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    Home » All recipes » Air Fryer Tilapia Recipe

    Published: Apr 3, 2022 by Kemi · This post may contain affiliate links

    Air Fryer Tilapia Recipe

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    Air fryer tilapia recipe! How to cook tilapia in air fryer is easy, quick, taking less than 10 minutes and you get perfectly cooked delicious fish that is packed full of flavor, light, flaky, and delicious. This post will show you how to make tilapia in air fryer without breading.

    Serve with sides like salads, rice, vegetables, potatoes, sauces, and more.

    air fryer tilapia served on a white plate.

    What is Tilapia Fish

    Tilapia is a mild-flavored, flaky white fish that is easy to cook, inexpensive, and consumed globally.

    It is farmed all over the world, however, China is the largest producer of Tilapia.

    It is a good source of protein and is rich in Vitamin B12, phosphorus, niacin, and potassium. Lean, and low in calories, It can be baked, grilled, pan fried, air-fried, and cooked in many ways.

    It has been found to be the 4th most consumed type of fish in the United States.

    Air Fryer Tilapia Recipe (Tilapia in Air Fryer)

    This air fryer tilapia recipe is simple, yet the fish is flavorful, flaky, and delicious.

    Cooking Tilapia in air fryer is one of the best methods of cooking it as not only does it come out perfect, It is quick, with less than 10 minutes of cooking time, and it's hands-off once the fish is in the air fryer.

    Air fried tilapia requires minimal preparation..you season, air fry, and serve. No waiting time which makes it a great option for when you need to quickly make a meal and put it on the table in less than 30 minutes.

    Few ingredients are used to make these delicious air fryer tilapia fish and they are most likely the ingredients you already have in your pantry.

    The ingredients are natural, healthy ingredients that make no use of coloring, or artificial preservatives.

    Can raw fish go in air fryer?

    Yes, cooking raw fish in the air fryer is easy and quick. If you follow a good recipe you will get tender, perfectly cooked fish.

    Let me show you how to cook Tilapia in the air fryer from fresh or frozen.

    Related: Air fryer fish, Instant pot tilapia

    tilapia in air fryer basket.

    Tilapia Seasoning

    Seasoning tilapia before cooking it in the air fryer is simple. Herbs and spices that go well with tilapia are the ones used in this simple tilapia seasoning. The ingredients are parsley, garlic powder, onion granules, black pepper, salt, and paprika. Just mix them together in a bowl and it's ready to use. You can make the seasoning and store it for later use. Other seasonings that can be used on tilapia are:

    Italian seasoning, Fish seasoning, Shrimp seasoning, Cajun seasoning.

    You can alternate the seasoning for different tastes. Whatever seasoning you use, make it a good one.

    Ingredients

    Tilapia - I used boneless skinless tilapia fillets.

    Garlic powder

    Onion granules

    Parsley

    Black pepper

    Paprika- This is optional but i like to use it for colour and smokiness (smoked paprika).

    Salt

    Lemon- To serve (optional)

    Olive oil

    ingredents displayed.

    How To Cook Tilapia in Air Fryer

    In a bowl, mix the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion granules, parsley, and paprika together.

    Brush the fish with olive oil and sprinkle the seasoning on it.

    Put the fish fillets in the air fryer, brush the top with olive oil, and sprinkle the seasoning all over the top as well.

    Brush with olive oil.

    2 seasoned tilapia fillets in air fryer.

    Set air fryer to 180C/356F and air fry tilapia for 6-10 minutes or until cooked through and flaky.

    cooked and displayed in the air fryer.

    Remove carefully from the air fryer using a spatula. The spatula will help lift the fish fillets off the air fryer basket without breaking up.

    cooked and displayed in air fryer basket.

    Serve and enjoy.

    Frozen Tilapia in Air Fryer

    You can cook frozen tilapia in the air fryer without thawing. Here's how to do it:

    Add the seasoning- garlic powder, black pepper, onion granules, parsley, salt, and oil into a bowl. Mix till combined.

    Deglaze the Tilapia by running it under water. Pat dry.

    Brush the seasoning mix all over the tilapia.

    Arrange the fillets in the air fryer and air fry from frozen for 10 minutes or till done.

    Bring out of the air fryer, and serve.

    If it's frozen breaded tilapia fillets, just arrange them in a single layer in the AF basket and cook at a temperature of 175C for 10-12 minutes. Add additional time if need be depending on the thickness of fillets and the type and model of the air fryer.

    To check if it is cooked, you can use an instant thermometer to check the internal temperature. It's safe to eat if the temperature is 145F/62C.

    How Long To Cook Tilapia in Air Fryer

    How long to cook tilapia in the air fryer is based on the size of the tilapia, whether it's fillet or whole tilapia, and whether you're cooking it fresh or frozen. Whole tilapia will take slightly longer to cook than fillet while cooking from fresh will take a shorter time than cooking it from frozen.

    Some other factors that determine the cooking time are the type and brand of the air fryer, models, wattage, and sizes of air fryers.

    The difference in cooking time is usually a couple of minutes.

    How long to cook tilapia in air fryer is 8-10 minutes.

    How long to cook whole Tilapia in air fryer is 10-15 minutes.

    It is cooked when it is tender and flaky inside and the internal temperature, when checked with an instant thermometer is 145F or more. Overcooking tilapia can make it dry and chewy.

    served on a plate with lemon slice.

    What To Serve With

    It's a good source of protein, light fish that can be served with sides like

    Air fryer baby potatoes

    Salads

    Air fryer vegetables

    Coleslaw

    Air fried roast potatoes

    Roasted carrots, boiled broccoli

    Pasta

    Plantain

    How To Store

    To store leftovers, let them completely cool then depending on how long you'd like to store them, put them in the fridge or freezer. 

    In the fridge: Put the tilapia into an airtight container or Ziploc, label with name and dates, then store it in the fridge where it will keep well for up to 3 days. 

    In the freezer: Put the fish in a freezer bag or a sealable container, label it with its name and dates, then store it in the freezer where it will keep well for up to 3 months.

    How To Reheat

    It can be reheated in the air fryer, microwave, or oven.

    To reheat in the air fryer: Remove packaging, place the tilapia in the air fryer basket, and air fry at a temperature of 180C for 3-4 minutes or till they are warmed through.

    To reheat it in the microwave: Remove all packaging, place tilapia on a microwave-safe plate, cover with a microwave dish cover then use the high power settings of the microwave to warm it at 30-second intervals till it's warmed through.

    Reheat in the oven: Place on a parchment paper-lined baking tray and heat in the oven at a temperature of 180C for 4-5 minutes or until heated inside.

    Leftover Tilapia can be used in salads, sandwiches, curry, and sauces.

    air fried tilapia served and garnished with parsley.

    Tips For Air Fryer Tilapia

    • Pat Tilapia dry with paper towels before seasoning. 
    • Season fish generously especially if not topping with sauce like garlic butter or any other.
    • Substitute olive oil for vegetable oil or unsalted butter.
    • Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Arrange Tilapia in a single layer, don't stack. Cook in batches if need be.
    • Don't overcook so the fish doesn't dry out. Check for doneness after minutes.
    • Adjust cooking time based on the thickness of the fish and the brand of AF used.
    • Use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness. When cooked, the internal temperature should be atleast145F/62C.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How long does it take to cook frozen tilapia in air fryer?

    It takes between 10 -12 minutes to cook frozen tilapia in air fryer. This will depend on the size of the tilapia if it's a whole tilapia or fillet. Check on it from 8 minutes.

    What temperature should air fryer fish be?

    It's best to air fry fish at a temperature of 360F/180C so that it cooks inside without burning on the outer.

    How long should you air fry a fish fillet?

    Air fry until it is cooked, and the internal temperature is 145F. This usually takes between 6 and 10 minutes. You will know fish is cooked when it is tender, and flakes when with a fork.

    air fryer tilapia served on a white plate.

    More Air Fryer Recipes

    Air fryer shrimp

    Air fryer diced potatoes

    Frozen steak in air fryer

    Air fryer steak bites

    Air fryer turkey legs

    Want more? Browse our other air fryer recipes on this blog or visit our dedicated air fryer blog at www.airfryervibes.com.

    I hope you like this air fryer tilapia recipe as much as we do. If you find this post helpful, please rate it 5 stars and leave me a comment below. I love reading from you.

    Don’t want to miss a thing? Subscribe to the blog for free weekly recipes in your email. Also, follow recipe vibes on Instagram and Pinterest. Subscribe to my Youtube channel for recipe videos.

    air fryer tilapia served on a white plate.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 7 votes

    Air Fryer Tilapia Recipe

    Air fryer tilapia recipe! Cooking tilapia in air fryer is easy, quick, taking less than 10 minutes and you get perfectly cooked delicious fish that is packed full of flavor, light, flaky, and delicious. This post will show you how to make tilapia in air fryer without breading.
    Serve with sides like salads, rice, vegetables, potatoes, sauces, and more.
    Prep Time5 mins
    8 mins
    Total Time13 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, British
    Keyword: air fryer tilapia, how long to cook tilapia in air fryer, how to cook tilapia in air fryer, tilapia in air fryer
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 228kcal
    Author: Kemi

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer
    • Spatula

    Ingredients

    • 2 fillets Tilapia
    • 1 teaspoon Paprika optional
    • ¼ teaspoon Garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon Onion granules
    • ¼ teaspoon Black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon Parsley
    • Salt to taste
    • 1 tablespoon Olive oil

    Instructions

    • In a bowl, mix the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion granules, parsley, and paprika together.
      Brush the fish with olive oil and sprinkle the seasoning on it.
    • Put the fish fillets in the air fryer, brush the top with olive oil, and sprinkle the seasoning all over the top as well.
      Brush with olive oil.
    • Set air fryer to 180C/356F and air fry tilapia for 8-10 minutes or until cooked through and flaky.
      No need to flip tilapia during cooking.
    • Remove carefully from the air fryer using a spatula.
      The spatula will help lift the fish fillet off the air fryer basket without breaking up.
      Serve and enjoy.

    Notes

    • Pat Tilapia dry with paper towels before seasoning. 
    • Season fish generously especially if not topping with sauce like garlic butter or any other.
    • Substitute olive oil for vegetable oil or unsalted butter.
    • Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Arrange Tilapia in a single layer, don't stack. Cook in batches if need be.
    • Don't overcook so the fish doesn't dry out. Check for doneness after 6 minutes.
    • Adjust cooking time based on the thickness of the fish and the brand of Air Fryer used.
    • You can use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness. When cooked, the internal temperature should be at least 145F/62C.
    Check the main post for more tips and FAQs.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 228kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 89mg | Potassium: 524mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg

    Related posts:

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    Simple Cake Recipe (Sponge Cake)
    Lime Juice Recipe (Limeade)
    Instant Pot Spaghetti
    « Air Fryer Shrimp Recipe
    Roast Potato Seasoning Recipe »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jere sinone says

      June 05, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      I still need to air fryers,I need all the suggestions I can get.Your talapia recipe seems pretty simple.Thank you.

      Reply
    2. Kathy says

      July 29, 2022 at 7:43 pm

      5 stars
      Mine turned out perfectly. I cooked in my air fryer at 360 degrees and it took 7-8 min depending on filet thickness. I checked with fork after 6 min. I did use olive oil on bottom of fillet because I thought it might keep it from sticking. I carefully used a spatula to lift it up. Barely any stuck to air fryer pan. I followed the recipe exactly other than oiling the bottom. I had very little faith that this would be good, but it was delicious!! Will do this again.

      Reply
      • Kemi says

        August 07, 2022 at 4:36 pm

        I'm glad to read this Kathy. Thank you for the feedback.

        Reply
    3. Douglas Skinner says

      December 04, 2022 at 1:30 pm

      5 stars
      Hi Kemi, Just found the tilapia recipe, I just know it will be good, I have used tilapia on the stovetop in stir fries, soups etc. Can't wait to try it. Love the website.
      Douglas

      Reply
      • Kemi says

        December 10, 2022 at 6:15 pm

        Thanks so much. I'm sure you'll love it.

        Reply

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