Grilled Traeger Walleye with Lemon Cream Sauce is probably the best fish I’ve ever eaten. And I LOVE fish and seafood. This stuff is like magic. If you aren’t lucky enough to be able to get your hands on fresh walleye, you can use any mild-flavored white fish.
Traeger Walleye with Lemon Cream Sauce
Walleye might be my favorite fish to eat, fresh or saltwater. Don’t worry if you can’t get your hands on any fresh walleye fillets. This lemon butter cream sauce will work perfectly on any white fish.
You can use it on Walleye, Crappie, or Perch from a lake or river, to Cod, Rockfish or Halibut from the sea. Try it on your favorite fish. These are just a few of ours.
More Easy Traeger Recipes here!
After the fish, you probably only need to run to the store for a couple of other ingredients. This is a very easy recipe to follow and prep + cook time is only 30-35 minutes combined.
Want to know more about Walleye? Check out this awesome article from Live For Fishing!
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How to cook walleye on the grill
Grilling fish can be tricky sometimes, but if you follow my easy tips it’ll make things go smoothly.
- Skin-on fish can go right on the grate, but skinless filets need a more delicate touch, so make sure to cook those in a baking dish or on a sheet of non-stick foil.
- Speaking of sticking, if you do grill on the grate, non-stick GRILL SPRAY is your friend!
- Whitefish is fragile and generally has a really mild flavor. Cooking it at high temps on your wood-pellet grill will only kiss the fish with smoke and not overwhelm it.
This recipe is made in a 9×9 oven-proof dish.
Speaking of the oven – you could totally make this in the oven if you don’t have a grill handy, or if your grill doesn’t have such great temperature controls.
Buy your own pellet grill here!
What can I substitute for heavy cream?
NOTHING.
Please please please do NOT try to sub in any lower-fat dairy for the heavy cream. Lower-fat dairy has a higher risk of “breaking” under high heat. Do NOT use half and half or milk or anything crazy like that. Just use the cream. It is well worth the extra calories.
Have a Cocktail with dinner!
What can I serve with grilled walleye?
ALL THE THINGS. Pictured in these photos you see our uber-popular Perfect Grilled Asparagus.
You also see a grilled version of the Pioneer Woman’s Crash Hot Potatoes too, coming soon to a blog near you. This one, most likely. 😉
Another great option would be this Instant Pot Basmati Rice!
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If you’ve got some non-fish eaters around, check out my whole collection of Traeger Recipes for more ideas!
Traeger Walleye with Lemon Cream Sauce
Ingredients
- 4 4- ounce Walleye fillets skinless
- 1 teaspoon salt divided
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup cream
- 1/4 cup salted butter
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1-2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon sliced scallions/chives whites only
- 1 tablespoon thinly sliced leeks
- 1 teaspoon chopped Italian parsley
- 1 lemon
Instructions
- Startup your grill on smoke with the lid open for 5 minutes, and then set the temperature to 400 degrees. Use the time it takes to preheat, (10-15 minutes) to prep the dish.
- Start your prep by making sure your filets are completely dry. Use paper towels to soak up any excess water.
- Add half of your salt and all of your pepper directly to the fish filets and lay them flat in a 9×9 ovenproof baking dish that has been coated with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, add the other 1/2 teaspoon salt, cream, butter, lemon juice, garlic, scallions, and leeks. Place the bowl in the microwave and cook on high for 1 minute, or just long enough to melt the butter. Remove the bowl from the microwave and lightly stir until everything is mixed well.
- Pour all of the sauce over the top of the fish.
- Slice your lemon and place 4-5 slices on top of the fish.
- Place your baking dish on the preheated grill and let cook for 20 minutes.
- Remove your fish from the grill and sprinkle the parsley onto the top of the fish. You can plate immediately. Use a large spoon to ladle some of the sauce directly onto your fish.
Marianne Smith
Monday 31st of May 2021
Absolutely delicious! My fresh walleye fillets had the skin on but instead of cooking them directly on the grate I put them in a disposable aluminum pan - that worked just great! I will never eat walleye any other way - I love this recipe!
Terry
Wednesday 1st of January 2020
How do you keep the cream sauce from separating/becoming runny? The first time I made it, the sauce was nice and thick like gravy. The four times after the butter and cream separated and became runny. Followed the recipe each time, can't figure it out.
Nicole Johnson
Wednesday 1st of January 2020
It was likely too hot, or too close to the fire. Does your grill have any hot spots? Or does the temp swing wildly? I'd maybe put the pan on TOP of an overturned cake pan next time to give it a bit more space between the fire and the pan. You also might want to reduce the heat a touch if your grill temp is prone to swings on the upper end of the spectrum. You are using actual heavy cream, yes? And not half and half or anything like that?
Kathy
Friday 29th of November 2019
What flavor pellets did you use?
Nicole Johnson
Friday 29th of November 2019
Typically cherry or hickory, but whatever you have on hand will do just fine. :D
Bess
Sunday 24th of November 2019
Made for supper tonight, delicious!
Nicole Johnson
Sunday 24th of November 2019
That's awesome! So glad that you enjoyed it. It is one of our favorites!
ts epass
Wednesday 12th of December 2018
LEMON CREAM SAUCE. this is amazing.thanks for sharing.