Easy Oven-Baked Sea Bass with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes
Crispy oven-baked sea bass with a medley of olives and cherry tomatoes is a quick and easy dinner that’s better than takeout. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the secret to perfectly crispy skin and tender flesh. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Homemade Vegan Salami Recipe for Plant-Based Dinner and Easy Orange Teriyaki Turkey Medallions Recipe.
Why This Easy Oven-Baked Sea Bass with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy skin with tender, flaky flesh
- Burst of freshness from cherry tomatoes and olives
- Easy, hands-off cooking in the oven
- Ready in just 20 minutes
What You'll Need for Easy Oven-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
- kalamata olives
- garlic
- red onion
- lemon
- olive oil
- salt
- black pepper
- red pepper flakes
- fresh parsley
- Optional: lemon wedges
- Optional: additional fresh parsley
📝 Ingredient Notes
- sea bass: You can also use cod, halibut, or mahi-mahi fillets.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Stainless Steel Baking Sheet — Ensures even heat distribution for perfectly crispy skin. → See on Amazon
- Digital Meat Thermometer — Prevents overcooking and ensures perfectly tender flesh. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Oven-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, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Drizzle with olive oil.
- Sear sea bass: Heat an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add sea bass fillets, skin-side down. Cook for 4-5 minutes until skin is crispy. Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
- Add vegetables: Add cherry tomatoes, olives, garlic, and red onion to the skillet. Toss to combine. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven.
- Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes until sea bass is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Oven-Baked Sea Bass with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the sea bass. It's done when it flakes easily with a fork. Overcooking can make it dry.
- Pro tip: For extra crispy skin, make sure your skillet is very hot before adding the sea bass.
- Pro tip: Use a digital meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the sea bass. It should be 145°F (63°C).
Storing & Reheating Easy Oven-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: Prepare the sea bass and vegetables ahead of time. Bake just before serving.
Freezing Easy Oven-Baked Sea Bass with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes
Not recommended for freezing.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 5-7 minutes. Microwave: Not recommended for reheating in the microwave.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a one-pan meal, cook some couscous or quinoa in the same skillet before adding the sea bass.
- Best substitution: Substitute sea bass with cod, halibut, or mahi-mahi fillets.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the sea bass and vegetables ahead of time. Bake just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your sea bass skin isn't crispy, try preheating your skillet over higher heat before adding the sea bass.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-Quality Olive Oil — Enhances the flavor of the sea bass and helps achieve a crispy skin. → Check price on Amazon
Easy Oven-Baked Sea Bass with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- sea bass fillets
- cherry tomatoes
- kalamata olives
- garlic
- red onion
- lemon
Seasonings
- olive oil
- salt
- black pepper
- red pepper flakes
- fresh parsley
Optional Toppings
- lemon wedges
- additional fresh parsley
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, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Drizzle with olive oil.
- Sear sea bass: Heat an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add sea bass fillets, skin-side down. Cook for 4-5 minutes until skin is crispy. Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
- Add vegetables: Add cherry tomatoes, olives, garlic, and red onion to the skillet. Toss to combine. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven.
- Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes until sea bass is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a one-pan meal, cook some couscous or quinoa in the same skillet before adding the sea bass.
- Best substitution: Substitute sea bass with cod, halibut, or mahi-mahi fillets.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the sea bass and vegetables ahead of time. Bake just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your sea bass skin isn't crispy, try preheating your skillet over higher heat before adding the sea bass.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended for freezing.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 5-7 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Not recommended for reheating in the microwave.
- Make ahead: Prepare the sea bass and vegetables ahead of time. Bake just before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 320
- Protein: 30g
- Fat: 14g
- Carbs: 14g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Cholesterol: 70mg
- Sat. Fat: 2g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Oven-Baked Sea Bass with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the sea bass and vegetables ahead of time. Bake just before serving to keep the skin crispy.
Overcooking can make the sea bass dry. It's done when it flakes easily with a fork. Use a digital meat thermometer to check the internal temperature (145°F/63°C).
Yes, cook the sea bass in the air fryer at 400°F (200°C) for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Add the vegetables in the last 5 minutes of cooking.
Serve with a side of couscous, quinoa, or crusty bread to soak up the delicious juices.
Yes, this recipe is naturally gluten-free. Just be sure to check your seasonings and toppings to ensure they are also gluten-free.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Oven-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!
