This Blackened Mahi Mahi recipe is an ideal weeknight dinner recipe. Boldly seasoned and quickly pan-seared, this flavorful mahi mahi recipe comes together in less than 15 minutes.
Looking for more quick-cooking, boldly seasoned dinner recipes? Don't miss my recipes for Shrimp Stir-Fry, Garlic Lemon Baked Cod, and Buffalo Chicken Tacos.
Insanely Flavorful Mahi Mahi Recipe
When it comes to infusing flavor into fish fillets, nothing quite compares to Blackened Fish. Boldy seasoned and quickly pan-seared, blackened fish is not only flavorful, but one of the fastest dinner recipes you can make!
And while any fish fillet can be blackened, there is no better choice than Mahi Mahi. With its mild flavor and firm, meaty texture, Mahi Mahi stands up well to the bold Cajun seasoning and the process of being quickly pan-seared. Blackened Mahi mahi is buttery, flaky, and perfectly spicy. It is one of the tastiest seafood recipes, as well as one of the easiest!
Ingredients For Blackened Fish
- Mahi Mahi: You want to select mahi mahi filets that are about ½" thick and between 4 to 6 ounces each. Unless you live right next to the ocean, it is best to purchase wild-caught frozen mahi mahi for this recipe.
- Blackening Seasoning: For the seasoning, I use a blend very similar to my homemade Cajun seasoning. It is made with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper. It is bold, spicy, and perfect for blackened fish.
- Butter + Oil: Use a combination of unsalted butter and extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil to pan-fry the fish. The butter will add richness to the blackened fish, while the oil will help prevent the butter from burning.
- Lemon or Lime: Fresh lemon or lime juice is a MUST to finish the fish. It will add acidity, moisture, and flavor.
How to Make Blackened Mahi Mahi
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Pat Fish Dry
Don't skip patting each fish fillet dry with paper towels before seasoning the fish. That will help the help the seasoning blend to adhere to the fish, giving it so much flavor.
Season Fish
In a small bowl combine the salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and cayenne pepper together and then evenly sprinkle this mixture over each side of each fish fillet. Use your hands to rub the seasoning blend into the fish to help the spice blend adhere to the fillets.
Blacken the Mahi Mahi
To blacken the fish simply means to heavily season a fish fillet and then quickly pan-fry the fish in a hot skillet, typically a cast iron skillet. As the fish cooks, the spices toast and deepen in color, hence the term blackened. Cook the mahi mahi for 3-4 minutes per side, or until the fish becomes opaque and easily flakes apart with a fork.
Finish With Acid
It is best to squeeze lemon wedges or lime wedges over the blackened fish right before serving. Either will make all the flavors in the blackened mahi mahi come to life and pop in your mouth.
Serving Suggestions
Blackened Mahi Mahi is a dish that pairs beautifully with a side of cheesy grits and green beans almondine for a delicious, hearty meal. However, blackened fish is good for more than just a standalone entree.
- Mahi-Mahi Tacos: Cut or flake the cooked blackened fish into small bite-size pieces and serve in homemade tortillas with pineapple mango salsa for an incredibly delicious fish taco.
- As a Fish Sandwich: Serve the blackened fish on a homemade biscuit topped with coleslaw for an easy fish sandwich.
- As a Rice Bowl: Serve the blackened fish over Instant Pot brown rice or Instant Pot cilantro lime rice with pineapple mango salsa and fresh cilantro for a wholesome, hearty dinner.
Storing Leftover Mahi Mahi
- Refrigerate: Mahi Mahi, like most fish, is best served immediately after preparation. However, if you happen to have leftover Mahi Mahi, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours.
- Reheat: Reheat in a dry skillet over medium heat for a couple of minutes per side, or until warmed through, and squeeze fresh lemon juice over the fish immediately before serving.
Recipe Modifications
- Swap Out the Fish: While I love using mahi-mahi for this blackened fish recipe, as it is so mild and buttery in texture, you can use any firm white fish such as halibut, grouper, snapper, or seabass in place of the mahi-mahi.
- Use Chicken: Have chicken on hand? Don't miss my 15-minute recipe for Blackened Chicken.
- Change Up the Seasoning: Jerk seasoning, Adobo seasoning, or Old Bay seasoning are great alternatives to the Cajun blend of spices.
- Keep it Dairy-Free: The butter will add incredible richness and help the exterior of the flesh to become golden brown. However, if you are dairy-free simply omit the butter and sear the fish in 2 tablespoons of heated oil.
More Easy Seafood Recipes
- Instant Pot Shrimp Boil
- Pan-Seared Tilapia
- Baked Salmon
- Grilled Shrimp
- Honey Garlic Salmon Sheet Pan Meal
- Shrimp Lo Mein
If you enjoyed this simple recipe for Blackened Mahi Mahi, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.
Blackened Mahi Mahi
Ingredients
Cajun Seasoning Mix
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper more or less to taste
Blackened Fish
- 4 mahi mahi fillets approximately 6 ounces each
- 1 recipe cajun seasoning approximately 2 tablespoons
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lemon cut into 4 wedges
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together the salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and cayenne together.
- Pat the fish dry with paper towels. Sprinkle the cajun seasoning blend evenly over both sides of the fillets, rubbing the mixture into the fish with your hands.
- Place a large saute pan over medium-high heat and add butter and oil. Once the butter is melted and the oil is hot, add the seasoned fish.
- Cook, undisturbed, for 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Gently flip the fish over and continue to cook, undisturbed for an additional 3-4 minutes, or until the fish is browned on the opposite side, and opaque.
- Remove the fish from the skillet, and squeeze a wedge of fresh lemon over each fillet. Serve immediately.
Annie
This was so tasty! I skipped the lemon and made a honey lime sauce instead, which I drizzled on the fillets after they were done. They were a big hit!
I will definitely be making this again.
Thanks for sharing!
Kristen Chidsey
Sounds wonderful! I am so glad you enjoyed!
Peggy Esposito
Great recipe! Everyone loved it - thanks for posting
Peggy
I made this last night and it was amazing! First time making blackened fish of any kind - great recipe!
Kristen Chidsey
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, Peggy!
Britni
Can you use frozen fillets? And how about cooking in the air fryer?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Britni! You need the fish to be fully defrosted so that they cook evenly and the spice mix adhere to the fish. To defrost frozen fish fillets, either place the frozen fillets in the refrigerator overnight OR place the frozen fillets, still in the packaging in a bowl of cold water in the refrigerator. As for the air fryer, cook the fish at 400 degrees for 3 minutes per side.
Kimberly
so easy to make and it was absolutely amazing- thank you for sharing!
Kristen Chidsey
You bet and thank YOU for sharing your review!
Christina
So easy and so good!
Marsha Popejoy
Easy and delicious way to prepare fish.
Rebekah Montes
This was SO good! My first time making Mahi Mahi and my family loved it!! This is going on our rotation. Thank you!
Kristen Chidsey
Thank you for sharing, Rebekah! I am thrilled to hear you and your family enjoyed this Mahi Mahi 🙂
Linda Dunneback
Can we grill this with the same
Results?
Kristen Chidsey
As long as you grease your grill really well. Fish is super delicate and can easily tear on the grill.
Elaine
Seafood is so intimidating for me - it's expensive and I'm always afraid I'll mess it up and it will be wasted. I'm ok with shrimp and salmon but your recipe is the first time I've tried making mahi mahi. It was a DELICIOUS hit! Thanks!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so happy you enjoyed so much Elaine!
Chris H
This was my first time making Mahi Mahi. Your recipe was super simple, easy to make and delicious. I paired it with brussell sprouts. My family will be enjoying this meal more often.
Kristen Chidsey
So happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe for Mahi Mahi, Chris! Thank you for sharing.
Karen
I cooked this according to the directions and it came out so delicious, I had a rather thick filet so I added 2 extra minutes cooking time and served with a squeeze of lime and mango salsa and a simple salad, absolutely delicious. I wish I could post a picture, restaurant quality dinner and keto friendly too.
Kristen Chidsey
Thank you for sharing, Karen! I am thrilled to hear you enjoy it so much! And I love the mango salsa topping 🙂
Lisalia
The best way to eat mahi mahi. I know you give some instructions for if we have leftover... but truly there was no leftover fish. Simply delicious - especially taken to the next level with that squeeze of lemon over top to finish it off!
Kristen Chidsey
I LOVE hearing that your family enjoyed so much! Thanks for sharing Lisalia!
Allyssa
Thank you so much for this recipe, it's really helpful and easy to make! Well done!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so happy you found the instructions easy to follow and you enjoyed the Mahi!
Beth
I love mahi-mahi and this is incredibly delicious! This has become one of my favorites for lunch or dinner. Such a great and flavorful recipe!
Kristen Chidsey
Thank you so for sharing Beth! So happy you enjoyed this recipe for Mahi Mahi!