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This Baked Mahi Mahi is one of those rare fish recipes that’s incredibly easy yet tastes like something you’d order at a nice restaurant. It is tender, flaky, perfectly seasoned, and is as easy to whip up as it is delicious! You are going to love it!
5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“The tastiest fish recipe I’ve ever tried. We like to try different recipes for mild flavored fish and they are always ok or good but this was Delicious. My son actually stumbled on to it and really loved it – he insisted that we try it so I made it for the whole family tonight and all of us really loved it. This is my first ‘keeper’ fish recipe. Thank you!!!” – Sharon
“Not a fish lover….but this was excellent! Thank you! Making it again tonight!” – Donna
“I just made this tonight and the flavors were amazing. I will be making this again.” – Tatiana
Even the “Non-Fish People” Love This One
I’ll be honest – getting fish into our dinner rotation has always been a bit of an uphill battle because, well… sometimes fish just tastes too fishy…That’s exactly why this baked mahi mahi has become such a favorite at our house. It’s tender, flaky, and wonderfully mild. In fact, my husband, who normally avoids fish at all costs, actually loves this recipe. The first time he tried it, he took a bite, paused, and said, “Wait… this is really good.” He’s even requested it since, which, trust me, says everything you need to know!
This baked mahi mahi pairs deliciously with something cozy like rice pilaf, oven baked potatoes, or a pan of simple roasted veggies or green beans. When I want to add something a little brighter, I’ll plate it with our Oven Roasted Asparagus. Or to keep things fresh and light, a side salad such as our Copycat Cafe Zupa’s Nuts About Berries Salad is a perfect match.
🩷 Erica
What is Mahi Mahi?
Mahi Mahi (aka Dorado) is a delectable and versatile fish known for its firm texture and mild taste. It is one of our favorite types of fish to bake because it has such a nice texture and flavor profile. It’s light and easy, plus it’s high in protein, so it’s a great option for those looking to cut down on their red meat intake. You can find Mahi Mahi at most grocery stores, or you can use any type of white meat fish in its place for this recipe.
What Does Mahi Mahi Taste Like?
Mahi Mahi has a moderately mild taste to it, much like cod or grouper. It is a wild-caught, white-fleshed saltwater fish so it doesn’t have much of a “fishy” flavor to it. Mahi Mahi has a better flavor and texture than tilapia (in my honest opinion) and is more meaty. It is slightly more firm and a little sweeter that other ocean-caught fish. It flakes easily and takes on different flavor profiles very well. Mahi Mahi is the perfect fish for this recipe. It takes on the slightly tangy flavor of the marinade as it bakes and flakes off in perfect, savory bites.
Key Ingredients
- Good Seasons Zesty Italian Seasoning – what we love about this Italian seasoning is that it is easy and flavorful. It really complements the fish and gives it a bright flavor.
- Mayonnaise – We like using mayo instead of butter because of the flavor. It infuses the fish while also making it tender and juicy.
- Parmesan cheese – In Italy adding cheese to seafood is a cardinal sin. BUT this isn’t really meant to be an Italian recipe (despite using “Italian seasoning”). Don’t worry, the parmesan doesn’t overpower the fish. If you really are worried about it or if you are an Italian that is offended by this recipe, you can leave it out.
- Breadcrumbs – Breadcrumbs are the secret to getting that nice, crispy coating. You can use regular or panko breadcrumbs. I prefer the texture of the panko but you can use whatever you have on hand.
- Lemon – I don’t know about you, but I MUST have lemon served with my fish. Whether it be a little drizzle of lemon butter or a lemon wedge to squeeze over the top before eating, I just need that zesty-ness.
How to Make Baked Mahi Mahi
- Marinate the Fish
Place the mahi mahi filets in a gallon-sized bag, pour in the prepared marinade, press out the air, seal, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Prep the Oven & Topping
Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a small bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, and salt and pepper. Discard the marinade and remove the fish from the bag.
- Assemble the Dish
Place the mahi mahi in a greased 9×13 baking dish and spread the yogurt mixture evenly over each filet. For extra crunch, sprinkle a little more breadcrumbs on top.
- Bake & Garnish
Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through and the topping is golden brown. Garnish with green onions, chives, or a lemon slice if desired.
The Perfect Marinade
For this recipe we keep the marinade simple with just a little olive oil, garlic, Italian seasoning, and a little salt and black pepper, to taste. If you want to add a little more zest to your fish, you can add a few tablespoons of lemon juice or lemon zest. Feel free to also add lemon pepper, dill, paprika, parsley, tarragon, or any other herbs or spices you love.
Tips for this Recipe
Finding the right filets: I typically find beautiful mahi mahi filets for a decent price at Costco. I like to get their individually packaged frozen filets. But if you don’t have any on hand, you could use cod, tilapia, halibut, or any kind of fish.
Add a squeeze of lemon: Serve with lemon wedges so your guests can squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top. You can’t go wrong with any kind of fish and fresh lemon!
Zesty Italian Seasoning: The only ingredient that you may not have on hand for this is the Italian seasoning spice mix. If you don’t have it available, don’t worry about making a special trip to the store just to get some. I’ve got you covered. We have a homemade version on our recipe for Zesty Italian Shredded Chicken.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can store leftover mahi mahi in an airtight container in the fridge. It will be good for a couple of days. My top suggestion for reheating is the air fryer. It is the best way to get the crispy crust when reheating. I don’t recommend reheating any kind of fish in the microwave. It just won’t turn out right.
If you prep the baking pan properly, then the fish will not stick to the pan. A light spritz with cooking spray will do the trick. You can also line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
Absolutely! Marinate the fish and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 hours before baking. Avoid marinating too long, or the texture may change.
Yes – use gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed gluten-free crackers for the topping to make this dish safe for gluten-sensitive diets.
More Fish Recipes
We have lots of tasty fish recipes that you are going to love! From soups to pastas to tacos, there are so many great ways to cook up fish.
Give this baked Mahi Mahi a try and see just how easy and delicious seafood can be! I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out for you, or share any tweaks you made. And if you loved it, don’t forget to give it a rating so others can see just how tasty this recipe is! 🐠💙
Parmesan Herb Baked Mahi Mahi
Video
Ingredients
- 6 Mahi Mahi filets
Marinade:
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 packet Good Seasons Zesty Italian Seasoning
Topping:
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
- 2/3 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- salt and pepper, to taste
- fresh lemon, to taste
Instructions
- Place Mahi Mahi in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag. Combine marinade ingredients and pour into bag with mahi mahi. Press out air, seal, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a small mixing bowl, combine Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, and salt & pepper. Remove mahi mahi from bag and discard marinade.
- Place mahi mahi on a greased 9×13 baking dish and spread yogurt mixture evenly over the top of each filet. Optional: Sprinkle extra breadcrumbs evenly over each filet for an extra crispy topping.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until cooked through and topping is golden brown.
- Garnish with chopped green onions, chives, or a lemon slice if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This has become a family favorite! Even my young grandchildren love it. This first time I made it was for my daughters 27th birthday last year in December and my son requested it for his surf n turf 24th birthday in January. I currently have 12 filets marinating for family Sunday dinner. My daughter says it’s better 5 star restaurant quality.
Thank you so much for this kind review! I am so happy that your family loves this recipe as much as we do!
Oh my oh my. What an amazing dish! I over cooked it just a bit but my kids said this goes on regular rotation. My 16 year old only likes chicken nuggets and a few other things but loved this.
What a compliment! You know it’s good when you get that kind of approval. I’m so happy this was a success for your family! 🙂
I don’t have Greek yogurt, can I make this without or is there a substitute I could try?
You can try using sour cream as a substitution!
Hi! I have never had mahi mahi, but I bought some, and this sounds like a great first recipe to try. On the nutrition info per serving: My fillets are not from Costco. Can you tell me approximately how many ounces your fillets are, so I can track the nutrition correctly? Thank you!
The Costco fillets are between 6-8 ounces. Hope this helps!
Easy and so flavorful!!
I added horse radish sauce to the yogurt mixture and it came out delicious!!!
I like to blacken mine. And I also buy mine from Costco.
The topping was quite good, but I won’t use it again with Mahi Mahi. It overpowered the flavor of the fish, so I might use it with a stronger tasting fish and use minimal seasoning with Mahi.
There is certainly a great deal to find out about this site and recipe. I love it when people come together and share delicious recipes. Great site, Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas and experience too. Keep up the good work. Stay safe and Blessed!
Absolutely wonderful!! I did substitute dill for the Italian seasoning, but otherwise, this is an absolutely delicious way to prepare fish!!
Loved this recipe! Delicious and easy to make! Thank you for sharing this!
Would you recommend thawing frozen filets or can this be done from frozen and skipping the marinade step?
I would thaw the filets. They will absorb the marinade so much better, and that’s what makes it delicious!
I’m making this tonight for my husband and I. Problem is, he doesn’t eat his until later because he is taking it for lunch. Can it be reheated in the microwave?
Fish doesn’t usually reheat well, so I would not recommend it.
The only fish that can be kept and served cold, is salmon or tuna. Other fish contain too much bacteria, and should only be consumed after cooking above 140°F+ to ensure bacteria is killed. Fish should never be cooked/reheated in a microwave. As you cannot guarantee that all of the fish will reach 145. Most meats shouldn’t be reheated for this very reason, but meats such as pork and beef usually are okay as they do not contain as much bacteria as say, fish and chicken. I hope that helps!
Not a fish lover….but this was excellent! Thank you! making it again tonight!
Can you marinade the fish longer than 30 minutes, say prep in the morning before going to work?
Yes, that should work fine. Thank you for asking!
First time making a comment but this recipe deserves one. Since my husband can no longer eat red meats, we have turned to seafood in our old age. I have tried many fish recipes on Pinterest, most were good , but this one is exceptional. Absolutely delicious! I cut the recipe in half for us and substituted sour cream for yogurt because I had none on hand. It was great. Thank you
I am so glad that you guys loved this recipe as much as we do! Thanks for the 5-star rating!!
Hi,
I am doing Hawaii as my theme for my gourmet dinner club. This dish sounds really delish but I want to make it a little fancier for Dinner club…..Any ideas?
Thanks,
Maureen K
What do you mean by fancier? You can garnish it with a Hawaiian flower or serve with a pretty salad (search “salad” on our site to find some great options) The Nuts About Berries Salad is a good one! Hope this helps!
(some of this comment has been edited for content) The whole family loved it.
The tastiest fish recipe I’ve ever tried. We like to try different recipes for mild flavored fish and they are always ok or good but this was Delicious. My son actually stumbled on to it and really loved it – he insisted that we try it so I made it for the whole family tonight and all of us really loved it. This is my first ‘keeper’ fish recipe. Thank you!!!
I am so happy to hear you and your family have found a “keeper” fish recipe! We are honored! 😀 Thanks so much for the kind comment!
I added some Dijon mustard too but I didn’t put bread crumbs. The fish was delicious!! Thank you!!
Oh great idea using Dijon mustard! I bet it just adds a nice little punch of flavor. Going to try that next time!
Very moist and tasty. My picky teenager even liked it! Thanks.
Made this and omitted the mayo, used about a tablespoon of Dijon mustard instead. Also used panko bread crumbs. Recipe was delicious. My daughter and I loved it! Great alternative to your everyday fish recipe. Thanx!