My Blackened Mahi Mahi recipe is oven-baked instead of pan-seared for a healthy, flavorful, and easy-to-make fish. Seasoned with Homemade Blackened Seasoning and lemon, this simple fish dinner can be ready in less than 15 minutes!
Blackened Mahi-Mahi recipe
This Blackened Mahi Mahi recipe is the perfect simple and flavorful way to cook fish. It's simply seasoned with a homemade blackening seasoning - which is like a cajun spice - plus butter and lemon for a tender and flaky fish dinner anyone will love. This simple piece of fish is so packed with delicious flavors making it a fabulous pescatarian or seafood dinner!
You could of course buy your favorite blackening seasoning (this one is my favorite!,) or use my own Homemade Blackening Seasoning made with a yummy combination of paprika, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, black pepper, and other spices.
Traditional blacked fish is pan fried in a good amount of butter but I bake mine for a bit healthier and easier preparation. It's a fool-proof way to cook fish if you are just getting started with it.
If you want to make this dairy-free you can easily swap olive oil for the butter, but I really love the way the butter tenderized the mahi-mahi!
YUM! Healthy Blackened Mahi Mahi from Running in a Skirt. Share on X
Why You'll Love this Healthy Blackened Mahi Mahi recipe...
This Healthy Blackened Mahi Mahi is easy to love because it's OVEN baked. You don't have to fuss over making it on the stovetop. That also means an easier clean-up. It also uses less butter than other blackened fish recipes too.
It's a great dish to serve for a weeknight because it's made with just a handful of easy ingredients plus can be made in less than 15 minutes.
What is Mahi Mahi?
Mahi-Mahi is a firm, white fish that's pretty lean. It has a very mild, buttery, and slightly sweet flavor. Because it doesn't have an overpowering flavor, you can prepare it in many ways. It's a great fish to try if you aren't too into fish. It's a great source of healthy protein packed with vitamins and minerals.
It's pretty easy to find and many frozen fish sections of the grocery store stock it regularly.
Mahi Mahi is also considered a sustainable fish to eat!
You can buy Mahi-Mahi fresh or frozen, it just needs to be thawed before cooking.
The best way to thaw out your fish is to leave it in the fridge overnight. To thaw it out more quickly put it in a plastic bag (if it's frozen it will usually come in one) and submerge it in room temperature water.
To prepare your fish make sure it is thawed out and pat it dry with paper towels.
What is blackened fish?
Blackened fish is any variety of fish prepared by dipping the fish in butter and coating it in a dark layer of blackening seasoning. You then pan-sear it in a hot skillet or cast iron skillet.
Blackening Seasoning is a crazy good combination of spices like smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and oregano.
My Blackened Mahi Mahi is a bit untraditional because I oven bake it. The preparation is a bit healthier with less hands-on time and clean-up. It may not be the classical way to prepare this dish, but it works for my busy life with two toddlers.
Ingredients:
Here's what you'll need to make this Blackened Mahi Mahi recipe.
- Mahi Mahi: Look for fish fillets that are 4-6 ounces each and about ½ inch thick. The fish should not have a stinky or fishy aroma.
- Butter: I usually cook my fish with olive oil BUT the butter brings out the flavors in this dish and makes it a bit more tender. A little goes a long way here in bringing out the flavors. If you are dairy-free or really don't like cooking with butter you can easily make the swap to olive oil.
- Blackening Seasoning: My Homemade Blackening Seasoning is the perfect spice blend of paprika, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, caynenne pepper, oregano, salt and pepper. You can make your own or buy a pre-made version. Here are a few ones you can buy: Zatarains Blackened Seasoning, Emeril's Blackened Seasoning Blend, Chef Paul Prudhomme's Magic Seasoning Blends - Blackened Redfish Magic (My favorite!)
- Lemon: Fresh lemon brings out the flavors in the dish and balances the spice of the blackening seasoning.
Blackening Seasoning usually already has a good amount of salt and pepper in it, so you generally will not need to add extra.
Directions:
Here's how to make my healthy Blackened Mahi Mahi.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and spray a baking dish with cooking spray. For easy clean up you can line your pan with foil.
- To prepare the mahi-mahi thaw it out and pat it dry with paper towels.
- Put the Mahi fillets in the baking dish. Brush them with melted butter.
- Generously sprinkle the fish with blackening seasoning.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the fish is opaque and flakes with a fork. Don't overcook it!
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice on top just before serving.
Variations
I love this Blackened Mahi Mahi recipe as written, but here are some other ways to mix it up.
- Make it Dairy Free: To make this dairy-free use olive oil or dairy-free butter instead of butter.
- Make it Cajun: Cajun spices and Blackening Seasoning are very similar. You can use a Cajun Spice Mix if you can't find Blackening Seasoning.
- Make it Spicy: Add an extra sprinkle of cayenne pepper to bring up the heat.
- Pick Another Fish: You can easily make this same recipe with almost any type of white fish! You can also try halibut, snapper, seabass, or grouper. You could even prepare shrimp this way. They would only take a few minutes to cook though.
Recipe FAQ
What is the best way to defrost frozen mahi-mahi?
The best way to defrost Mahi-Mahi is to put it in the fridge overnight. To speed it up you can place the fish in the plastic bag in room temperature water.
How do I know when the mahi-mahi is done?
Mahi-Mahi is done when it turns opaque and starts to flake with a fork. It generally takes 10 minutes to cook for every ½ inch thickness of fish.
How do I store leftovers?
I feel like this recipe is best enjoyed right out of the oven, but if you do have leftovers put them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
How do I reheat the fish?
You can reheat the fish in the microwave in 30-second increments until reheated.
This Blackened Mahi Mahi is the Perfect Dinner!
This Blackened Mahi Mahi is really the perfect dinner for a fast weekday meal! I make mine with microwave rice and fresh green beans. It's also tasty enough to serve to guests. It's one of my go-to recipes because of how simple it is to prepare, how flavorful it is and how healthy the whole dish is.
You can serve it with a few sides - see my suggestions below - like I did in the photos OR you can use the fish as the perfect start to blackened fish tacos or a fish wrap.
Mahi Mahi is the perfect pescatarian dinner!
Serve it with:
- Garlic Roasted Green Beans
- Roasted Baby Red Potatoes
- Roasted Lemon Garlic Brussels Sprouts
- Roasted Broccoli with Mushrooms
- 4 Ingredient Simple Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Kale Ceasar Salad
- Greek Yogurt Healthy Cole Slaw
- Healthy Greek Yogurt Potato Salad
YUM! Healthy Blackened Mahi Mahi from Running in a Skirt. Share on X
More Healthy Fish Recipes to Love:
- Healthy Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos
- Teriyaki Salmon Bowls
- Pesto Salmon
- Foil Packet Fish
- Salmon with Greek Yogurt Dill Sauce
- Everything But the Bagel Salmon
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook too!
Blackened Mahi Mahi Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 mahi-mahi fillets, approximately 6 ounces each
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon blackening seasoning
- 1 lemon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and spray a baking dish with cooking spray.
- Put the Mahi Mahi fillets in the baking dish. Brush them with the melted butter.
- Generously sprinkle the fish with blackening seasoning.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the fish is opaque and flakes with a fork. Don't overcook it!
- Squeeze with lemon and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
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Farmgal says
Turned out AMAZING...I paired it with Dirty Rice & Garlic French Cut Green Beans...the Hubby loved it!!...Thank you for this wonderful new meal on my weekly rotation...
Natalie says
Yum, such a delicious dinner idea. We love fish for dinner. Can't wait to make this.
Mayuri Patel says
Oh my, this blackened mahi mahi is so easy to make. A recipe that my hubby can easily cook for himself. In India, it is usually prepared as a tikka or with mustard sauce.
Katie Crenshaw says
This Mahi Mahi turned out beautiful! Your tips made cooking it so easy. The fish was light, flaky, and delicious.