This mouthwatering seared mahi mahi is dressed in an incredible buttery lemon garlic sauce that will keep you coming back for more after every bite. It comes out so tender, flaky, and perfectly seasoned and it's a hit every time we make it at our house. Plus, this healthy mahi mahi recipe is as quick & easy as making fish gets, and the results speak for themselves!
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The Best Mahi Mahi Recipe
If you've never made mahi mahi before, this mahi mahi in a lemon garlic sauce is the perfect recipe to start with!
The recipe is made in just one pan with a handful of simple ingredients. And the lemon garlic butter sauce goes perfectly with the wonderfully tender and flaky mahi mahi.
Honestly, it yields results that are restaurant-quality delicious! Even if you don't even fish typically, I think you'll love this recipe. My brother-in-law would never order fish at a restaurant, but he actually requests this recipe when we get together for dinner!
By the way, if you're looking for a tasty side to go with this recipe, give this low carb cheese bread, or these cauliflower mashed potatoes a shot!
Ingredients You'll Need
- Mahi Mahi Steaks- or mahi mahi fillets.
- Salt and Black Pepper
- Olive oil and butter- this combination for cooking is my secret weapon.
- Lemon Zest
- Garlic- I used grated garlic. but pre-minced garlic works great too.
- Lemon Slices
- Lemon Pepper- this is optional, but it adds another dimension of flavor that's to die for.
- Chives- to garnish.
By the way, I use really similar garlic butter sauce recipes for this salmon in a creamy sauce and Instant Pot shrimp. They're two more tasty fish recipes you'll definitely want to try next!
How To Cook Mahi Mahi
Once again, this seared mahi mahi in lemon butter sauce is super quick and easy to make. The mahi mahi steaks themselves need only a few minutes to cook, and the total recipe is done on the stovetop in 20 minutes or less. Now, let's get into step-by-step details of this easy recipe.
Step 1: Cook the Mahi Mahi
First, pat your mahi mahi steaks - or fillets - dry on both sides with paper towels. Then, season each side of the lean white fish with salt and pepper. If using frozen fillets, make sure to thaw them in the refrigerator overnight or for at least 6 hours first.
Anyway, next you'll want to heat your olive oil in a non-stick skillet at medium high heat. Then, pan sear the mahi mahi in the hot pan until golden brown on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side. And if you're using thinner fillets, it'll take a minute less since it's such a lean fish, and you'll want to cook it over medium heat.
Step 2: Make the Lemon Garlic Sauce
Once you pan sear the mahi mahi steaks, transfer them to a plate. Now, in the same skillet, add the butter, lemon zest, and grated garlic. Cook until the butter melts and the garlic is fragrant - this should take about 2-3 minutes.
Lastly, place the mahi mahi steaks back in the skillet and use a spoon to pour some of the butter sauce over the fish. Finally, let it cook for a few minutes so the mahi mahi can soak up the garlic butter sauce.
Step 3: Garnish and Serve
Place your lemon slices on the mahi mahi to garnish, then sprinkle with some chopped chives. By the way, if you don't have chives, fresh parsley would work really well too. Lastly, serve immediately with mashed potatoes or whatever you want, and enjoy!
By the way, I like to serve my cooked fish with some lemon pepper on top and a slice of lemon to squeeze fresh lemon juice to give the mild white fish an added flavor.
How To Store Mahi Mahi
Okay, so this mahi mahi recipe is the kind of dish that's best enjoyed super fresh. And since this recipe makes 2 mahi mahi filets, you probably won't have any left.
But, if you do happen to have leftovers, you can keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Or, you can even freeze them by storing them in an airtight container - or freezer-safe bag - in the freezer for up to 2 months.
How To Reheat Mahi Mahi
My favorite way to reheat the leftovers is to put them in a baking dish with a splash of water covered with foil. Then I'll put the dish in an oven set to 275°F for about 10-15 minutes, or until the mahi mahi reaches an internal temperature of between 125°F and 130°F. Oh, and here are some other reheating methods.
My Final Thoughts
So, that's how to cook mahi mahi perfectly every time! If it seems crazy easy, that's because it is. This mahi mahi recipe is subtle, juicy, tender, and makes for the perfect fish dinner. And, as a bonus, mahi mahi also happens to be a sustainable seafood option that is also packed with protein and omega-3 all while being low fat. So, not only does it taste fantastic, but it's also really good for you.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this mahi mahi in a lemon butter sauce as much as I/we do. If you gave this recipe a try, don't forget to let me know what you think in the comments! Also, be sure to check out my Youtube channel and Instagram for more recipes. Oh, and if you want to give another seafood recipe a try, you have to make this baked snapper next!
More Easy Fish Recipes
- Grilled tilapia
- Grilled halibut
- Sauteed shrimp
- Shrimp scampi
- Pan seared salmon
- Air fryer tilapia
- Calamari steaks
- Blackened mahi mahi
Mahi Mahi Recipe With Flavorful Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce
This mouthwatering seared mahi mahi is dressed in an incredible buttery lemon garlic sauce that will keep you coming back for more after every bite. It comes out so tender, flaky, and perfectly seasoned and it's a hit every time we make it at our house. Plus, this healthy mahi mahi recipe is as quick & easy as making fish gets, and the results speak for themselves!
Ingredients
- 2 Mahi Mahi Steaks, skinless
- Salt and Pepper
- 2 tbsp. Olive Oil
- 2 tbsp. Butter
- 1 tbsp. Lemon Zest
- 1 tsp. Garlic, grated
- Lemon Slices
Instructions
- Pat dry the mahi mahi steaks and season with salt and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a non-stick skillet and cook the mahi mahi, 3-4 minutes per side, or until golden.
- Remove from the skillet. Add the butter, lemon zest, and grated garlic.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes or until fragrant.
- Return the fish to the skillet and cover it with the butter sauce. Place the lemon slices.
- Top with ciboulette and serve.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size: 1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 240Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 31g
Chris says
💯recommend making this mahi mahi recipe
Mikie says
the lemon butter sauce in this is truly incredible.