offers a wide range of products available online with local, regional and nationwide delivery options available.

Shop the full range at Mermaid Seafoods.