Cooking fish is easy when you use this Air Fryer Mahi Mahi recipe. It only takes 10 minutes and then you have a delicious and healthy meal to serve family and friends. The fish turns out perfect every time!
Table of Contents
- 10 Minute Air Fryer Mahi Mahi Fish Filets
- Why You’ll Love This Easy Mahi Mahi Recipe
- What is Mahi Mahi?
- Recipe Ingredients
- How to Make Air Fryer Mahi Mahi
- Tips for Success
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What Goes With This Garlic Butter Fish?
- How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
- More Easy Seafood Recipes
- Get the Recipe
10 Minute Air Fryer Mahi Mahi Fish Filets
When you think of using the air fryer, you might not think to cook fish in it. But let us tell you, it’s one of the best ways to cook fish! And, a great place to start is this Air Fryer Mahi Mahi recipe.
The air fryer does an incredible job of circulating heat around whatever it’s cooking in a way that doesn’t burn it and so that it cooks evenly. That’s exactly what you need when you make delicate fish filets. You don’t want to cook them too much on one side and run the risk of ending up with dry fish.
At any rate, the fish itself is covered with a dried seasoning blend of granulated garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper. And then, once it’s done, it’s topped with some of our Homemade Herb Garlic Butter and fresh lemon. It’s just as good (if not better) than if you got it at a restaurant!
Why You’ll Love This Easy Mahi Mahi Recipe
This is one of our favorite fish recipes and here’s why:
- The texture is super tender. You won’t believe how light and flaky this fish is – you simply have to try it and see it for yourself!
- It’s an easy recipe for any occasion. You can make it as a simple weeknight meal or make it when you plan on having company. It has all of the fancy flavors that you expect from fine dining, but it’s so easy to make.
- This recipe is fast! Dinner can be on the table in about 10 minutes with this fish recipe. (Also, if you’re looking for another easy 10 minute seafood recipe, try this Air Fryer Shrimp!)
- Clean-up is a breeze. There is minimal clean-up when you cook with the air fryer. No pans and no grease splattered all over the stovetop!
What is Mahi Mahi?
Mahi Mahi, also known as dolphinfish, is a fish that can be found in Hawaii, the Gulf of Mexico, and a few other places as well. It gets its name because it swims sort of like dolphins do – not because it is a dolphin! The fish meat itself has a pretty mild flavor, making it easy to season and the perfect choice for a fish dinner.
Recipe Ingredients
These are the ingredients you need to make air fryer mahi mahi. The exact amounts for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card below!
- Mahi Mahi: We prefer to buy wild-caught, and you’ll need about one pound. Also, make sure the filets are about the same size so that they require the same amount of cooking time.
- Olive Oil: You can also use avocado oil if you like.
- Paprika: The paprika provides a little earthy sweetness to the spice rub.
- Granulated Garlic: You could also use garlic powder.
- Salt and Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper yields the best flavor!
- Lemon Juice: Always use fresh lemons and not bottled lemon juice for the tangiest flavor.
- Homemade Herb Garlic Butter: You can also use regular butter if you don’t have time to make the herb butter (linked above).
How to Make Air Fryer Mahi Mahi
This fish dinner is quite simple! Here are the basic steps to follow in order to get super flaky mahi mahi. (Recall that you can find the full set of directions in the recipe card, at the bottom of the page!)
- First, always preheat the air fryer. This helps the fish to cook evenly and not dry out.
- Then prepare the fish. You’ll want to make sure the fish is rinsed and patted dry before you begin to season the filets.
- Coat the filets with olive oil. And then cover the entire filet with the dried seasonings.
- Next, place them in the air fryer. Then let them cook for 8-10 minutes. It’s best to flip the filets halfway through the cooking process.
- Now your fish is ready to be plated! And don’t forget to add some homemade garlic herb butter and fresh lemon juice.
Tips for Success
Here are some helpful tips to follow when making this Mahi Mahi recipe.
- Cooking time will depend on the size of the fish. Our fish was cooked in 8 minutes. So depending on the thickness of the fish, it is best to check at 8 minutes for doneness. Or use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the internal temp is 137 degrees.
- Use blackening seasoning instead. If you have blackening seasoning, you can substitute it for the paprika, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Make sure the fish filets are not touching in the air fryer. There should be space between them in the air fryer basket to ensure all sides are cooked evenly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Mahi mahi is a lean protein that is a good source of vitamins such as B3, B6, and B12. It also contains a large amount of potassium and selenium, which is a mineral that can help your heart and your metabolism.
Mahi mahi fish meat is pretty mild, but it does have a sweetness to it. Also, its firm texture is similar to that of halibut or swordfish.
One of the best things about this recipe is that you can easily swap out another fish. You could also use this recipe with cod, salmon, haddock, or any other fish filets that you like. Just keep in mind that the cooking times may vary depending on the size and type of fish.
What Goes With This Garlic Butter Fish?
Below are some of our favorite things we like to serve with this air fryer mahi mahi.
- Homemade Sauce: We suggest trying our Tartar Sauce. It’s perfect for this dish!
- Potatoes: We love pairing fish with rich and creamy potatoes like our Best Ever Mashed Potatoes.
- Green Vegetables: For a healthier option, try our Crispy Brussels Sprouts.
- Rice: A simple side of rice is always a good option. We recommend our Cilantro Lime Rice for an added boost of citrus flavor.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
This Mahi Mahi dish is best eaten immediately, but you can store any leftovers for a few days if you like.
- To Store: For the best results, keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat: Use the air fryer again, preheated to 375F, and cook for a few minutes until heated through.
More Easy Seafood Recipes
Looking for some more easy seafood dishes? Check out these ones!
Air Fryer Mahi Mahi
Ingredients
- 2 wild caught mahi mahi filets, about 1 pound
- 1 teaspoon olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons garlic herb butter, divided
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F.
- While air fryer is preheating, rinse and pat dry fish.
- Coat filets with olive oil. Cover filets (front and back) with seasonings and place in the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until cooked through and an internal temperature reaches 137°F.
- Remove cooked fish from the air fryer basket and place on a plate. Drizzle fresh lemon juice over the fish and top each piece with a tablespoon of butter. Serve immediately!
Notes
- To Store: For the best results, keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat: Use the air fryer again, preheated to 375F, and cook for a few minutes until heated through.
Hi Do you cook the fish thawed? Thanks
Hi Pam, we used thawed mahi mahi. If you use frozen mahi you’ll need to cook it a little longer.
We are fish snobs after 35 years of fishing in the Florida Keys. Usually we grill our dolphin but I decided to try air frying. I marinated the fish in olive oil and our favorite Paul Prudhomme’s Blackened Redfish Magic, then cooked as directed. The fish was flaky and delicious.
So simple, easy, and delicious!
It was great. Will definitely be making this again.