Grilled Mackerel

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.

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.

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.

Storage

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

FAQs

More Grill Recipes You Might Like

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

• Grilled Chicken Tenders.
• Grilled Chicken Salad.
• Honey Bourbon Grilled Chicken Thighs.
• Grilled Mackerel.
• Grilled Lamb Kabobs.
• Grilled Lamb Tacos.
• Stuffed Grilled Avocado.
• Easy Grilled Peaches.
• Best Grilled Broccoli.
• Air Fryer Veggie Kabobs.
• Cilantro Lime Shrimp Skewers.
• Grilled Shrimp Skewers.
• Grilled Shrimp Salad.
• Easy Watermelon Skewers.
• Bacon and Chicken Skewers.

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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