Air fryer mahi mahi is a delicious fish recipe made with no breading. This recipe uses only 2 ingredients - spicy cajun seasoning and frozen or fresh mahi mahi for a quick and easy seafood meal! The perfect light and flaky fish to add to fish tacos, a sandwich or chop up into bites and eat in a buddha bowl. Done in just 10 minutes!
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Healthy seafood recipes are one of our favorite meals around our home. Whether you follow a pescatarian meal plan or not, this air fryer mahi mahi is so simple to make and packs so much flavor!
One of my favorite things about this fish is the high protein and low fat and carbs. It makes the perfect base for so many yummy recipes like tacos or bowls or you can eat it with rice and a veggie side.
If you love seafood recipes, be sure to check out our pan-seared shrimp, air fryer halibut, Old Bay salmon, Chilean sea bass, crab cakes, and Air Fryer Argentine shrimp recipe, a few more of our favorites!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy & quick prep. Dinner is on the table in less than 15 minutes with a short prep time and cooking time of just under 10 minutes.
- Versatile. Air fryer mahi mahi can be used in fish tacos, served with rice, on a sandwich or in a bowl. You can also use a variety of seasonings like blackened seasoning, adding panko breadcrumbs or drizzling teriyaki sauce.
- Great for a variety of dietary needs. This recipe is keto, low carb, Whole30, paleo, gluten free and dairy free.
- Any air frying model you have will work. This recipe can be air fried in a Ninja Foodi or Grill, Ultrean (that's the model I use) Power XL, Skinnytaste, Cosori and more.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.
- Mahi Mahi: I purchased frozen fish and defrosted it prior to cooking. You can use any light white fish for this recipe. Chilean sea bass or cod would work also.
- Seasonings: I used a homemade cajun seasoning I use in our Instant Pot gumbo recipe. You can use any seasoning of your choice. Teriyaki, lemon pepper, fajita seasoning, taco, blackened seasoning and even salt & pepper with a bit of lemon works well.
How to Make This Recipe
This is a step-by-step walkthrough of how to cook this recipe. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cook time and temperatures.
Steps 1 and 2: Pat fillets dry with a paper towel. Spray with avocado oil spray and season with cajun seasoning.
Step 3: Place fish in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 400F for 8 minutes.
Step 4: Test fillet by using a fork to see how easily the fish flakes. If it does not flake easily, it needs more time. Flip it and air fry it for up to 5 minutes or until fish flakes easily.
Make Ahead, Storage, Reheating, Freezing & Serving
- Make Ahead: Season air fryer mahi mahi and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for up to 1 day prior to air frying. Be sure to use thawed fish within 24 hours of defrosting.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Reheating: Reheat by air frying for 3-5 minutes at 350F or until fish is slightly crispy at the edges and heated through.
- Freezing: Freeze seasoned fish and place in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- Serving: Serve with veggie sides like broccoli or asparagus, in fish tacos, with rice, in a sandwich or cut up into bites to add to a buddha bowl.
Expert Tips
- Quick-defrost fish by removing packaging from fish and placing them in a plastic bag. Add bag to a bowl of ice water and allow to defrost for 20-30 minutes.
- To make air fried mahi mahi with breading, spray fillets with olive oil spray and coat with Panko bread crumbs mixed with cajun seasoning prior to air frying.
- Be sure to pat the fish dry with paper towels if making it with no breading or with breading. The seasoning and especially the Panko breading will not stick if the fillets are wet.
FAQs
It is fully cooked at 137F. You can find the temperature by inserting an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the fish. The time and temperature will depend on how large the fillets are. Larger pieces may take additional minutes and if you desire a crispy outside you may consider increasing the temperature towards the end.
You can also tell that it is done if it flakes easily with a fork.
Yes, bake mahi mahi in the oven at 400F for 20-25 minutes or until the internal temperature registers 137F.
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Air Fryer Mahi Mahi
Ingredients
- 12 oz mahi mahi fresh or frozen
- 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
Instructions
Air Fryer Instructions
- Pat fillets dry with a paper towel. Spray with avocado oil spray and season with cajun seasoning.
- Place fish in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 400F for 8 minutes
- Test fillet by using a fork to see how easily the fish flakes. If it does not flake easily, it needs more time. Flip it and air fry it for up to 5 minutes or until fish flakes easily.
Oven Baked Instructions
- Pat fillets dry with a paper towel season with cajun seasoning. Place fish in a baking dish.
- Bake fish in the oven at 400F for 20-25 minutes or until the internal temperature registers 137F and fillet flakes easily with a fork.
Notes
- Make Ahead: Season mahi mahi and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for up to 1 day prior to air frying. Be sure to use thawed fish within 24 hours of defrosting.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Reheating: Reheat by air frying for 3-5 minutes at 350F or until fish is slightly crispy at the edges and heated through.
- Freezing: Freeze seasoned fish and place in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- Serving: Serve with veggie sides like broccoli or asparagus, in fish tacos, with rice, in a sandwich or cut up into bites to add to a buddha bowl.
- Quick-defrost fish by removing packaging from fish and placing them in a plastic bag. Add bag to a bowl of ice water and allow to defrost for 20-30 minutes.
- To make air fried mahi mahi with breading, spray fillets with olive oil spray and coat with Panko bread crumbs mixed with cajun seasoning prior to air frying.
- Be sure to pat the fish dry with paper towels if making it with no breading or with breading. The seasoning and especially the Panko breading will not stick if the fillets are wet.
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