28 Light Mackerel Recipes To Brighten Up Your Meals

Planning meals for your family to eat every night can be stressful and difficult. 

You try to keep things interesting and fun but inevitably get stuck in a rut making the same things each week. 

This can make mealtimes incredibly boring and it can even make it harder to get your kids to eat properly.  However, sometimes all we need is a spark of inspiration to help bring the fun and flavor back to dinnertime. 

In this article, we will look at 28 light, mackerel recipes that can brighten up your midweek meals. 

1. Crispy Grilled Mackerel With Garlic And Lemon

This recipe for crispy grilled mackerel features classic flavors that we would generally associate with fish dishes. 

The use of garlic and lemon really complements the natural, distinctive flavors of the mackerel.  Ensuring that the skin on the mackerel is crispy adds a fun texture to the meal. 

All you need to do to make this into a full, balanced meal for your family is pair it with some potatoes, rice, or noodles.  

2. Oven Roasted Spanish Mackerel

Another delicious mackerel meal that will bring some brightness and excitement to your weekly meals is this oven-roasted Spanish mackerel dish. 

The herbs and spices used in this dish are sure to earn this recipe a permanent place on your meal rotation. 

Infusing the flavors of the dish from inside the mackerel makes this dish taste even more delicious and intense.  

3. Mackerel Patties Recipe

These mackerel patties are the perfect addition to a wholesome and nutritious family dinner. 

The patties can be put in buns and eaten like a fish burger or sandwich, this can be a fun way to enjoy the patties for younger family members. 

You can also serve them with deliciously golden, vegetable rice and some steamed vegetables for a more grown-up meal. 

Whatever you choose to serve them with, make sure you include a creamy, flavorful sauce to round them off nicely. 

4. Broiled Spanish Mackerel

The process of broiling the mackerel is ideal if you absolutely adore the natural flavors of this particular fish. 

The Spanish flavors that are added to this dish through herbs and spices perfectly complement the natural flavors of the mackerel.  Best of all though, the additional flavors are subtle and don’t overpower the dish. 

If you want to make this dish into a full meal, pair it with healthy carbs and vegetables.  If you want to make it as a light lunch, simply pair it with a small side salad. 

5. Pan-Seared Mackerel With Sweet Peppers And Thyme

This pan-seared mackerel really makes the most of the skin on the fish.  Using the hot pan helps to make the skin golden and crispy. 

This also manages to give the natural oils in the fish skin a caramelized finish.  The accompaniment of sweet peppers and thyme really helps to enhance the flavors of the fish and bring out the natural sweetness in the mackerel. 

Serve with some delicious new potatoes to complete this balanced meal.  

6. BBQ Mackerel Recipe

One of the best ways to cook mackerel and make the most of the natural flavors is on the BBQ.  Not only is this a great way to get the skin wonderfully crispy, but you can also create some delicious flavors with the BBQ. 

Depending on whether you are cooking over wood, coals, or gas, you can create different aromas to infuse your fish with. 

A mackerel that has been cooked over wood chips will taste different from mackerel that is cooked over coals. 

7. Roasted Mackerel With Garlic And Paprika

If you are looking for an easy, hands-off method for cooking your mackerel this is the recipe that you have been looking for.  You can prepare this recipe and just chuck it in the oven to roast. 

To make the entire meal hands-off, you can pair the roast mackerel with roast vegetables and potatoes. 

This is a great way to provide your family with a healthy and nutritious meal while prioritizing spending time with them.  

8.  Pan-Fried Mackerel With Beetroot And Fennel

Another great mackerel recipe that is as healthy as it is tasty is this pan-fried mackerel with beetroot and Fennel. 

This recipe is absolutely packed with delicious flavors that keep the whole dish feeling and tasting fresh and healthy. 

This particular recipe works really well on its own as a light lunch or a light dinner.  You can simply pair it with some sort of grain, such as quinoa, to make the meal more substantial.  

9. Grilled Mackerel With New Potatoes And Salad

If you are looking for a healthy and nutritious meal that isn’t too heavy on the stomach, this could be the recipe that you are looking for. 

This delicious recipe for grilled mackerel with new potatoes and salad could be the perfect dinner to make on those nights when you don’t have a lot of time and have to eat late. 

This dish isn’t going to sit in your stomach and interrupt your much-needed sleep.  

10. Smoked Mackerel, Parsnip, And Horseradish Gratin

If you want a dish that is slightly more complex than a simple grilled fish dinner, this could be what you are looking for. 

This stunning smoked mackerel, parsnip, and horseradish gratin is the perfect, healthy option for those nights when you have guests but not a lot of time. 

The ingredients for this dish are super simple yet the gratin makes it look like you have put more effort in than you did.  Next time your in-laws make an unexpected visit, you can whip this dish up to impress them.  

11. Canned Mackerel Salad

Fresh mackerel is amazing.  Being able to cook the entire fish still whole is a great way to make a simple dish look more complex. 

However, cooking with canned mackerel is one of the most convenient ways to make sure your family is getting a healthy, nutritious meal when you are short on time. 

The mackerel that comes in tins is just as healthy and nutritious as fresh mackerel. 

Best of all, it tastes just as good as fresh fish too.  When you are super short on time, this canned mackerel salad makes a delicious and healthy dinner. 

12. Chargrilled Mackerel With Sweet And Sour Beetroot

We have mentioned making the most of the skin on fresh mackerel in this article.  This is because the skin is so useful in creating slightly different flavors when cooking with fresh mackerel. 

You don’t even really need to add any seasoning beyond salt and pepper to this chargrilled mackerel dish. 

The sweet and sour beetroot accompaniment is packed full of healthy nutrients and a distinctive flavor of its own.  Serve with boiled new potatoes for a balanced meal. 

13. Devilled Mackerel With Potatoes And Spinach

This devilled mackerel recipe creates one of the most unique-looking dishes on this list. 

This is a dish that might be a bit too much visually for some of the younger members of your family, but you can simply remove the heads and tails for any squeamish eaters. 

The potatoes and spinach side dish really help to round out this delicious and simple dinner recipe.  

14. Quick And Healthy Mackerel Pate

If you are looking to incorporate more mackerel into your diet because of the numerous health benefits that come from consuming this fish, this could be the recipe for you. 

Instead of consuming fish for every dinner, you can make this quick and healthy mackerel pate. 

This makes the perfect topping for toast or can be used to make bruschetta more interesting at your next get-together with friends or family.

15. Crispy-Skinned Mackerel With Asian-Inspired Sauce

Another vote for making sure that all mackerel has a crispy skin is this mackerel with an Asian-inspired sauce recipe. 

The flavors used to create this delicious Asian-inspired sauce really complement the natural flavors of the cooked mackerel.  The sauce also helps to emphasize the crispiness of the skin. 

Simply serve this dish with some freshly steamed rice and vegetables for a filling and delicious meal.  

16. Canned Mackerel Curry Recipe

As we mentioned above, although fresh mackerel is nice, it isn’t always convenient.  This is where canned mackerel comes into its own. 

You can make a delicious, healthy, and nutritious curry using canned mackerel.  Because of the ways that we can process mackerel to be canned, it contains just as many nutrients as the fresh version does. 

This means that you can feed your family something healthy and quick without compromise. 

17. Peppered Mackerel And Potato Bake

This peppered mackerel and potato bake is one of the most delicious and easy dinner recipes on this list.  This dish is sure to be a hit with your entire family. 

You can even prepare this dish in advance so that it is ready to be popped into the oven to heat up when you get home from work or school. 

Another great thing about this dish is that it definitely makes great leftovers for the next day too.  

18. Japanese-Style Mackerel Rice Bowl

If you are looking for something that is a little bit more exotic than mackerel and potatoes, you need to try this Japanese-style mackerel rice bowl. 

We love a good bowl recipe, there is just something so comforting about eating from a bowl rather than a plate. 

This combination of fresh mackerel, steamed rice, vegetables, and a delicious, warming sauce creates the perfect family dinner that is so easy to make.  

19. Warm Potato Salad With Smoked Mackerel

This is a recipe that works really well as a delicious lunch option or a great light dinner choice. 

This warm potato salad with smoked mackerel has everything you could be looking for in a salad. 

Not only is it packed full of nutritious ingredients, but the potatoes make this a substantial and filling meal at any time of the day.  You can add more potatoes or serve the salad in a bigger portion to make it a more substantial meal.  

20. Indonesian Fried Rice With Mackerel

Another option if you want a more exciting meal is this Indonesian fried rice with mackerel.  T

his is a filling and substantial meal that is likely to keep you and your family full and satiated for a long time. 

Although the fried rice element might make you think that this is a less-than-healthy recipe, it is actually jam-packed with nutrients thanks to the mackerel and vegetables.

21. Smoked Mackerel Bake

This smoked mackerel bake is another great dinner recipe that is hands-off and allows you to spend more time with your family. 

The majority of the flavor in this dish comes from the smoked mackerel itself.  The flavors of a well-smoked piece of mackerel are warming and add a comforting feel to any meal. 

This dish is another option that can be prepped in advance to save you time in the evening. 

22. Soused Mackerel Recipe

This recipe for soused mackerel is one of the most interesting on this list.  The flavors that are created by marinating and baking the mackerel are intense and delicious. 

The combination of brown sugar, chilies, bay leaves, and cilantro gives the mackerel a unique, sweet, and interesting flavor. 

The best thing about this dish is that it can keep for up to four days which makes it perfect for leftovers when you have a busy week ahead of you. 

23. Carbonara Of Smoked Mackerel

If you love pasta as much as we do, you will love this carbonara of smoked mackerel recipe.  Carbonara is an easy and delicious dinner recipe to make. 

It probably already has a place in your regular rotation of meals.  However, you can make it a little bit more interesting for you and your family by making this smoked mackerel recipe instead of your regular recipe. 

Add some garlic bread on the side to make it an extra special treat. 

24. Portuguese Grilled Horse Mackerel

If you are looking for a really interesting and exotic recipe for mackerel, this could be just what you have been looking for. 

This Portuguese grilled horse mackerel recipe is packed full of flavor and healthy nutrients.  However, it is the appearance of this dish that makes it stand out so much on this list. 

Again, this is a recipe that may not agree with any squeamish eaters in your family, but it is delicious and worth a try. 

25. Smoked Mackerel Pilau Rice

Another great rice recipe on this list is this smoked mackerel pilau rice recipe.  Sometimes, especially in the middle of the week, you just don’t have the time or energy to make a big, complicated meal. 

On these days, you still want to be able to give your family a nutritious meal, but don’t want the washing up. 

This all-in-one recipe is a great way to provide a healthy meal while cutting down on the dishes.  

26. Smoked Mackerel Kedgeree With Soft-Boiled Eggs

A common mackerel recipe that you will probably have come across before is kedgeree.  This is a delicious and nutritious meal that is sure to leave your family or friends full and satiated. 

This is one of the most flavorful and complete meals on this list.  The addition of soft-boiled eggs makes the presentation of this dish look extra special. 

You can use hard-boiled eggs instead if you prefer.  

27. Mackerel With Potato Hash

Another classic recipe that is full of great nutrients for your family is mackerel with potato hash.  This is a recipe that you might have had at your grandparents’ house when you were younger. 

Not only is this dish completely packed with flavor and nutrients, but it is also incredibly cost-effective. 

If you are trying to cook with mackerel more because it is cheaper than other proteins, this could be a great option to add to your recipe book. 

28. Grilled Mackerel With Zucchini And Bean Salad

This grilled mackerel recipe with zucchini and bean salad is one of the most well-balanced meals on this list.  This recipe works really well as a light lunch or dinner on its own. 

It is filling and nutritious but low in carbs so it won’t sit heavily in your stomach. 

However, if you want to make it into a more substantial meal for you or your family, you can simply add some boiled new potatoes or even noodles to make it more filling.  

Can I Use Mackerel in any of the Holiday Recipes?

Yes, you can absolutely use mackerel in various easy holiday recipes! Its rich and flavorful taste adds a unique twist to festive dishes. From smoked mackerel pâté appetizers to roasted mackerel with herbed potatoes, there are plenty of creative ways to incorporate this versatile fish into your holiday cooking. Explore different recipes and surprise your loved ones with a delicious mackerel-infused meal this holiday season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Mackerel is a super cheap protein source that is packed full of important nutrients.  It also provides some incredible health benefits when consumed regularly. 

Above all else, mackerel is super delicious and flavorful and deserves a chance to brighten up your meals.