The walleye is a queen among fishes, commonly known for its versatility, mildly sweet taste, and flaky texture. This freshwater white fish is the state fish of Minnesota and is also wildly popular in Canada, where it is known as pickerel.
With its ease of cooking and wide range of flavors you can pair it with, we can absolutely see why walleye is a favorite among many people.
In this post, you’ll find some of the best walleye recipes you can make without much hassle and little time. From pan-seared filets to dips and even salads, this list has everything you need to start enjoying walleye.
Quick Table: Walleye Recipes
| Recipes | Calories Per Serving | Preparation Time |
| Walleye Salad | 151 | 15 Minutes |
| Breaded Walleye Fish Fingers | 150 | 30 Minutes |
| Walleye Wings | Not Available | Not Available |
| Traeger Walleye With Lemon Cream Sauce | 347 | 25 Minutes |
| Grilled Walleye Sandwich | 689 | 35 Minutes |
| Cheesy Walleye Nuggets | 128 | 12 Minutes |
| Blackened Walleye | 224 | 20 Minutes |
| Hot Walleye Dip | Not Available | 40 Minutes |
| Balsamic Roasted Cherry Tomato Walleye | Not Available | 32 Minutes |
| Grilled Walleye Tacos | 488 | Not Available |
| Crispy Walleye | 454 | 1 Hour 5 Minutes |
| Almond Panko Crusted Walleye | Not Available | 30 Minutes |
| Bacon Honey Walleye | 773 | 20 Minutes |
| Fresh Walleye With Garlic Wine Sauce | 577.1 | 35 Minutes |
| Walleye Reuben | Not Available | 1 Hour |
| Apple Grilled Walleye With Smoky Pineapple Salsa | Not Available | 35 Minutes |
| Air Fryer Walleye | 132 | 20 Minutes |
| Baked Walleye With Olive Tapenade | 393 | 25 Minutes |
| Walleye Ceviche | Not Available | 24 Hours 30 Minutes |
| Walleye Gumbo | Not Available | Not Available |
| Bacon Wrapped Walleye Kebab | 163.5 | Not Available |
| Pan Seared Walleye Salad | 390 | Not Available |
| Walleye Wild Rice Cakes | 415 | 2 Hours 40 Minutes |
| Walleye Chowder | Not Available | 50 Minutes |
| Walleye And Crab Cakes | 277 | 50 Minutes |
1. Walleye Salad
Fans of the creamy tuna salad will be delighted by this super easy walleye salad you can make for a healthy lunch or snack.
It contains a creamy mix of cooked walleye, bell peppers, dill, onions, and a tangy mayonnaise, lemon, and dijon mustard dressing.
Serve this creamy salad with crackers, fill it into a sandwich or enjoy it alone right out of the bowl, and you’ll want to make it every day with the taste.
Calories Per Serving: 151
Preparation Time: 15 Minutes
2. Breaded Walleye Fish Fingers
If you were among the many kids who devoured countless bites of fish sticks growing up, this breaded walleye fish finger is like the grown-up version you’ll love. It is, of course, perfect for kids as well.
These crispy fish fingers are made from walleye fish filets coated in a mix of panko bread crumbs, flour, paprika, garlic powder, and lemon powder before being baked into a crispy golden brown texture.
The fish fingers go really well with tatar sauce, so be sure to serve them with it.
Calories Per Serving: 150
Preparation Time: 30 Minutes
3. Walleye Wings
These walleye wings are a great way to turn a tasty part of the fish that would be otherwise abandoned into an incredibly delicious dish you can pair with dinner or serve as a fan appetizer.
Skinned walleye wings are tossed in cayenne pepper and salt and grilled while slathered in butter.
You’ll need to cut the wings from your walleye fish to make this recipe, but it is a super easy process, as seen here.
Calories Per Serving: Not Available
Preparation Time: Not Available
4. Traeger Walleye With Lemon Cream Sauce
This mouthwatering dish is a grilled walleye filet coated in a rich sauce composed of cream, butter, lemon juice, and garlic.
It is a super easy dinner you can serve with sides like potatoes or asparagus and lemon slice for garnish. If you don’t have a grill, feel free to make this recipe in the oven.
Calories Per Serving: 347
Preparation Time: 25 Minutes
5. Grilled Walleye Sandwich
Walleye is a well-loved fish in Minnesota, and one of the many ways they enjoy this flaky fish is in this grilled walleye sandwich.
This filling sandwich consists of toasted sandwich rolls filled with grilled walleye, pickles, shredded tomato, lettuce, and creamy homemade tartar sauce.
You can make the tartar sauce from a mix of mayo, dill pickles, lemon juice, dijon mustard, and dried dill, or save time by using a store-bought one.
Calories Per Serving: 689
Preparation Time: 35 Minutes
6. Cheesy Walleye Nuggets
These cheesy walleye nuggets are the perfect alternative to chicken nuggets if you’re looking for something that would be appreciated by kids and adults alike.
With a deep-fried crisp brown exterior and a tender interior filled with cooked walleye, dill, cheddar cheese, garlic, and onions, these cheesy bites will quickly become a staple for your weekly meals.
If you have some leftover cooked fish, this is the perfect way to transform them into a delicious snack.
Calories Per Serving: 128
Preparation Time: 12 Minutes
7. Blackened Walleye
Blackened walleye is a flavor-filled dish you can transform into a dinner for any day of the week by pairing it with rice and mango salsa.
It involves a blackening technique with lemon-coated walleye filets dredged in a seasoning mix and lightly pan-seared before being baked.
Feel free to coat the fish filet in butter instead of lemon for a richer flavor.
Calories Per Serving: 224
Preparation Time: 20 Minutes
8. Hot Walleye Dip
A creamy and tangy dip you can bring to parties or serve on game day, this hot walleye dip is packed full of delicious flavors everyone will love.
It features a baked mix of walleye, onions, cream cheese, mayonnaise, paprika, cheddar cheese, hot sauce, and a sprinkle of parmesan.
If you’re looking for a tasty appetizer to serve on your next occasion, serve this hot dip over crostinis, and they’ll be appreciated by everyone.
Calories Per Serving: Not Available
Preparation Time: 40 Minutes
9. Balsamic Roasted Cherry Tomato Walleye
If you’re looking for a tasty way to use up excess tomatoes in the summer, there’s no better option than this balsamic roasted cherry tomato walleye.
It is a fairly easy dish to throw together and consists of roasted tomatoes coated in balsamic vinegar, fresh herbs, garlic, and brown sugar and then served over pan-seared walleye.
If you don’t have cherry tomatoes, feel free to use regular tomatoes. However, you’ll need to dice them into smaller quarters.
Calories Per Serving: Not Available
Preparation Time: 32 Minutes
10. Grilled Walleye Tacos
There’s no better way to elevate your taco Tuesdays than with these grilled walleye tacos. Loaded with flavor and fresh veggies, this taco would be appreciated by vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.
The flour tortilla here is lightly scorched on a hot skillet and filled with tomatoes, avocados, collard greens, onions, cilantro, and grilled walleye with a tasty chili-lime flavor.
You can also scorch the tortillas over a low flame on a gas stove, but be sure to use tongs to remove them from the flame to avoid any burns.
Calories Per Serving: 488
Preparation Time: Not Available
11. Crispy Walleye
Crispy walleye is a super crispy fried dish perfect for those who love their fish to have a tasty breaded exterior.
These lovely golden brown fish filets are coated in old bay seasoning and a panko-potato chip bread crumb that is seriously addictive.
Crispy walleye goes best with a pairing of tartar sauce and pickled fennel for added taste. You’ll need to make both of these dipping sauces if you prefer a fresh-tasting dip. If not, feel free to use a store-bought version.
Calories Per Serving: 454
Preparation Time: 1 Hour 5 Minutes
12. Almond Panko Crusted Walleye
A flaky and tender fish filet with a crisp, nutty crunch, almond panko-crusted walleye is a delicious dish that’s perfect for weeknight dinners.
It is healthy and easy to make and features walleye filets coated in a breading mixture of panko bread crumbs, almond, thyme, and pepper.
You’ll need to lightly fry these filets in a pan to give a crispy exterior and then finish off the cooking in the oven.
Serve over mushrooms and asparagus for the perfect meal.
Calories Per Serving: Not Available
Preparation Time: 30 Minutes
13. Bacon Honey Walleye
If you prefer a hands-off dish that requires simple ingredients and minimal effort, this bacon honey walleye is the perfect dish for you.
It is an easy-grilled combination of walleye filets, bacon, onions, honey, and butter that’ll fill the palate with a perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors.
You’ll need heavy-duty aluminum foil to wrap the fish before placing it over the grill, as low-quality aluminum foil could burn while you place the fish over the grill.
Calories Per Serving: 773
Preparation Time: 20 Minutes
14. Fresh Walleye With Garlic Wine Sauce
Fresh walleye with garlic wine sauce is a tender and flaky dish with a rich sauce that makes you want to devour a whole plate with every bite.
This decadent dish contains walleye cooked with mushrooms, tomatoes, and a garlic wine sauce made from sauteed garlic, clam, white wine, and lemon.
Serve this delicious fresh walleye and its incredible sauce over cooked linguine if you’re looking to up the ante at your next weeknight dinner.
Calories Per Serving: 577.1
Preparation Time: 35 Minutes
15. Walleye Reuben
The Rueben is a popular sandwich commonly filled with corned beef, but this walleye variation has a decadent flavor that’s perfect for people who don’t like corned beef or those on a vegetarian diet.
It is a flavor-filled toasted sandwich loaded with buttery skillet fried walleye, sauerkraut, swiss cheese, and a sauce made from a mix of mayonnaise, ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and horseradish.
Serve this delicious sandwich with a side of pickles, salad, or even potato chips to make it a filling meal.
Calories Per Serving: Not Available
Preparation Time: 1 Hour
16. Apple Grilled Walleye With Smoky Pineapple Salsa
Apple grilled walleye is a tender, moist flavor-filled dish that infuses a tart apple flavor into the fish and makes for a perfect dinner.
Walleye filets are marinated in a mix of olive oil, yogurt, soy sauce, garlic, and sugar and then grilled on apple slices until flaky and tender.
This already excellent grilled fish is paired with a rich salsa containing grilled tomatoes, peppers, and pineapple. Serve this mouthwatering combo over hot rice for lunch or dinner, and you’ll be floored by the taste.
Calories Per Serving: Not Available
Preparation Time: 35 Minutes
17. Air Fryer Walleye
If you’re looking for a keto-friendly meal you can enjoy as a snack or light dinner, air fryer walleye is the perfect dish for you.
Unlike the commonly deep-fried variations, this walleye isn’t loaded with oil and fat but comes packed with flavor from a marinated walleye filet coated in a mix of peppers, garlic, thyme, and Worcestershire sauce.
Once properly marinated, the fish filet is tossed into the fryer and fried till lightly browned and cooked. It is so easy anyone could make it in under 30 minutes.
Calories Per Serving: 132
Preparation Time: 20 Minutes
18. Baked Walleye With Olive Tapenade
The versatility of walleye allows it to be paired with a wide range of amazing ingredients, which always turn out to be a delicious dish, such as this baked walleye with olive tapenade.
It is a super healthy one-pan dinner containing a baked mixture of seasoned walleye, parmesan, asparagus, pork rinds, and a briny tapenade mixture made from olives, capers, olive oil, and lemon juice.
This is a super easy meal you can whip up during the week.
Calories Per Serving: 393
Preparation Time: 25 Minutes
19. Walleye Ceviche
Shrimp ceviche often gets all the fun and notoriety, but walleye ceviche is an equally tasty and refreshing alternative you need to try.
It contains a flavor-filled mix of fresh walleye marinated in lemon juice and combined with cilantro, jalapenos, bell peppers, tomatoes, and onions.
It is a great low-carb dish you can serve with tortilla chips and enjoy as an appetizer or pair with sides for a complete meal.
Calories Per Serving: Not Available
Preparation Time: 24 Hours 30 Minutes
20. Walleye Gumbo
Gumbo is a classic traditional Louisiana dish, and there’s no better way to enjoy all those Louisiana creole and cajun flavors than in this walleye gumbo.
It is quite simple to make and consists of sauteed bacon cooked in a roux along with onions, celery, peppers, oregano, chicken broth, smoked sausage, and walleye cubes.
You can serve this gumbo over white rice, potato salad, or even with freshly made cornbread.
Calories Per Serving: Not Available
Preparation Time: Not Available
RELATED: 31 Fish Tacos Side Dishes With Delicious Smoky Flavor
21. Bacon Wrapped Walleye Kebab
Anything grilled on a skewer stick always has an incredible smoky flavor that just warms the palate and makes it hard to stop eating once you start, and that’s how you’ll feel once you get a bit of bacon-wrapped walleye kebabs.
It features chunks of walleye filet wrapped in bacon and assembled on a skewer stick along with bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes and then grilled till charred and cooked.
If you intend to use bamboo skewers for your kebabs, you’ll need to soak them in water for 30 minutes before grilling to prevent them from burning.
Calories Per Serving: 163.5
Preparation Time: Not Available
22. Pan Seared Walleye Salad
Let’s be honest. Sometimes salads are at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to taste and flavor. However, If you’re looking for a delicious salad you won’t hate, this pan-seared walleye salad is the perfect dish for you.
It is super easy to make and contains a pan-seared walleye filet served over a mix of romaine lettuce, croutons, tomatoes, and cheese coated in a sweet honey, mustard, and lemon dressing.
Calories Per Serving: 390
Preparation Time: Not Available
23. Walleye Wild Rice Cakes
With a crisp exterior and tender flavor-rich interior, walleye wild rice cakes are an amazing dish you can serve on any occasion.
It consists of baked walleye combined with cooked wild rice, pepper, lemon juice, mayonnaise, and panko bread crumbs before being shaped into thick patties and baked to golden brown perfection.
You’ll need to serve these rice cakes with a homemade wasabi dressing to get the full blend of Asian-inspired flavors.
Calories Per Serving: 415
Preparation Time: 2 Hours 40 Minutes
24. Walleye Chowder
If you’re a fan of clam chowder and are looking for a unique take on your favorite meal, walleye chowder is the perfect alternative to try.
Perfectly creamy and loaded with flavor, this indulgent soup is formed from a flour-milk roux and then cooked along with potatoes, bacon, walleyes, sauteed onions, and vegetables.
You could also substitute any white fish for walleye when making this chowder if you can get your hands on walleye.
It is the perfect comfort food to serve in the cold winter months.
Calories Per Serving: Not Available
Preparation Time: 50 Minutes
25. Walleye And Crab Cakes
If you’re a fan of seafood in general or simply can’t ever get enough crab meat, combining it with flaky fish to make these delicious walleye and crab cakes is a great way to spice things up.
These cakes are baked patties formed from a mix of walleye crab meat, mustard, bell peppers, mayonnaise, old bay seasoning, butter mayonnaise, and bread crumbs.
Serve with a tangy lemon dill sauce for a delicious combo that’ll knock your socks off.
Calories Per Serving: 277
Preparation Time: 50 Minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
Should Walleye Be Cooked With The Skin On?
Walleye can be cooked with the skin on or off. The choice to do either depends entirely on your preference or the kind of dish you are making. If you leave the skin on, you’ll get a much crispier exterior.
Is Eating Walleye Good For You?
Eating walleye is really good for the body as the fish is rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and other nutrients. It is also a great source of protein which the body needs for all kinds of metabolic processes.
Should I Soak My Walleye In Milk?
A common kitchen hack people employ when making fish is to soak it in milk as it is believed to sweeten the fish and reduce the fishy scent of the fish most people find unpleasant.
Soaking walleye in milk might not be necessary, as it is one of the few fish that doesn’t have much of that fishy smell.
However, you still can if you’d rather avoid any unwanted fish scent; just don’t leave it in the milk for more than 20-30 minutes.
25 Delicious Walleye Recipes You’ll Love
The Walleye Recipes Come With Love For This Savory, Lightly Crunchy Dish.
Ingredients
Directions
- Pick a recipe from the list above
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- Collect the ingredients and cook the food
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Recipe Video
Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.
I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!
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