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This blackened mahi mahi is coated in homemade Cajun seasoning and cooked in the air fryer or on the stovetop. This recipe is easy enough for a quick weeknight meal, but elevated enough to serve at a dinner party, and I love it because it feels like restaurant quality for a fraction of the price. We like to serve this with sweet potatoes, but mashed potatoes work great too.
Why You’ll Love This Blackened Mahi Mahi Recipe
This air fryer mahi mahi recipe tastes like something you’d order at a restaurant, but it’s so quick and easy to prepare at home. Air frying creates a deliciously crispy outer layer while keeping the inside tender and buttery. It's truly one of the best healthy fish recipes you’ll find!
But you can also pan sear this fish to perfection on the stovetop. Both methods create a crispy skin on the outside, with a tender center. Making fish at home is something we do often, and this blackened mahi mahi is one of our faves, alongside air fryer halibut, and this reader favorite pan-seared chilean sea bass!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Mahi Mahi Fillets: Frozen or fresh, about 6 oz each, thawed. Costco frozen wild caught mahi mahi fillets work great! Just be sure to thaw them and pat them dry with paper towels before using.
- Butter or Ghee: Substitute vegan butter for dairy-free.
- Avocado Oil: Olive oil or your preferred neutral cooking oil also works.
Cajun Spice Rub
The best part of making your own spice rub is you can make it as mild or spicy as you want. Add more cayenne for a bigger kick or omit for a milder version.
- Cajun seasoning mix: garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, thyme, cayenne pepper (or chili powder), salt, and black pepper
How to Make Blackened Mahi Mahi
Step 1: Combine all the Cajun seasoning ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly.
Step 2: Ensure fish is thawed completely, then pat dry with paper towels. Coat each fillet evenly with the spice mixture, pressing gently to help it adhere.
Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes. Spray the basket lightly with cooking oil. Place fillets in a single layer (cook in batches if necessary). Air fry for 8 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork.
Stovetop: This blackened fish recipe also works on the stove! Just heat ghee and avocado oil over medium-high heat in a large cast iron skillet. When hot, add seasoned mahi mahi. Cook 3-4 minutes per side until flaky. Rest briefly, then squeeze fresh lemon juice on top before serving. It's a great alternative if you prefer pan-seared mahi mahi over the air fryer method.
Recipe Tips
- Adjust spice levels easily. Add more cayenne pepper for a spicy kick or reduce it for milder tastes. It's one of my favorite spicy fish recipes!
- Cooking time recommendations are based on 6oz fillets. For thicker or thinner fillets, adjust timing slightly.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat gently in the air fryer or stovetop.
What to Serve with Blackened Mahi Mahi
Serve your blackened mahi mahi recipe with my mango salsa for a fruity, zesty contrast or serve over a bed of Instant Pot cilantro lime rice for a simple, satisfying meal. I also love this alongside Mexican street corn salad or tucked into tortillas like I do with my Baja shrimp tacos.
You can also enjoy this quick seafood dinner alongside a sweet potato side dish (like these sweet potato fries), with a drizzle of lemon butter sauce, or a spoonful of fresh peach salsa.
Recipe FAQs
Spray the air fryer basket lightly with oil and ensure the fish is coated evenly with seasoning to prevent sticking.
This usually happens when the fillets are too thin or overcooked. Stick with 6 oz fillets and check the doneness at the 7 minute mark.
Yes, but you'll need to thaw it completely and pat it very dry. Excess moisture prevents the spice rub from adhering!
More Seafood Recipes
Gluten Free Fish and Chips
Creamy Gluten Free Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Pasta
Blackened Salmon Tacos with Pineapple Salsa
Blackened Mahi Mahi
Equipment
- 1 12-inch Cast Iron Skillet or 10-inch works – you may need to do the fish in batches of 2
- Air Fryer optional if not using stove top
Ingredients
- 4 mahi mahi fillets, about 6 oz each, thawed. I get the frozen fillets from Costco!
- 2 tbsp ghee, or vegan butter for dairy free
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
Cajun Spice Rub
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp thyme
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, more if you like heat!
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
Instructions
- Add the spices into a bowl and mix to combine.
- Make sure the fish is thawed thoroughly. Pat dry with paper towels. Rub the spice mixture all over each fillet, coating it completely and pressing down with your fingers to make it stick.
Stove Top / Skillet
- Heat the butter and oil in a large cast iron skillet. When sizzling hot, add the mahi mahi. Cook for 3-4 minutes without touching, then carefully flip and cook for another 3 minutes. The fish should flake easily at that point.
- Let it rest for a couple of minutes, then serve with a squeeze of lemon on top. I like to serve this with some fruity salsa, potatoes, rice, or veggies!
Air Fryer Mahi Mahi
- Preheat air fryer to 400 for 3 minutes.
- Spray the basket with cooking oil, then add the fillets in an even layer (you may need to do this in batches).
- Air fry for 8 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork. Enjoy!
Notes
- Adjust spice levels easily. Add more cayenne pepper for a spicy kick or reduce it for milder tastes. It's one of my favorite spicy fish recipes!
- Cooking time recommendations are based on 6oz fillets. For thicker or thinner fillets, adjust timing slightly.
- Clean your air fryer basket promptly after cooking to manage odors. Simply wash with warm, soapy water.
Nutrition
All nutrition facts are an estimate and automatically calculated. While I fact check them using My Fitness Pal, please note that they may not always be 100% accurate and depend on ingredients used. Weigh your total and divide by the number of servings for the most accurate grams per serving size.
I love blackened Mahi Mahi and have made it several times in a cast iron skillet. This will be the first time making it in the air fryer!!
So delish!!! I have youngins so I left off the cayenne. My fish wasn’t thawed all the way and didn’t crisp up, but that was my fault not the recipes fault. Can’t wait to make again!!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Absolutely delicious! I used no cayenne pepper and a little extra black pepper. Tasted like it came from a restaurant, with asparagus on the side.
So glad you enjoyed it!
My family enjoyed this! I made it in the air fryer and it could not be any easier. Next time definitely want to try adding the salsa for a little something extra.
Thank you Becca! Yes, the salsa definitely takes it to the next level!
This could not be easier. I used the air fryer method while in our RV. This was my first time eating or cooking mahi-mahi and it was so delicious. Definitely making again. I also recommend using the mango salsa to go with it 🙂
Thanks Jessica! So glad you enjoyed it! I agree- the salsa is a must!
Amazing!!!
Thanks Margie!
Love this spin on mahi mahi!! So delicious!! And so easy!!
Thank you!!
Another fabulous recipe by Mary. I used the air fryer method and it’s so easy. I’m very picky about fish and this did not disappoint. I also made the mango salsa. So yummy!
So glad you enjoyed both! Thank you, Jessica!
This couldn’t be any easier! I did the air fryer method which was so quick and minimal clean up. I’ve also done the pan sear method which I prefer more than the air fryer because you get a little crust on the fish, but both are great. The seasoning is perfection.
Thanks Chelsea!
Hands down the best blackened fish around. We threw it in tacos because tacos are life. So good and came together so quickly! Thank you again for amazing recipes.
Woo hoo! Thanks Kelly! So glad you enjoyed them 🙂