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.
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 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
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.
Set air fryer to 180C/356F and air fry tilapia for 6-10 minutes or until cooked through and flaky.
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.
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.
What To Serve With
It's a good source of protein, light fish that can be served with sides like
Salads
Coleslaw
Roasted carrots, boiled broccoli
Pasta
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.
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.
More Air Fryer Recipes
Want more? Browse our other air fryer recipes on this blog or visit our dedicated air fryer blog at www.airfryervibes.com.
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Recipe
Air Fryer Tilapia Recipe
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.
Sounds like a plan. Eager to try it!
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
Thanks so much. I'm sure you'll love it.
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.
I'm glad to read this Kathy. Thank you for the feedback.
I still need to air fryers,I need all the suggestions I can get.Your talapia recipe seems pretty simple.Thank you.