Air Fryer Mahi Mahi
This Air Fryer Mahi Mahi requires only three ingredients – mahi mahi, lemon pepper seasoning, and a touch of olive oil for a delicious, light, and flaky fish dish that’s ready in less than 15 minutes. It’s perfect for adding to fish tacos or sandwiches!
Our air fryer mahi mahi recipe is a hit, but if you’re looking for more, we’ve got you covered. Try our air fryer tilapia for a simple, tasty dish, or our air fryer teriyaki salmon for a sweet and savory twist. And don’t forget about our air fryer salmon bites, perfect for a busy weeknight. If you’re craving for a crispy breaded fish try our air fryer fried fish.
Mahi Mahi is a white fish with a firm, yet tender texture that just melts in your mouth. It has a mild sweetness with a hint of earthiness, a perfect canvas for flavors to shine. When cooked right, especially in the air fryer, the outside gets a beautiful golden crust that’s slightly crispy, while the inside remains incredibly moist and flaky.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
- Quick and Easy: With simple ingredients and a quick cooking time, this recipe is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner.
- Tasty: The combination of mahi mahi fillets with lemon pepper seasoning and a hint of black pepper creates a tasty dish that’ll convert anyone into fish lovers.
- Convenient: This easy recipe requires just your air fryer, making it a one-pot wonder that’s easy to clean up after.
- Healthy Dinner: Mahi Mahi is a good source of lean protein and with no breading, this is a healthy way to enjoy seafood recipes.
Ingredient Notes
*Scroll below for the printable recipe card and ingredient measurements.
- Mahi Mahi fillets: Fresh or frozen fish fillets.
- Lemon pepper seasoning: This will give the fish a tangy, spicy kick that pairs perfectly with the mild flavor of the Mahi Mahi.
- Oil: helps to keep the fish moist during the cooking process and also help the seasonings stick to the fillets. Any neutral oil like avocado, vegetable or olive oil would work.
- Toppings: lemon wedges, melted butter
- Seasoning: Instead of lemon pepper seasoning try using your favorite seasoning blend or use a mix of salt, black pepper, garlic and onion powder and lemon juice.
- Breading: This air fryer mahi mahi with no breading is perfect for gluten free, keto, or low carb diets. If you prefer it breaded you can coat the fish with regular, seasoned, or panko breadcrumbs and air fry like in the Air Fryer Fried Fish recipe
How to Cook Mahi Mahi in the Air Fryer
Who knew you could make fish taste this good in under 15 minutes? This recipe is a keeper! Here’s how to make it:
*Scroll below for the printable recipe card and ingredient measurements.
Prepare the Mahi Mahi Fillets: Start by patting the mahi mahi fillet dry thoroughly with a paper towel. This step is crucial as it helps the seasoning stick to the fish and guarantees a crispy finish.
Brush Oil: Next, brush olive oil or use a cooking spray on all sides of the fillets.
Season the Fillets: Sprinkle lemon pepper seasoning evenly, ensuring it’s seasoned all around. If you’re a fan of a little heat, feel free to add some black pepper or chili powder.
Arrange in the Air Fryer: Now, place the seasoned mahi mahi fillets in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Cook the Fillets: Set your air fryer to 390 degrees F and cook mahi mahi for 7 to 8 minutes. The fish is done when the internal temperature reaches around 130 -135 degrees F. Drizzle the cooked fillets with melted butter and serve with lemon wedges and a side of vegetables.
Cooking Mahi Mahi From Frozen?
Fresh mahi mahi fillets are hard to come by and if you’re left with only frozen mahi mahi, no worries! Here’s how to cook them in the air fryer.
Thaw them overnight in the fridge or a couple of hours on the kitchen counter. Pat them dry throughly as there will be lot of moisture. And proceed with the rest of the instructions from above.
Recipe Tips
- Skip Preheating: No need to preheat the air fryer as fish cook fast.
- Properly Dry the Fillets: Before cooking, pat the mahi mahi fillets dry thoroughly with a paper towel. This will ensure the olive oil and seasonings stick well to the fish.
- Use the Correct Temperature: Air fry the fillets at 390 degrees F for 7 to 8 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the fish is around 135 degrees F. Overcooking can make the fish rubbery, so keep an eye on the temperature.
- Adjust Cooking Time for Larger Fillets: The cooking time provided is for fillets close to 6 oz each. If you’re cooking larger fillets, increase the cooking time accordingly to make sure that they’re cooked through without becoming rubbery.
Serving Suggestions
This is a delicious and healthy dish that can be served in a variety of ways to suit your personal preferences. Here are a few suggestions on how you could serve it:
- With a Dipping Sauce: Mahi mahi is perfect with a tangy dipping sauce. Try serving it with tartar sauce, a spicy sriracha mayo, or even a refreshing cucumber dill yogurt sauce.
- Together with Sides: Pair it with some nutritious sides like fresh green salad, broccoli or asparagus, or a hearty portion of rice.
- In Wraps or Sandwiches: Try adding mahi mahi to a wrap or a sandwich. Add some slaw, a squeeze of lemon, and a dollop of your favorite sauce in a tortilla for mahi mahi tacos.
Storing and Reheating
Storage – Simply store leftovers in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator. They’ll stay fresh and tasty for up to 3-4 days.
Reheat – When you’re ready to enjoy your mahi mahi again, just reheat it in the air fryer. Set the temperature to 350˚F and let it cook for about 3-5 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the edges are slightly crispy and the fish is heated through.
FAQs
Aside from checking the internal temperature, another way to tell if mahi mahi is done is by its texture. When fully cooked, the fish flakes easily with a fork.
Absolutely! If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake mahi mahi in the oven. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 135˚F.
Air Fryer Fish Recipes You’ll Love:
DID YOU MAKE IT? Please leave a comment and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe!
Recipe
Air Fryer Mahi Mahi without Breading
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 Mahi Mahi fillets (5 to 6 ounces each)
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 2 tsp lemon pepper seasoning
- black pepper optional
To serve
- melted butter optional
- lemon wedges
Instructions
- Pat the mahi mahi fillet dry thoroughly with a paper towel.
- Brush in olive oil on all sides. Sprinkle lemon pepper seasoning on the fillets, ensuring it's seasoned all around. Add black pepper if you want a bit of an extra kick.
- Place the mahi mahi fillets in the air fryer.
- Air fry the fillets at 390 degrees F for 7 to 8 minutes until cooked. Or until the internal temperature of the fish is around 135 degrees F.
- Drizzle with melted butter and serve with lemon wedges and a side of vegetables.
Notes
- For frozen mahi mahi fillets, thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Alternatively, you can submerge the frozen fillets in a bowl of warm water until thawed.
- Make sure to pat dry before cooking.
- Mahi mahi fillets I used are close to 6oz each. For bigger fillets, increase the cooking time accordingly.
- Make sure not to overcook as they end up rubbery.
Nutrition
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