Pan seared mahi mahi is a fancy restaurant-quality dinner that is easily made at home in just 10 minutes! Juicy and flaky white fish is seasoned with a spicy and smoky rub and then coated in a buttery lemon sauce with capers.
Why This Is the Best Mahi Mahi Recipe
Mahi mahi seasoned with an herb and spice-packed blackened seasoning and then pan seared and coated in a luscious lemon caper sauce…What’s not to love? Here’s a few more reasons we love this recipe:
- Quick and Easy: Would you believe us if we told you that this recipe only takes 10 minutes to make? There are just 6 ingredients in this tender, flaky mahi mahi recipe and the instructions are so easy to follow.
- Affordable Restaurant-Quality Dinner: This is the type of dish that you’ll see on the menu at a fancy restaurant, but if you ordered it when you were out for dinner, you’d have to pay a pretty penny. Mahi mahi is a very affordable fish at the supermarket, so make it at home to save money!
- Healthy: This meal tastes indulgent because the fish is so crisp and flaky, and the sauce is rich and buttery, but it’s actually a healthy dinner! This recipe is gluten free and low carb, while mahi mahi is a great source of protein, as well as vitamins B3, B6 and B12.
- Impressive. If you need a go-to recipe for date night or want to impress your friends at a dinner party, then this is the recipe for you. They’ll be so impressed with your cooking skills, you don’t have to tell them how easy it is to make. 😉
Ingredients Needed
You only need 6 ingredients to make this fancy pan seared mahi mahi and you may already have most of the ingredients on hand. For full ingredient amounts and directions, scroll to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Olive Oil: Avocado oil works too.
- Butter
- Mahi Mahi Fillets: If using frozen fillets, make sure they are thawed completely.
- Blackening Seasoning: You can use store bought blackening seasoning, or our favorite homemade blackening seasoning.
- Capers: Make sure the capers are drained, but do not rinse them.
- Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice will give you the most flavor!
How to Make Pan Seared Mahi Mahi
This smoky and spicy fish recipe is the perfect date night dinner and it only takes 10 minutes! Here’s how to cook mahi mahi like a pro. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page for detailed instructions.
- Season. Cover the mahi mahi fillets with blackened seasoning while a pan heats.
- Cook the fish. Sear the mahi mahi in the hot oil and butter for 4 minutes on one side, then flip.
- Make the sauce. Add butter, lemon juice, and capers, and cook until the fish is cooked through. Serve immediately.
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips to help you make this pan seared mahi mahi recipe perfect every time!
- Homemade Seasoning: The smoky, spicy, and herbaceous blackened seasoning is one of the stars of this dish. It gives the fish so much flavor and a good sear. For the best flavor, we recommend using our favorite easy Homemade Blackened Seasoning.
- Set a Timer: The one thing to avoid with this dish is overcooking the fish. Mahi mahi is tender, buttery, and flaky when cooked well, but becomes dry and tough if overcooked. Set a timer to make sure that you don’t forget about the fish. It can overcook in a matter of seconds.
- Use a Thermometer: We recommend using an instant-read meat thermometer anytime you’re cooking fish. That will help you know when the mahi mahi is cooked to perfection. You want to cook the buttery fillets until they reach an internal temperature of 145°F.
- Hot Pan: A common problem when cooking fish is having it stick to the pan. To keep that from happening, heat your pan until it’s fully hot before you add the oil. To make sure the pan is hot enough, add a drop of water. If the water dances in the pan, it’s time to add the oil, then add the fish a few seconds later giving the oil time to heat up first.
- Check the Seasonings at the End: There’s no added salt in this recipe because capers and blackened seasoning both have salt already. However, you can season with salt to taste, if you think it needs extra seasoning. Just wait until the recipe is done, then try the sauce. If it’s not salty enough for you, stir in a little extra salt.
What to Serve With This Easy Mahi Mahi Recipe
This flaky mahi mahi goes with so many different sides. We like to serve it with some green vegetables and a starch to have a balanced easy dinner. Our roasted green beans, bacon brussels sprouts, or light and refreshing cucumber tomato salad all go great. For a good starchy side, try this fluffy coconut rice, air fryer potato and onions, or roasted sweet potatoes. Don’t forget the homemade garlic bread to soak up all that buttery lemon sauce!
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Leftover mahi mahi will last in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, splash the fish with a little bit of water, and cover with aluminum foil. Heat in a 275°F oven till warmed through, about 10 minutes. Or microwave it in 30 second bursts, until warmed through. You can also eat leftover fish cold, on top of a salad, or in a sandwich. We don’t recommend freezing leftover mahi mahi.
More Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas
Weeknight dinners can be a pain, but these quick and easy dinner recipes make it a lot easier!
- Garlic Butter Shrimp
- Lemon Pepper Chicken
- Air Fryer Mahi Mahi
- Baked Pork Chops
- Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos
- Ranch Ritz Cracker Chicken
- Shrimp and Grits
- Blackened Mahi Mahi
Pan Seared Mahi Mahi
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, or avocado oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 mahi mahi filets, about 7 ounces each
- 1 tablespoon blackened seasoning
- ½ cup drained capers
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- In a medium size skillet, over medium heat, add the oil and 1 tablespoon of butter.
- Rub the mahi mahi filets with the blackening seasoning. When the oil is hot, carefully add the filets to the skillet.
- Sear for 4 minutes, flip and continue to sear for 3 minutes. After you flip the filets, add the remaining tablespoon of butter, capers, and lemon juice.
- Gently stir the sauce while the filets cook for about 3 minutes, until the filets cook through and reach an internal temperature of 145°F on an instant read meat thermometer. The sauce will thicken as the mahi mahi cooks.
- Remove from heat, plate and add the sauce over each filet. Serve immediately.
