Make perfectly cooked, tasty, and healthy Air Fryer Mahi Mahi in just 15 minutes with this easy air fryer recipe!
What is Mahi Mahi?
Mahi Mahi is a very versatile fish with mild-tasting white flesh that is firm and easy to cook.
This tropical fish is also a sustainable food option as they grow and reproduce quickly and are generally fished in a sustainable way.
Mahi Mahi fish is sometimes called dolphin fish However, This tropical fish is not at all related to dolphins.
It’s also confused with Ahi Tuna, since the words sound similar, but note that Mahi Mahi is not a tuna fish either. It’s simply a delicious, firm-fleshed white fish found in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Using the air fryer makes fish similar to grilled mahi mahi, but the air fryer is a much easier method.
What You’ll Need
- Mahi Mahi Fillets – This flaky white fish is one of my favorites. Two 6-ouch fillets should fit comfortably in most basket-style air fryers. You can also adjust this recipe to make just one mahi mahi fillet.
- Olive Oil – We aren’t frying this fish, but a small amount of oil will help adhere the spices to the fillets, add moisture, and allow beautiful browning.
- Salt – I like using kosher salt to make this spice rub.
- Pepper – for really great flavor, use freshly ground black pepper.
- Garlic Powder – This adds tons of flavor. Garlic is good on almost everything!
- Paprika – I love paprika for its ability to add warmth and beautiful color to mahi mahi fillets.
How to Make Mahi Mahi
- Use paper towels to pat the fish fillets dry on both sides. Then cover the mahi mahi with olive oil.
- In a small bowl, mix the paprika, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper.
- Gently rub the spices onto the oiled mahi mahi fillets. This is easiest if you use your hands.
- Place the mahi mahi fillets into the air fryer basket – no need to preheat!
- Air Fry the mahi mahi fillets for 400°F/200°C for 10 minutes, or until the fish is fully cooked.
- Serve immediately.
How to Serve
Turn your air fryer mahi-mahi into a healthy meal by serving it with your favorite air fryer side dishes.
Air Fryer Vegetables like Air Fryer Broccoli, Air Fryer Eggplant, or Air Fryer Green Beans will all be delicious.
If you like potatoes with dinner, you should definitely try my recipes for Air Fryer Potato Wedges or easy Air Fryer Baked Potatoes.
On the side, don’t forget to make up a delicious homemade Tartar Sauce!
Tips and Tricks
- I don’t recommend air-frying still-frozen fish. The fish will cook faster and more evenly if it is fully thawed before air frying.
- If your mahi mahi still has the skin attached, be sure to remove it before cooking. Typically fillets are sold already skinned.
- Use paper towels to pat the fish fillets so that they are dry before you season them. This will help the oil and seasonings stick to the fish and stay that way.
- Watch your food. The time needed to cook Mahi Mahi in the air fryer can vary depending on the thickness of your fillets. Keep on eye on things so that you can pull them out early or add extra time if needed.
- Adjust the seasonings: The spice blend I’m using here is my favorite to season Mahi Mahi with, but you canuse your own favorites! Try taco seasoning, cajun seasoning, or lemon pepper to make things extra simple.
Add Some Crunch With Breading
Looking for a bit of crunch with your fish? Mix the seasonings in this recipe with panko bread crumbs. Spray the fish with oil and then cover with the seasoned breadcrumbs before cooking.
How to Store
Once you’ve cooked your mahi mahi in the air fryer, you should either eat it right away or store it in the fridge until you are ready to eat it.
Leftovers or meal prep portions can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Speaking of meal prep, air fryer fish is delicious enjoyed for lunch the next day! I usually eat it cold along with a fresh salad.
How to Reheat
Add leftover mahi mahi fillets to the air fryer that you’ve preheated to 400°F/200°C. Heat for 2-4 minutes or until just warmed through.
Avoid using the microwave to reheat fish. The Air Fryer does a much better job of reheating the fillets gently so that they don’t overcook.
More Air Fryer Fish Recipes
We love making all types of Air Fryer Fish! Check out how we make Air Fryer Salmon, Air Fryer Tuna Steaks, and Air Fryer Tilapia too. Looking for a non air fryer recipe that still has seafood? Check out this delicious Shrimp Cobb Salad.
Air Fryer Mahi Mahi
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 6 ounce mahi mahi fish fillets skin removed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Pat the mahi mahi dry on both sides. Cover the mahi mahi with the olive oil.
- In a small bowl, mix the paprika, salt, garlic powder and ground black pepper together.
- Then, gently rub the spices onto the mahi mahi filets.
- Place the mahi mahi filets in your air fryer basket. Air fry the mahi mahi on 400 degrees F for 10 minutes, or until the mahi mahi reaches an internal temperature of 137F.
Video
Notes
- If your mahi mahi comes frozen from the grocery store, be sure to defrost it in the refrigerator before cooking. If it comes in a package, leave it in the package while it defrosts so it doesn’t leak.
- This spice blend is a great option if you pan on eating the mahi mahi as your main meal with a side of roasted vegetables. You can also use taco seasoning in its place to make mahi mahi tacos.
- The fish is done when the flesh turns opaque and easily flakes with a fork.
Nutrition
Air Fryers can vary greatly. Please take the time to learn your specific air fryer. You may need to adjust times and temperatures based upon your air fryer. All though this website attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, the information should only be considered an estimate. Varying factors such as different product types, different brands, etc. can change nutritional information. It is your responsibility as a consumer to read all labels to make sure the ingredients fit your dietary needs as well as calculate your own nutritional information as a double check.
If you don’t have a thermometer handy, you can use a fork to gently pull the fish apart. If it flakes easily and appears opaque throughout, it’s done!
While I’ve seen some decent results from placing frozen fish directly in the air fryer, I much prefer to air fry fully thawed fillets. I also recommend that you take the time to thaw your fish before you air fry it.
Air Frying frozen fish will often give you overcooked, dry fish due to the extra time it takes to get it to cook all the way through.
To quickly defrost frozen fish fillets, remove them from the packaging and place them in a plastic bag. Add the bag to a bowl of cold water, and let sit for 20-30 minutes. If needed, change out the water and repeat until the mahi mahi fillets are thawed.
Delicious! I tried this today, and it turned out perfectly. Thank you so much for the easy to follow instructions. I never would have thought to use my air fryer for mahi mahi!
I’m without a kitchen for a couple weeks while doing renovations and used the air fryer option on my toaster oven for my first time using your mahi recipe. Turned out perfectly and may be my go to option for mahi from now on.
So glad you loved it!