Incredible Grilled Chilean Sea Bass Recipe

grilled chilean sea bass on a platter with lemons and sauce

This incredible grilled Chilean sea bass recipe is not only easy, it’s quick and absolutely delicious. A huge benefit of Chilean sea bass is the blank canvas it provides in terms of flavor profiles.

In this fish recipe, I’m using simple seasonings and a beautiful white wine and garlic sauce to enhance the mild flavor of the white fish.

Jump to Recipe

How Long Does It Take To Grill Chilean Sea Bass?

Depending on the level of heat you’re cooking with, and thickness of the fish, it can take anywhere from 8-14 minutes. In this recipe, I’m using medium high heat, with some fairly thick fish filets.

sea bass on the grill over flames

So, the cooking time is 14 minutes for this grilled sea bass, seven minutes on each side. If your sea bass filets are on the thinner side, I recommend using a little higher heat and much less time. Just a quick char on the outside and they’ll be done in about eight minutes total.

What’s The Difference Between Sea Bass and Chilean Sea Bass?

Chilean sea bass is a different fish altogether than the sea bass caught in U.S. waters. In fact, it’s not a bass at all; it’s actually a Patagonian Toothfish and if you’ve ever seen one you’d know why it took clever marketing to get this fish into the mainstream.

Chilean sea bass is a deep-water fish, caught in waters near and around South America and Antarctica. Black sea bass, on the other hand, is caught in waters from Massachusetts to Florida.

platter of grilled chilean sea bass

This prehistoric looking toothfish was rebranded as “Chilean sea bass” and because of its versatility (and new name) it became very popular.

As a result, prices for this once inexpensive fish have increased as it’s become a staple at many high end restaurants around the country.

Tap Below For Other Seafood Recipes You’ll Love

How Do You Grill Fish Without It Sticking?

Grilling fish can be tricky at times because of its tendency to stick to the grill grate. When grilled correctly though, this can be minimized.

First, be sure to prepare the grill by properly preheating the grill grate; at least 15 minutes. Placing fish on a cold grate is a sure way to get it to stick.

Next, be sure you have sufficiently oiled both sides of the fish, this will help with preventing the Chilean sea bass from sticking to the grill grate.

fish spatula sliding under a piece of grilled chilean sea bass

Finally, be patient. Don’t try to flip the fish too early, it will tend to release from the grill grate when it’s ready to flip, making it much easier to slide a fish turning spatula in between the fish and the grill grate.

What Temperature Should This Fish Be?

Grilled chilean sea bass cooks rather quickly, and you definitely don’t want to overcook it. I highly recommend using a reliable leave-in thermometer to monitor the internal temperature of the fish.

I prefer to cook the fish to about 140°F, on the grill. Then remove it, and let carryover cooking finish the job which usually gets the fish to about 145°F.

How To Make Grilled Chilean Sea Bass

Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 14 mins | Serves: 4

Ingredients
For the Fish
4 Chilean Sea Bass filets
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp coarse kosher salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp onion powder
½ tsp lemon pepper

For the sauce
2 tbsp Olive Oil
5 tbsp unsalted butter
5 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup white wine
1 tsp fresh cracked pepper
½ tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp lemon juice
2 tbsp capers
Zest from ½ lemon
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

Step 1: Light your grill and preheat it to medium high while you prepare the fish.

Step 2: Blot the fish completely dry with a paper towel, then make a few shallow cuts into the skin of the fish to prevent it from curling up while it’s on the grill.

slicing small slits into the skin of chilean sea bass

Step 3: Coat the fish with a thin layer of olive oil. Mix the seasonings for the fish together in a small bowl, and season the fish.

Note* Depending on the amount of fish being grilled, you may not use all of the seasoning.

Step 4: Place the fish on the grill grate, presentation side down over direct heat. Allow the fish to cook for seven minutes.

chilean sea bass on a grill with the skin side up

Step 5: While the fish is cooking, place a saucepan over medium heat and add the oil and butter. When the butter has melted, whisk in the remaining ingredients for the sauce, except for the parsley. Then, set aside and keep warm.

Step 6: After seven minutes, flip the fish and cook for an additional seven minutes. With two minutes of cooking time remaining, add the parsley to the butter sauce and whisk it in. 

grilled chilean sea bass with grill marks on a grill

Step 7: Remove the fish from the grill. 

Step 8: Plate the fish, spooning a desirable portion of butter sauce over each filet.

spooning sauce on top of grilled chilean sea bass
grilled chilean sea bass on a platter with lemons and sauce drizzle

Grilled Chilean Sea Bass

3.89 from 70 votes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 14 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 4 Chilean sea bass filets
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp lemon pepper

For The Sauce

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 5 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup white wine
  • 1 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp capers
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley finely chopped
  • zest from ½ lemon

Instructions

  • Light your grill and preheat it to medium high while you prepare the fish.
  • Blot the fish completely dry with a paper towel, then make a few shallow cuts into the skin of the fish to prevent it from curling up while it’s on the grill. Coat it with a thin layer of olive oil. Mix the seasonings for the fish together in a small bowl, and season the fish.
  • Place the fish on the grill grate, presentation side down over direct heat. Allow the fish to cook for seven minutes.
  • While the fish is cooking, place a saucepan over medium heat and add the oil and butter. When the butter has melted, whisk in the remaining ingredients for the sauce, except for the parsley. Then, set aside and keep warm.
  • After seven minutes, flip the fish and cook for an additional seven minutes. With two minutes of cooking time remaining, add the parsley to the butter sauce and whisk it in.
  • Remove the fish from the grill.
  • Plate the fish, spooning a desirable portion of butter sauce over each filet.

Tried This Recipe?

Share a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #unitedbyflame and let us know how it was!

23 thoughts on “Incredible Grilled Chilean Sea Bass Recipe”

  1. Jhona McElrow

    Literally the BEST sea bass I’ve ever eaten. Found this recipe 2 weeks ago and I’ve made it 3 times since then.

  2. George Constable

    First time making sea bass and followed this recipe on my Weber to the letter. My wife loved it, and I was the hero. I’ll be making this again.

  3. I was nervous to try fish on the grill but these gorgeous photos sold me on trying it, and it did not disappoint! So delicious, thank you for sharing!

  4. Not only the best fish I’ve ever made, it’s also the first time my fish hasn’t stuck to the grill whilst flipping it. Thank you for the tips, will most certainly be making this again.

    1. Thanks for checking it out Roman, so glad you’re on the path to “stick-free” fish on the grill!

      -M

  5. This is my favorite fish, this recipe made it even better on the grill. Would the same recipe and technique work with Black Cod?

    1. Hey Michael, thanks for checking it out. It’s been super popular this summer so I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’ve never grilled Black Cod but I can’t imagine you’d have any issues with it. Let me know if you try it? Or maybe I’ll try it and blog about it! lol

      -M

  6. Joshua Ambroise

    Hands down the most amazing fish I’ve ever grilled, and being from the Eastern Shore, I grill a lot of fish. I more than doubled the red pepper flakes in the sauce just because my wife and I like it spicy, and can’t wait to make it again.

    1. Thank you Joshua, I’m so glad you and your wife loved it. Like you, I also love the heat so when I’m making this just for my crew I tend to get a little heavy handed with the red pepper as well.

      -M

  7. This was the perfect combo of fresh with a little spice! We loved the lemon and chili flake combo, my wife was skeptical because she doesn’t like much heat but she loved it.

    1. That’s great news Elliot. I tend to like things a little spicier but I always dial the spice back a notch when I post a new recipe. Thanks for checking it out.

      -M

3.89 from 70 votes (58 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating