Best Mahi Mahi Recipe in the Air Fryer

Have you been searching for how to cook mahi mahi in air fryer?  Mahi mahi is one of my family’s favorite types of fish.  It has a relatively mild taste that the kids like, with a hint of sweetness to it.  For a while, we were regularly making mahi mahi for our ‘Fish Fry Friday’ dinner meal.  However, we’ve recently been looking for ways to eat a bit healthier and have gotten away from our Fish Fry Fridays.  

I think we’ve all been missing that delicious mahi mahi with the crunchy coating, though.  So, I started looking for a way to create a healthier version of this favorite meal.  Naturally, I turned to my trusty air fryer for help.  Now, I love my air fryer, but I was still impressed with just how wonderfully crunchy and moist the mahi mahi fillets turned out.  If you’re ready to try a healthier spin to fried fish, take a look at my mahi mahi recipe air fryer edition below!

Table of Contents

• What is Mahi Mahi
• Why You Should Cook Mahi Mahi in the Air Fryer
• What You Need for this Mahi Mahi Air Fryer Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Tools
• Mahi Mahi Air Fryer Recipe Overview
  • Step 1
  • Step 2 
  • Step 3
  • Step 4
  • Step 5
  • Step 6
  • Step 7
• How To Tell When Mahi Mahi is Done Cooking
• Can you cook frozen mahi mahi in the air fryer?
• Panko Parmesan Mahi Mahi Air Fryer Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
• Time to Get Cookin’!
• FAQs

What is Mahi Mahi

Mahi mahi is a pretty green, blue, and yellow fish.  Much of the mahi mahi sold in United States’ grocery stores comes from the waters around the Florida coast.  In fact, mahi mahi are so popular in Florida that they have earned the nickname dolphin fish, due to their larger size.

Mahi mahi is a healthy fish too.  4 ounces of mahi mahi only has about 130 calories (before adding other ingredients).  It is also rich in important vitamins, such as vitamins B-5 and B-6, potassium, and selenium.  Getting sufficient amounts of vitamins B-5 and B-6 is important for controlling the metabolism and improving brain function, while potassium and selenium help to support a healthy immune system.

If you’ve never had mahi mahi before, you may be wondering, “what does mahi mahi taste like?”  Mahi mahi has a relatively mild taste with a hint of sweetness.  You’ll still get a bit of that fishy taste; mahi mahi isn’t quite as mild as tilapia, halibut, or many other white fish.  However, it isn’t overpowering like herring, salmon, anchovies, or mackerel.

Why You Should Cook Mahi Mahi in the Air Fryer

Why shouldn’t you cook mahi mahi in the air fryer is probably the better question.  Mahi mahi air fryer recipes are fast, easy, and healthy, especially compared to deep-frying options.  I love how crisp and delicious my panko parmesan mahi mahi turns out, but you can also simply season mahi mahi with some oil and your favorite herbs and spices.

What You Need for this Mahi Mahi Air Fryer Recipe

Making my mahi mahi recipe air fryer isn’t all that complicated.  This recipe involves creating a breading and dredging the mahi mahi in flour, eggs, and then the panko parmesan mixture.  

If you check in your pantry, refrigerator, and spice rack right now, I bet you’ll find many, or even all, of the ingredients you need.  My recipe calls for eggs, flour, garlic powder, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, parsley, onion powder, garlic, salt, oil, and, of course, mahi mahi.

The tools needed to make this mahi in air fryer recipe are also pretty basic; you won’t need to worry about purchasing anything too specialized.  You’ll need a coating tray set.  However, if you don’t have one, three shallow and wide bowls will work just fine.  Other than that, you’ll just need a pair of tongs, a spoon, some measuring cups and measuring spoons, a whisk or fork, an oil spritzer, and a meat thermometer.

Ingredients

• 4 mahi mahi fillets (approximately 4 ounces each)
• 2 eggs
• ⅓ cup all purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• ½ cup parmesan cheese (grated)
• 1 tablespoon parsley
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 1 garlic clove (minced or pressed)
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Cooking oil

Tools

• Air fryer
• Coating tray set or 3 shallow and wide bowls
• Tongs
• Measuring spoon
• Measuring cups
• Spoon
• Whisk/fork
• Oil spritzer
• Meat thermometer

Mahi Mahi Air Fryer Recipe Overview

Excited to learn how to air fry mahi mahi?  Read through my step-by-step instructions below to see just how easy it will be for you to make panko parmesan mahi mahi in your own kitchen.

Step 1

Set your air fryer to 400 degrees to preheat it for about 5 minutes.  While it is preheating, lay out three coating trays or wide and shallow bowls.

Step 2

Crack two eggs in the first bowl.  Beat the eggs using a small whisk or a fork.  

Step 3

Add the flour and garlic powder to the second tray or bowl.  Mix to incorporate both ingredients.  

Step 4

Add the panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese,parsley, onion power, salt, and fresh garlic to the third tray/bowl.  Stir to combine all the ingredients together.

Step 5

Now, it is time to coat each mahi mahi fillet.  To do this, lay the bowls out in order with the flour mixture first, then the eggs, and then the panko parmesan mixture last.  Use the tongs to carefully dip and coat each fillet with the flour (flipping it over to make sure both sides are covered), then move it to the egg bowl, and finally the panko parmesan bowl.  Again, you may need to flip the fillets over to make sure they are fully and evenly coated.

Step 6

Place the coated mahi mahi fillets in the air fryer and use an oil spritzer to light spray the tops with canola oil.  Air fry mahi mahi fillets for about 6 minutes, then flip them over and continue cooking for an additional 6 minutes.  Check for doneness.  The internal temperature of mahi mahi will need to reach 137 °F for it to be considered done.

Step 7

Plate and serve your delectable panko parmesan mahi mahi for everyone to enjoy!

How To Tell When Mahi Mahi is Done Cooking

Mahi mahi in air fryer time and temperature for doneness may vary slightly based on the exact size of the fillets you’re cooking.  Generally speaking, though, cooking mahi mahi in air fryer should take somewhere between 12 and 16 minutes.  To confirm that the fish is fully cooked, use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.  The internal temperature should read 137 °F.

Can you cook frozen mahi mahi in the air fryer?

Yes, you can cook frozen mahi mahi in the air fryer.  Air fryer frozen mahi mahi will take a few extra minutes to cook compared to the time needed to cook a defrosted piece.  

However, if you want breaded mahi mahi, you will want to bread your fillets before freezing them.  It will not be easy to get breading to stick to frozen fish.  Alternatively, if your mahi mahi is already frozen, and you don’t have time to wait for it to defrost, you could cook it for about 3 minutes in the air fryer first.  After 3 minutes, the fish should be thawed and ready to bread.

Whether cooking frozen or defrosted fish, air fryer mahi will turn out incredibly tasty!

Panko Parmesan Mahi Mahi Air Fryer Recipe

This panko parmesan mahi mahi is sure to impress with its crispy outside and flaky and tender inside!

Prep Time:  15 minutes

Cook Time:  12-16 minutes

Servings:  4

Calories:  286

Ingredients

• 4 mahi mahi fillets (approximately 4 ounces each)
• 2 eggs
• ⅓ cup all purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• ½ cup parmesan cheese (grated)
• 1 tablespoon parsley
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 1 garlic clove (minced or pressed)
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Cooking oil

Instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer for about 5 minutes to 400 degrees.
2. Pull out three shallow and wide bowls to coat the mahi mahi.
3. Crack two eggs in the first bowl.  Use a fork or a small whisk to beat the eggs.  Set the bowl aside.
4. In the second bowl, add the flour and garlic powder.  Mix to combine the two ingredients.
5. In the third bowl, add the panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, parsley, onion powder, salt, and fresh garlic.  Mix to combine.
6. To coat each fillet, dip it in the flour mixture, then transfer it to the egg mixture, and finally dip it in the panko and parmesan mixture.  You may need to flip each fillet over to ensure it is thoroughly covered after each step.
7. After dipping the fillets, place them on the air fryer rack or basket in a single layer.
8. Spritz the top of each fillet using cooking oil.
9. Cook the fillets for about 6 minutes, then flip them and continue cooking for an additional 6 minutes.
10. After 12 minutes, check for doneness.  The mahi mahi may need a few additional minutes to finish cooking.
11. Once cooking is complete, serve and enjoy.

Time to Get Cookin’!

Are you excited to try this mahi mahi recipe air fryer?  I’m sure you’ll love it.  Air fried mahi mahi has a crisp and tasty outside with a flaky inside.  It is sure to be a hit with everyone around the table.  Plus, deciding what to serve with fish isn’t too complicated.  From coleslaw, grilled pineapple, roasted vegetables, risotto, or even french fries, so many side dishes will taste great when paired with this air fryer mahi mahi recipe.

FAQs

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