Grilled Mackerel

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Grilled Mackerel with Green Goddess Dressing is a super quick and simple, yet incredibly flavorful meal You probably have everything on hand already for this no-fuss, easy recipe.

Suitable for Low Carb, Keto and Gluten Free diets. Post includes Weight Watchers Points.

grilled mackerel fillets with a green goddess dressing and grilled broccoli on a tray

Love mackerel? Then brace yourselves. Because these Grilled Mackerel Fillets with Green Goddess Dressing are about to become your new barbeque obsession!

You have probably noticed the abundance of BBQ recipes on the blog lately. Like this Grilled Avocado, delicious Grilled Chicken Tenders, and easy peasy Grilled Broccoli. That is because we have gone all grown up and got ourselves a fancy barbecue with a smoker and all.

This means that we have been grilling away like crazy. Chicken, fish fillets, whole fish, vegetables, Grilled Shrimp Skewers, and of course toasted marshmallows every evening.

Mackerel has got to be one of my favorite fish. This oily fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, iron, vitamin D, a few B vitamins, and it is so tasty. Plus this delicious Grilled Mackerel recipe is quick, simple and sooooo easy and can be made all year long.

grilled mackerel fillets with grilled broccolini and a jar of green goddess dressing

Why Make This Recipe

  • It is a tasty and affordable fish.
  • Easy to make using everyday pantry staples.
  • A great recipe to scale up to feed a crowd.
  • Perfect for BBQs, campfires, backyard pits, grilling on the stovetop, and more.

Ingredient Notes

Main ingredients For The Fish:

  • Fish – this recipe calls for fresh mackerel fillets – You can use whole mackerel too, but remember cook time will be different.
  • Oil – use olive oil or other oils to your taste.
  • Avocado – make sure it is peeled de-stoned and roughly chopped.
  • Seasoning – add salt and pepper to taste.

Homemade Green Goddess Dressing Ingredients

This is soooo very easy to whip up. This version features:

  • Yogurt – use creamy Greek yogurt.
  • Avocado – use ripe avocados.
  • Herbs – for best results use chopped fresh cilantro and fresh parsley.
  • Vinegar – apple cider vinegar works well in this.
  • Lemon juice – Use fresh lemon juice for a little extra sharpness.
  • Optional sweetener – use honey or maple syrup.
grilled mackerel fillets with a green goddess dressing and grilled broccoli on a tray

How To Grill Mackerel

Get complete ingredients list and instructions in recipe card below.

Grilling The Fish Instructions:

  • Preheat the grill / grill pan / barbecue, etc to medium hot.
  • Place the mackerel fillets on a tray or grill rack, brush with olive oil and then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • Place the tray or grill rack on top of the heat (skin side down) and close the lid.
  • Cook the fillets for about 5-6 minutes, turning halfway through until done, and set aside.

Green Goddess Dressing Instructions:

  • Make the green goddess dressing by adding yogurt, apple cider vinegar, spring onions, herbs, lemon juice, honey (if using), and chili flakes to a blender and blending until smooth.

Plating Instructions:

  • Pat dry the fillets to remove excess moisture.
  • Serve the mackerel fillets with green goddess dressing, some grilled vegetables, and lime slices.

All The Tips For This Recipe

  • My top tip for grilling mackerel is to use a fish grill rack, especially when cooking the fish on the BBQ. It keeps the food together and stops it from sticking to the barbecue grill. It makes the whole process of flipping them much easier.
  • I recommend oiling the grill grates (you can use olive oil or canola oil) to help prevent the food from sticking to the grates.
  • I love cooking these on a charcoal grill for smoky flavor.
  • If you prefer you can marinate the fish in your favorite marinade before cooking.
  • You don’t need to baste this during grilling as it is an oily fish already.
  • If you can only find whole fish, but prefer fillets, have the fishmonger fillet it for you.
  • If the dressing is too thick, then thin it out with a tablespoon or two of water before you eat.

Delicious Variations

Mackerel has a pretty awesome flavor already so I have kept the seasoning to a minimum but of course, you can experiment to your taste.

  • Vary spices and flavorings – Use different spices for different flavor profiles like crushed garlic, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, black pepper, gluten free soy sauce, etc.
  • Add heat – with red pepper flakes, chipotle, cayenne pepper, etc.
  • Vary the fish – you can use other fish like salmon, tuna, and sea bass but the cook time may be different depending on the size of the fillets.
These grilled mackerel fillets with vegetables, limes and green goddess dressing on a tray

Storage

  • Store – Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. 

FAQs

Can You Make This With Frozen Fish?

You certainly can, just thoroughly defrost the fish first before cooking.

How Do You Know When The Fish Is Cooked?

Test the fish using a fork, If it flakes easily then it is done.

Using an instant read thermometer fish is cooked when an internal temperature of 140-145 degrees F is reached.

More Grill Recipes You Might Like

Check out these recipes below including more seafood recipes you’ll probably like.

Weight Watchers Points

This contains 3 Blue Plan SmartPoints per serving.

Thank you for reading my Grilled Mackerel Recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

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grilled mackerel fillets with a green goddess dressing and grilled broccoli on a tray
Print Recipe
4.86 from 7 votes

Grilled Mackerel Fillets With Green Goddess Dressing

Grilled Mackerel Fillets With Green Goddess Dressing
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time6 minutes
Total Time11 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main
Cuisine: American, Western
Servings: 8
Calories: 676kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

Grilled Mackerel Fillets Ingredients:

  • 6 mackerel fillets
  • cup (80ml) olive oil
  • 1 large avocado peeled, de-stoned, and roughly chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste

Green Goddess Dressing Ingredients:

  • cup (160ml) Greek yogurt
  • 1 handful fresh coriander stalks removed
  • 1 handful parsley stalked removed
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 spring onions roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • chili flakes to taste
  • honey optional

Instructions

Mackerel Fillets Grilling Instructions:

  • Fire up the barbecue and wait till the coals are medium hot.
  • Place the mackerel fillets on a tray, brush with olive oil and then season with salt and pepper.
  • Place the tray on top of the barbecue grill and close the lid.
  • Barbecue the fillets for about 5-6 minutes, until done.

Green Goddess Dressing Instructions:

  • Make the green goddess dressing by adding yoghurt, apple cider vinegar, spring onions, herbs, lemon juice, honey and chilli flakes to a blender and blending until smooth.

Grilled Mackerel Fillets Serving Instructions:

  • Serve the mackerel fillets with green goddess dressing, some grilled vegetables, and lime slices.
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Notes

  • My top tip for grilling mackerel is to use a fish grill rack, especially when cooking the fish on the BBQ. It keeps the food together and stops it from sticking to the barbecue grill. It makes the whole process of flipping them much easier.
  • I recommend oiling the grill grates (you can use olive oil or canola oil) to help prevent the food from sticking to the grates.
  • I love cooking these on a charcoal grill for smoky flavor.
  • If you prefer you can marinate the fish in your favorite marinade before cooking.
  • You don’t need to baste this during grilling as it is an oily fish already.
  • If you can only find whole fish, but prefer fillets, have the fishmonger fillet it for you.
  • If the dressing is too thick, then thin it out with a tablespoon or two of water before you eat.
  • There are 3 WW Blueplan Smart Points in one serving of this.

Nutrition

Calories: 676kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 70g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 160mg | Sodium: 300mg | Potassium: 1529mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 305IU | Vitamin C: 10.7mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 4.2mg

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12 Comments

  1. Is there a mistake in the recipe? Avocado is listed in mackerel ingredients. Avocado is not in the instructions for the green goddess dressing, but I’m guessing it goes in that? Thanks.

  2. You can never have too many BBQ recipes. I am always looking for new ways to cook fish on the BBQ too.