Easy Baked Sea Bass with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes
Easy Baked Sea Bass with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes is a quick and healthy weeknight dinner. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to perfectly cooked sea bass every time. The crispy skin and juicy flesh make this dish irresistible. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Banana Peanut Butter Oat Smoothie Bowl and Refreshing Orzo Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Feta.
Why This Easy Baked Sea Bass with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes Is Pure Comfort
- Better than takeout Mediterranean flavors
- Easy and quick weeknight dinner
- Crispy skin and juicy flesh
- Healthy and light
What You'll Need for Easy Baked Sea Bass with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Sea bass fillets
- Cherry tomatoes
- Olives
- Garlic
- Lemon
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- Optional: Fresh parsley
- Optional: Lemon wedges
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Sea bass: You can also use cod or halibut.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Cast iron skillet — Even heat for perfect searing → See on Amazon
- Digital meat thermometer — Prevents overcooking → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Baked Sea Bass with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Prepare sea bass: Pat sea bass fillets dry with a paper towel. Season both sides with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Cook garlic and tomatoes: In a cast iron skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Add cherry tomatoes and cook until they start to burst.
- Bake sea bass: Place sea bass fillets in the skillet. Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C).
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Baked Sea Bass with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes
- : Use a digital meat thermometer to prevent overcooking.
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcrowd the skillet. Cook the sea bass in batches if needed.
- : For a one-pan meal, cook some pasta or rice in the skillet before adding the sea bass.
- : To make ahead, prepare the ingredients and assemble the dish in the skillet. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
Storing & Reheating Easy Baked Sea Bass with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the ingredients and assemble the dish in the skillet ahead of time. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
Freezing Easy Baked Sea Bass with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes
Freeze cooked sea bass for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: Use a cast iron skillet for even heat distribution and better searing.
- Best substitution: You can use cod or halibut instead of sea bass.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the ingredients and assemble the dish in the skillet. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
- Scaling: This recipe is easy to scale up or down. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Troubleshooting: If the skin sticks to the skillet, try using a fish spatula to flip the fillets.
Want to level up this recipe?
Good quality olive oil — Makes a big difference in flavor → Check price on Amazon
Easy Baked Sea Bass with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Sea bass fillets
- Cherry tomatoes
- Olives
- Garlic
- Lemon
Seasonings
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Red pepper flakes
Optional Toppings
- Fresh parsley
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Prepare sea bass: Pat sea bass fillets dry with a paper towel. Season both sides with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Cook garlic and tomatoes: In a cast iron skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Add cherry tomatoes and cook until they start to burst.
- Bake sea bass: Place sea bass fillets in the skillet. Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C).
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
- Chef tip: Use a cast iron skillet for even heat distribution and better searing.
- Best substitution: You can use cod or halibut instead of sea bass.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the ingredients and assemble the dish in the skillet. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
- Scaling: This recipe is easy to scale up or down. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Troubleshooting: If the skin sticks to the skillet, try using a fish spatula to flip the fillets.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked sea bass for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
- Make ahead: You can prepare the ingredients and assemble the dish in the skillet ahead of time. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 250
- Protein: 25g
- Fat: 10g
- Carbs: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Cholesterol: 60mg
- Sat. Fat: 1.5g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Baked Sea Bass with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the ingredients and assemble the dish in the skillet. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
Overcooking is the most common reason for dry sea bass. Use a meat thermometer to prevent this.
Yes, you can use cod or halibut instead of sea bass.
Yes, cook at 400°F (200°C) for 10-12 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C).
Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes for the best texture.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Baked Sea Bass with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
