Creamy Baked Halibut Recipe – Easy 50-Minute Dinner

Creamy baked halibut earns a permanent spot in my weekly rotation because it turns a plain white fish into something that tastes like a restaurant plate, and the whole thing comes together in one baking dish.

The fish stays moist under a blanket of garlicky cream and Parmesan, and the sauce thickens just enough to spoon over rice or mashed potatoes. You need no specialty equipment, just a skillet and a baking dish.

I keep the seasoning simple on purpose so the sweet, mild halibut can shine through the sauce. If you have never cooked halibut before, this is the recipe to start with.

About the Ingredients

6 (6-ounce / 170g) halibut fillets, about 1 inch thick

Look for fillets of even thickness so they cook at the same rate; cod, haddock, or thick sea bass are fine swaps. Ask the fish counter for the thickest center-cut pieces they have.

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

Kosher salt is less dense than table salt, so use half the amount if you only have fine table salt. Sea salt works too.

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Fresh-cracked pepper tastes brighter than pre-ground; white pepper is a milder substitute if you want a smoother sauce.

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Salted butter works, but then cut the added salt in the sauce by half. Margarine is not a great swap here because it can separate.

3 garlic cloves, finely minced

Use fresh garlic, not the jarred paste, for the best flavor; 1 teaspoon garlic powder can stand in if you are out.

1 cup heavy cream

Half-and-half will work but the sauce will be thinner; for a lighter version use 3/4 cup whole milk plus 1 tablespoon cornstarch.

3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Grate it yourself from a block, because pre-shredded Parmesan has anti-caking starch that makes the sauce grainy. Pecorino Romano is a sharper swap.

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Bottled lemon juice is fine in a pinch; a splash of dry white wine adds a similar bright note.

1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves

Dried thyme works at half the amount; chopped parsley or dill are good alternatives.

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Skip it if you do not have it; chopped chives or dill make a fine garnish.

Tips & Tricks

Do not skip patting the fish dry

Moisture on the surface steams the fillets instead of letting them bake up tender and flaky.

Keep the heat gentle

If your cream starts to bubble hard, lower the oven to 375F (190C) so the sauce does not break.

Season the sauce, not just the fish

Taste the cream mixture before pouring it on, since the fish will absorb some of that salt.

• Pull the dish out early if your fillets are thin: A 3/4-inch fillet can be done 5 minutes sooner, so check with a thermometer.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Heat the oven and prepare the dish

Preheat the oven to 400F (200C) and lightly butter a 9x13-inch baking dish. Pat the halibut fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides with 1 teaspoon of the salt and the pepper.

2. Sauté the garlic

Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat, about 1 to 2 minutes, until it foams. Add the garlic and cook for 30 to 45 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not browned.

3. Build the cream sauce

Pour in the heavy cream and whisk in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, the lemon juice, and thyme. Simmer gently for 3 to 4 minutes, until the cream thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon, then stir in half the Parmesan until melted.

4. Arrange the fish

Lay the halibut fillets in the prepared baking dish in a single layer, leaving a little space between them. Pour the cream sauce evenly over the top so each fillet is coated.

5. Add the cheese

Scatter the remaining Parmesan over the fillets and sauce. This top layer turns golden and slightly crisp in the oven, which is the best part.

6. Bake until flaky

Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling at the edges and the fish flakes easily with a fork. The center of a thick fillet should read 135F to 140F (57C to 60C) on an instant-read thermometer.

7. Rest and garnish

Let the dish rest for 5 minutes so the sauce settles, then scatter the parsley over the top. Serve right away with rice, potatoes, or crusty bread for the sauce.

Delicious Variations

Lemon-Dill Version

Swap the thyme for 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill and add 1 teaspoon lemon zest to the cream for a brighter, spring-like sauce.

Mushroom Cream Halibut

Sauté 8 ounces sliced cremini mushrooms with the garlic before adding the cream, which deepens the sauce and stretches it further.

Spicy Cajun Halibut

Dust the fillets with 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning instead of the salt and pepper, then bake as written for a little heat against the rich cream.

How to Store Creamy Baked Halibut

Frequently Asked Questions

Give this creamy baked halibut a try on your next busy weeknight and let the sauce do the work for you. Cook it your way, and tell me how it went.

Creamy Baked Halibut

This creamy baked halibut recipe bakes flaky white fish in a garlicky Parmesan cream sauce for a rich, company-worthy dinner in under an hour.

★★★★½ 4.8 (214 ratings)

15 minPrep time35 minCook time6Servings412 kcalCalories

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🧂 Ingredients

• 6 (6-ounce / 170g) halibut fillets, about 1 inch thick
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

📋 Instructions

1. 1Heat the oven and prepare the dish — Preheat the oven to 400F (200C) and lightly butter a 9x13-inch baking dish. Pat the halibut fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides with 1 teaspoon of the salt and the pepper.
2. 2Sauté the garlic — Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat, about 1 to 2 minutes, until it foams. Add the garlic and cook for 30 to 45 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not browned.
3. 3Build the cream sauce — Pour in the heavy cream and whisk in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, the lemon juice, and thyme. Simmer gently for 3 to 4 minutes, until the cream thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon, then stir in half the Parmesan until melted.
4. 4Arrange the fish — Lay the halibut fillets in the prepared baking dish in a single layer, leaving a little space between them. Pour the cream sauce evenly over the top so each fillet is coated.
5. 5Add the cheese — Scatter the remaining Parmesan over the fillets and sauce. This top layer turns golden and slightly crisp in the oven, which is the best part.
6. 6Bake until flaky — Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling at the edges and the fish flakes easily with a fork. The center of a thick fillet should read 135F to 140F (57C to 60C) on an instant-read thermometer.
7. 7Rest and garnish — Let the dish rest for 5 minutes so the sauce settles, then scatter the parsley over the top. Serve right away with rice, potatoes, or crusty bread for the sauce.

👨‍🍳 Chef's Note: If your sauce looks thin when the dish comes out, give it 5 more minutes of rest off the heat; it thickens as it cools. If it goes wrong and the fish overcooks, flake it into the sauce and serve it over pasta instead.

Servings: 6

Cuisine: American

Course: Main Course

Nutrition (per serving): 412 kcal · 36g protein · 4g carbs · 28g fat

Written by Mireille Baptiste

Mireille writes about weeknight cooking built around what is already in the pantry, with a focus on Haitian and Caribbean home dishes made simpler for busy kitchens. She favors short ingredient lists, honest substitutions, and recipes that forgive a missed step. Her angle is feeding a household well without a second trip to the store.