This delicious oven-baked walleye recipe is not only incredibly healthy but also perfect for showcasing the fresh, delicate flavors of your freshly caught fish. In less than 45 minutes, you can have a mouthwatering meal ready to serve that will impress your family and friends.
With just four simple ingredients, Lake Michigan walleye has never tasted so good! Fresh walleye fillets become wonderfully tender and bright white when cooked, offering a delectable texture that melts in your mouth.
While there are many ways to prepare walleye, oven-baking is the healthiest method, preserving the natural flavors and nutrients of the fish without adding unnecessary fats.
This easy baked walleye recipe is ideal for anyone looking to enjoy a nutritious and satisfying meal with minimal effort. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a seafood lover, this dish is sure to become a favorite in your kitchen.
Serve it alongside your favorite sides for a wholesome and delicious dining experience. I have been making this baked walleye recipe for more than 25 years, so this is a highly tested recipe that I serve my family often!
How to Make Oven Baked Walleye – Video
Learn how to make my oven baked walleye with step by step video instructions. Preparing walleye with this cooking method is so easy and very healthy.
Lake Michigan Fishing Charters
Lake Michigan Fishing Charters is a very popular outdoor sporting activity in Manistee, Michigan. If you want to go fishing on Lake Michigan, then you must contact Captain Jeff Bajtka of Brown Bear Charters.
He fishes for King/Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown and Lake Trout depending on the time of year that you want to fish. Contact Jeff at 231-510-1366 or to learn more about Brown Bear Sport Fishing Charters.
Jeff Bajtka has more than 20 years experience in sport fishing on Manistee’s Lake Michigan. Spend a half or whole day on the beautiful water of Lake Michigan leaving out of the Manistee port.
If you want to know about walleye fishing, my advice is to talk to a local fisherman. They hold a wealth of knowledge.
When I was a kid my legendary uncle, Emil Dean, would take my family and I out on the Lake Michigan in his charter boat the Mary E. Captain Emil Dean paved the way for all of the fishing charters in Michigan.
Do You Eat the Skin on Walleye?
No, whenever I cook walleye fillets, the skin is removed. When cleaning the walleye, make sure to remove the skin and all of the bones.
Does Walleye Have Bones?
Yes, walleye fish have what is known as Y bones. Check out this YouTube video on how to properly remove the bones from walleye.
How to Cook Walleye
Step 1: Gather Ingredients and Pre-heat Oven: Gather all of your ingredients to make your oven-baked walleye. Pre-heat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Step 2: Prepare the Baking Sheet: Using a standard baking sheet, cut a piece of foil that is double the size of the sheet pan. Cover the sheet pan with ½ of the foil so that the shiny side is down and the dull side is up. The idea is to be able to fold the other ½ of the foil over the fish and seal it to cook. Spread olive oil on the sheet pan foil. Sprinkle some of the seasoned salt and pepper onto the oiled foil.
Step 3: Arrange the Walleye Fillets: Lay the walleye fillets in a single layer on top of the seasoned oil, making sure to do this on the sheet pan. Lightly season the fish fillets one last time.
Step 4: Add Onion Rings: Slice the onion into thin rings, separate the rings, and place them on top of the walleye fillets.
Creating a Foil Pouch for Walleye
Step 5: Seal the Foil Pouch: Fold the foil over so that you completely cover the fish. Roll the foil ends together starting with the opposite side of the folded foil. Then, roll both the end sides to completely seal the fish into the foil pouch.
Step 6: Poke Holes in the Foil Pouch: With a sharp knife, gently poke a few holes into the top of the foil pouch. Make sure not to puncture the bottom of the foil.
How Long to Bake Walleye?
Step 7: Bake the Walleye: Place the sheet pan into the pre-heated 350°F (175°C) oven and bake for 30 to 45 minutes. Check the oven-baked walleye after 30 minutes to see if the fish is done. Use a fork to try and flake the thickest part of the fish. The fish should flake easily and be white in color. If you see any translucent color or if the fillets do not want to flake apart easily, put them back into the oven and cook for 10–15 minutes longer.
More Seafood Recipes
Want to add a little something special to my walleye dish? Make this spicy tuna tartare and add to the top!!
If you liked this walleye recipe then you might like this Salt and Pepper Squid! Try this Camarones a la Diabla recipe and this Air Fryer Tilapia.
What to Serve with Baked Walleye
We eat a lot of baked walleye, so I like to mix the side dishes up a little. I love to use fresh vegetables from the garden and farmers markets!
You can make this Cucumber Tomato Onion Salad with Feta, and a mediterranean salad. Another family favorite is smoked asparagus and griddle grilled corn on the cob.
Oven Walleye – Frequently Asked Question
Yes, when you cover the fish when baking it creates a steaming affect. This is what cooks the walleye in 30 to 45 minutes.
Oven Walleye Recipe
For the full recipe sandwich and nutrition facts, click below.
Oven-Baked Walleye Recipe
This delicious oven-baked walleye recipe is freshly caught and so healthy. In less than 45 minutes, this easy baked walleye recipe is ready to serve. With only 4 ingredients, Lake Michigan Walleye never tasted so good!! When cooked, fresh walleye fillets are super tender and bright white in color.
Ingredients
- Walleye Fillets 2 pounds
- Onion, White - Sliced 1/2 cup
- Olive Oil 1 tablespoon
- Salt, Lawry's 1/2 teaspoon
- Pepper, Seasoning 1/4 teaspoon
Instructions
- Gather all of the ingredients to make your oven-baked walleye recipe.
- Pre-heat the oven to 350° F.
- Using a standard baking sheet pan, cut a piece of foil that is double the size of the pan.
- Cover the baking sheet pan with ½ of the foil so that the shiny side is down, and the dull side of the foil is up. This is to be able to fold the other ½ of the foil over the fish and seal to cook.
- Spread the olive oil on the foil over top the sheet pan.
- Sprinkle some of the seasoned salt and pepper onto the olive oiled foil.
- Lay the walleye fillets in a single layer on top of the seasoned olive oil, making sure that you are doing this on the center of the sheet pan.
- Lightly season the tops of the fish fillets.
- Slice the white onion into thin rings and separate the rings. Place the rings onto the top of the walleye fillets.
- Carefully, fold the foil over so that you are completely covering fish. Roll the ends of the foil together starting with the opposite side of the folded foil. Then fold the next side and then the last side to completely sealing the fish into the foil pouch.
- With a knife, poke a few holes into the top of the foil pouch. Make sure to not puncture the bottom of the foil.
How Long to Bake Walleye - Place the pan into the pre-heated oven and bake for 30 to 45 minutes.
- Check the oven baked walleye fish after 30 minutes to see if the cooked fish is done. To do this, use a fork to flake the thickest part of the fish. You want the walleye to flake easily and be white in color. If you see any translucent color of the fish or if the fillets do not want to flake apart easily, then put back into the oven and cook for another 10 – 15 minutes longer.
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 116Total Fat 4gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 68mgSodium 306mgCarbohydrates 3gFiber 0gSugar 1gProtein 16g
Note: For exact nutritional information, consult your dietitian. All nutritional information is simply a guideline.
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I have everything I need for this dish, can’t wait to make it this weekend!
Shadi, you will not be disappointed! So healthy and a great source of protein.
I’m not sure that I’e ever had walleye and it’s not one we have here, but I do like baking fish in foil so can see this seasoning working with other fish too.
Such a simple and fresh preparation – perfect for a fresh fish like this. Hoping to get my hands on some Walleye now to try it out!
I love this recipe! I was on the hunt for a simple but delish walleye recipe when I found this one. So amazing – everybody loved it!
Thank you Jenn! Our family has baked walleye about once a week. So healthy and great tasting!!
I plan to make this tonight. 30-45 minutes seems like a long time. Does it overcook the fish? I realize 350 isn’t that hot though.
It depends on how thick your walleye is. If it is thinner filets then you can cut down the time to 20 to 30 minutes. Just make sure to check the fish and make sure it’s done by pulling the layers apart and the fish meat should be all white in color. Let me know how it turned out.
Delicious!!! 5 Stars!! Thank you my husband and I enjoyed this recipe so much!!
Can you bake the walleye from frozen? Or do I have to unthaw it first?
I have not made this recipe with frozen fish so I can not give you an answer. I don’t see why you couldn’t. Just extend the baking time a little longer but make sure not to over cook the fish. If you make it, let me know how it turns out and I will update my post.
This recipe made the walleye a 5 star dinner! Now I can freely accept my son’s catch of the day and know how to make it delicious. Thank you Michigantothetable!
I am happy that you liked this walleye recipe! Baked walleye is on our menu quite often.
Just had the walleye dinner and couldn’t wait to send you a message. So easy to prepare. It will definitely be my go to fish recipe. Only one question. The film of how to cook it had butter instead of the oil. So I comprise and put oil on the bottom and then I used butter on the top. I was just wondering why. Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe.
In this walleye recipe I have used butter, margarine, and olive oil. All these work great and gives the fish great flavor along with your spices. My spices have also been switched up. I prefer to use spices that my family is used to which is Lawry’s seasoned salt and Morton Natures Seasonings. When I use other different seasonings, my family has a tendency not to like it as well as when I use ingredients that they are used too.
This recipe looks delish and I’m getting ready to try it. My neighbor brings me fresh caught Lake Erie walleye, all I gotta do is clean it. Growing up by the Bay of Bengal in Calcutta, we ate all parts of the fish so I use everything, even the head (in different dishes), so much nutrition that I hate to waste. Just wanted to comment on the use of the skin which has a lot of good components and is delicious. I’m posting a link which says it better than I can: https://honest-food.net/why-eat-fish-skin/#:~:text=Some%20fish%2C%20like%20salmon%20or,we're%20all%20looking%20for.
Great resource! Thanks for the information.