Are you looking for a new weeknight dinner that is unbelievably fast, incredibly easy, super healthy, and absolutely bursting with bright, fresh flavor? This stunning, one-pan Pan-Seared Mahi Mahi with a colorful medley of sautéed vegetables is that perfect meal. It’s a true restaurant-quality seafood dinner that you can have on the table in about 20 minutes, with the easiest cleanup imaginable.
This isn’t just another fish recipe; it’s your new secret weapon for effortless, elegant meals. We’ll show you the simple secrets to a perfectly cooked, flaky, and moist mahi mahi fillet every single time. The magic is in the simple, one-pan method where the vegetables cook down in the same skillet, creating their own light, zesty lemon pan sauce. This is a wholesome, satisfying, and sophisticated meal that will make any night feel special.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Healthy & Fast Fish Dinner
What makes this Mahi Mahi & Veggie Skillet so spectacularly delicious is its incredible simplicity and its focus on fresh, vibrant ingredients. The star of the show is a beautiful, firm mahi mahi fillet, which is pan-seared to a perfect golden brown to create a delicious crust while keeping the inside wonderfully moist and flaky. The “side dish” of sweet red peppers, earthy mushrooms, and tender onions is cooked right in the same pan, soaking up all the delicious, savory drippings from the fish. A final splash of fresh lemon juice creates a bright, zesty pan sauce that brings the whole dish together.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 25 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 15 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 4 |
The Essential Ingredients for This Fresh Fish Dinner
This recipe uses a handful of simple, high-impact ingredients to let the beautiful flavor of the mahi mahi shine.
- The Fish (Mahi Mahi 101): The star of the show!
- What is Mahi Mahi?: Mahi mahi is a fantastic and popular fish that is prized for its firm, meaty texture and its wonderfully mild, slightly sweet flavor. Its firm flesh makes it the perfect candidate for high-heat cooking methods like searing or grilling, as it won’t fall apart easily.
- What to Buy: Look for four 6-ounce mahi mahi fillets that are about 1-inch thick. The flesh should be a beautiful, translucent pinkish-white and should look firm and moist. Most importantly, fresh fish should smell clean and fresh, like the ocean, with no strong, fishy odor.
- The Fresh Vegetables: A simple, colorful, and healthy combination of sweet, crisp red bell peppers, earthy baby portobello mushrooms, and a sweet yellow onion.
- The Bright Finish:
- Fresh Lemon Juice: The bright, acidic kick of fresh lemon juice is essential for creating a light, zesty pan sauce that perfectly complements the rich fish and the sweet vegetables.
- Fresh Chives & Pine Nuts: A final sprinkle of fresh, finely chopped chives adds a lovely, mild oniony flavor and a pop of green color, while the optional toasted pine nuts add a fantastic, buttery crunch.
Step-by-Step to Perfect Pan-Seared Mahi Mahi
This elegant meal comes together in one skillet and just a few simple stages.
Step 1: Sear the Mahi Mahi
Step 1: Pat your 4 mahi mahi fillets completely dry with a paper towel.
Pro Tip: Patting the fish very, very dry is the number one secret to getting a beautiful, golden-brown sear and preventing it from sticking to the pan!
Step 2: In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium-high heat.
Step 3: Carefully place the mahi mahi fillets in the hot skillet. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes on the first side. Flip the fillets and let them cook for another 4 to 5 minutes on the other side, until the fish just begins to flake easily with a fork and is cooked all the way through.
Step 4: Remove the cooked fish from the pan and set it aside on a plate. Do not wipe out the skillet!
Part 2: Sauté the Vegetables
In the same skillet with all the delicious fish drippings, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, the 3 sliced sweet red peppers, the 1/2 pound of sliced mushrooms, the 1 sliced large sweet onion, the 1/3 cup of fresh lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt.
Cook the vegetables, covered, over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring them occasionally, until they are perfectly tender.
Part 3: Combine and Serve
Step 1: Place the cooked fish back into the skillet, nestling it on top of the bed of tender vegetables.
Step 2: Sprinkle the fish with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt and the 1/2 teaspoon of pepper.
Step 3: Cover the skillet again and let everything cook together for about 2 more minutes, until the fish is completely heated through.
To serve, place a bed of the sautéed vegetables on each plate and top it with a hot, seared mahi mahi fillet. Sprinkle everything with the fresh, chopped chives and, if you are using them, the toasted pine nuts.
The Best Easy Pan-Seared Mahi Mahi & Veggie Skillet
A quick, healthy, and flavorful one-pan skillet meal featuring pan-seared mahi mahi fillets served with a medley of fresh vegetables. The fish is cooked first in a large skillet and then set aside. In the same pan, a mixture of sweet red peppers, portobello mushrooms, and onion rings are cooked with lemon juice until tender. The mahi mahi is then returned to the pan to warm through before being served garnished with fresh chives and optional pine nuts.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 4 mahi mahi or salmon fillets (6 ounces each)
- 3 medium sweet red peppers, cut into thick strips
- 1/2 pound sliced baby portobello mushrooms
- 1 large sweet onion, cut into thick rings and separated
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
- 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup minced fresh chives
- 1/3 cup pine nuts (optional)
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the fish fillets and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side, until the fish just begins to flake easily with a fork. Remove the fish from the pan.
- Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the same skillet. Add the red peppers, mushrooms, onion, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
- Cook, covered, over medium heat for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender.
- Place the cooked fish back into the skillet on top of the vegetables. Sprinkle with the pepper and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
- Cover the skillet and continue to cook for about 2 minutes longer, until the fish is heated through.
- Sprinkle with fresh chives and optional pine nuts before serving.
Notes
- This is a complete one-pan meal, which is great for easy cleanup on a weeknight.
- Cooking the vegetables in the same skillet used for the fish is a key step that allows them to absorb the savory pan drippings.
- This is a healthy, low-carb, and gluten-free meal.
What to Serve With Your Mahi Mahi Skillet
This beautiful and light dish is a fantastic, all-in-one, low-carb meal. However, if you’d like to round it out, here are a few simple and healthy pairings:
- A Simple Starch: Serve the fish and vegetables alongside a bed of fluffy quinoa, couscous, or a simple jasmine rice.
- Crusty Bread: A side of warm, crusty bread is a must-have for sopping up every last drop of that delicious, lemony pan sauce.
- A Simple Green Salad: A crisp green salad with a bright and zesty vinaigrette is another perfect, fresh counterpoint.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
A delicate fish dish like this one is at its absolute best in the moments right after it has been cooked.
- Make-Ahead: For a super-fast and impressive weeknight meal, you can get a head start by chopping all your fresh vegetables up to a day in advance. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Storage: Store any leftover cooked fish and vegetables in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy them within 2 days.
For more recipe follow my pinterest account
Creative Recipe Variations
- Use a Different Fish or Protein: This simple and versatile cooking method is also absolutely fantastic with other firm fish fillets, like salmon, cod, halibut, or swordfish. You could also use large shrimp or even boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
- Add a Splash of White Wine: For an even more sophisticated, restaurant-style pan sauce, you can deglaze the pan with about 1/4 cup of a dry white wine (like a Pinot Grigio) after you have sautéed the vegetables, and let it bubble and reduce for a minute before you add the lemon juice.
- Use a Different Fresh Herb: If you’re not a fan of chives, this bright and zesty dish is also incredible with an equal amount of other fresh, finely chopped herbs, such as parsley, dill, or basil.
Enjoy Your New Favorite Healthy & Fast Meal!
You’ve just created a truly special dish that is a perfect harmony of wholesome, fresh ingredients and delicious, satisfying flavors. This Pan-Seared Mahi Mahi is a testament to the power of a simple, from-scratch meal to be both incredibly fast and incredibly elegant. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying recipe that is sure to become a new staple in your weeknight dinner rotation.
We hope you enjoy every last, perfect, and delicious bite!
If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves a good, easy, and healthy meal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is mahi mahi, and what does it taste like?
Mahi mahi is a fantastic and popular fish that is also known as the dolphinfish (though it is not at all related to the mammal, the dolphin!). It is a firm, lean, white fish that has a wonderfully mild and slightly sweet flavor. Its firm, meaty texture makes it a perfect and very forgiving fish for high-heat cooking methods like searing, grilling, and broiling.
Q2: What is the absolute secret to not overcooking my fish?
The most important rule for any fish is to not walk away from it while it is cooking! A fillet of a fish like mahi mahi can go from perfectly cooked to dry and tough in less than a minute. The best visual cue is when the flesh has turned from translucent to a uniform, opaque white and it flakes easily with a fork. An instant-read thermometer is also a great tool; fish is perfectly cooked at 145°F (63°C).
Q3: Can I make this recipe with frozen fish fillets?
Yes, you can. For the absolute best result, it is highly recommended to let the frozen fillets thaw completely overnight in the refrigerator first. After they have thawed, it is crucial to pat them very, very dry with a paper towel to remove all the excess moisture before you cook them. This is the key to getting a good sear.
Q4: What is the best way to reheat leftover fish?
The best way to reheat a delicate fish like mahi mahi without drying it out is to do so low and slow. You can place it in a covered, oven-safe dish in a low-temperature oven (around 275°F) for about 10-15 minutes, until it is just warmed through. You can also flake the cold, leftover fish and use it to top a salad.
Q5: Can I grill this mahi mahi instead of pan-searing it?
Yes, absolutely! An outdoor grill is a fantastic way to cook these fish fillets. Simply get your grill very hot, and make sure the grates are very clean and very well-oiled to prevent the fish from sticking. Grill the seasoned fillets for about 4-5 minutes per side, until they are cooked through and have beautiful grill marks.