Easy Grilled Walleye with Mango Salsa (Gluten Free)

Easy gluten free grilled walleye with mango salsa makes a light and quick weeknight meal.

With just a handful of ingredients, this is one of those meals that LOOKS like you put more effort in than you actually did.

Walleye is a hot summer item in North Dakota and Minnesota. Taking advantage of the availability of fresh wild walleye, this grilled walleye recipe makes a quick and easy weeknight dinner that's also high protein!

I've used walleye in Walleye Fish Tacos with Radish Coleslaw and Oven Baked Walleye with Chimichurri Sauce, but this version is designed for the grill with an easy mango salsa to pair it with!

Keep the grill hot and make Grilled Maple Dijon Chicken Thighs or The Best Herbed Grilled Shrimp next!

Key ingredients

The ingredients list for this grilled walleye recipe is pretty simple, and nothing on it should surprise you! Still, it's worth going through what you need to gather for this recipe.

Walleye - Also called pickerel. You're looking for a large, 1 pound or so fillet that still has the skin on. The skin is important; it makes a barrier between the grill grates and the flesh so half the fish doesn't flake off when you remove it from the grill!

Mango - Of course, mango salsa means you need mango! The mangos I usually find at the store are Tommy Atkins mangos. For salsa, I opt for mangos that are a little firmer, so the chopped up pieces keep their shape.

Tomato - Roma tomatoes are my first choice for fresh salsas like the mango salsa you'll make for the grilled walleye!

Red Onion - A little red onion goes a long way in a recipe like this, adding crunch and a little bite.

Cilantro - Always opt for fresh for salsa recipes! If you are a cilantro hater, you can omit this or swap with fresh parsley.

Lime Juice - A must for fresh salsas! Use what the recipe calls for, then taste and add more if you want a little more pizzazz in your mango salsa.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to grill walleye filets

Walleye is incredibly versatile, with a very mild flavor, which is why it's featured in this recipe! But that versatility doesn't stop with flavor - walleye works well with MANY cooking methods, from pan-frying to baking and everything in between.

But for this recipe, we're grilling the filet. Grilling walleye is easy, fast, and doesn't require lots of cooking fat. It's probably the most straightforward way to cook fish, if you keep a few tips in mind to make everything seamless!

Preheat the grill: for gas or pellet grills, set to medium (approx. 400 degrees F). For charcoal, make sure the coals are evenly distributed and have a medium-hot flame.

Season the fish: season with salt and pepper - keeping it VERY simple for this recipe so the mango salsa shines through!

Cook the walleye: place the filet skin side down, then cook for 4-5 minutes on each side or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.

That's it! The biggest thing to remember? Be careful not to overcook! The walleye should be cooked through, but still moist and flaky.

Top tips for grilling fish successfully

If you've shied away from grilling fish before, I've got you! A couple tips will make grilling fish easier and practically foolproof.

Always start skin-side down

When grilling filets, always get skin-on filets!

Even if you later discard the skin (not allowed in my house - it's one of the best parts!), the skin acts as a barrier between the grates and the flesh of the fish. Which means - no longer having half the fish stick to the grill as you try to remove it!

Don't overcrowd the grill

You want to give the fish enough space to cook evenly, so if you're grilling something else with the walleye (like veggies), make sure you aren't packing the grill surface too tightly. Leave at least an inch or two between each item.

Prevent sticking by oiling your grill grates

The best way to prevent sticking for any food while grilling: make sure your grates are oiled!

Even if you have non-stick grill grates, they coule probably use a coat of oil.

After the grill is heated and before putting on the food, brush the grates with olive oil.

Or, use my method: pour a bit of extra virgin olive oil on a paper towel. Then I use my grilling tongs to rub the paper towel onto the grates while the grill is heating. Simple!

Just DON'T use spray olive oil on an already-hot grill.

Don't overcook

Be careful not to overcook the fish. Walleye and other fish cook FAST! Set a timer and don't walk away from the grill.

The walleye should be cooked through, but still moist and flaky. If it's overcooked, the flesh will end up tough and dry.

How to make mango salsa

Just like the walleye, we're going to keep this as simple as possible!

Mango salsa is as simple as adding diced mango to an otherwise straightforward fresh pico de gallo.

Chop the tomatoes and mango to roughly similar-sized cubes. Dice the onion and cilantro. Combine everything in a bowl with the lime juice. Salt to taste. And that's it!

If you'd like to spice things up, chop up a jalapeno or serrano pepper and toss it into the salsa.

More ways to customize this recipe

- Add a hint of spice by rubbing ¼-1/2 teaspoon chili powder on the flesh side of the walleye fillet before grilling.

- Mango not your thing? Try pineapple or peaches for the salsa!