Air fryer tilapia is my favorite easy and healthy ways to cook a delicious dinner. Whether you are cooking frozen air fryer tilapia or fresh air fried tilapia, we have got you covered! Fast, healthy and on the table for family dinner in no time.
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If you want to make your tilapia extra quickly for a weeknight dinner, you don’t need to use your stove or oven! Instead, simply put your seasoning on the fish, pop it in the air fryer and voila!
You now have air fryer tilapia on your dinner table with no stress.
If you love delicious and healthy fish recipes, be sure to check out this Honey Brined Smoked Salmon, grilled Wild Sockeye Salmon, Blackened Cod, Pistachio Crusted Salmon and Easy Baked Salmon (with lemon, onion and tomato)!
I have always been an avid fan of healthy food and dinner recipes. Tilapia is one of the best and most nutritious types of fish you can cook and serve your family. However, I understand that some of you might think tilapia recipes need alot of work to prepare in the kitchen. That is where you’re wrong.
Like any other meats and fish, you can cook tilapia or other frozen fish in the air fryer in no time. You don’t have to make things complicated in the kitchen if you use an air fryer.
With that, I have arranged this easy air fryer tilapia recipe for you to do at home. You will be the best air fryer cook in no time!
You will love this recipe that I am going to share with you. Since we will be using an air fryer, I guarantee that this is the easiest and healthiest method you can do with your tilapia.
You can do other variations on this recipe such as air fryer parmesan tilapia, air fryer panko tilapia or breaded air fryer tilapia. Even better, you can make air fryer tilapia keto by leaving off the breading.
Be sure to check out more of my air fryer recipes that you can do for snacks, appetizers, and main course meals.
Why this air fryer tilapia is the perfect quick dinner
Tilapia is known as a very lightweight, white flesh type of fish. Many people love to eat tilapia, and there are many ways to cook it. This air fryer tilapia recipe is the best!
- Air fryer tilapia is easy and quick family dinner. Cooking in an air fryer will not require you the usual ingredients and equipment. All you have to do is season your tilapia, pop it in your air fryer and wait for the magic to happen. These are great in fish tacos!
- Tilapia is an affordable and healthy dinner option! Tilapia can be found at most grocery stores and tends to be one of the more affordable white fish options. It is also quite lean and healthy.
- Air fried tilapia cooks fast and is easy to clean up. Air fryers are known for their quick cooking time. Preparing tilapia for lunch or dinner only takes minutes with an air fryer. You don’t even need to defrost your tilapia! Plus, air fryer clean-up is a flash!
Ingredients
- Tilapia Fillets (fresh or frozen): You can buy fresh or frozen tilapia in any supermarket or grocery store. You should also check out Wild Alaskan Company for the freshest fish delivered to your doorstep! They have an amazing wild white fish box that includes pacific halibut, pacific cod, pacific rockfish and wild Alaska pollock!
- Oil or Air Fryer Safe Cooking Spray: I recommend using oil or air fryer safe cooking spray when you cook air fryer tilapia. Fish tend to stick on air fryers, so it’s best to spray on some oil to avoid it. Here are some ideas for best oil for air fryer.
How to cook tilapia in air fryer (fresh or frozen)
Air Fryer Frozen Tilapia
- Preheat air fryer to 400°
- Spray air fryer basket with olive oil (or oil of choice) or coat your tilapia filets directly. Here are some great tips for the best oil for air fryer.
- Season your tilapia with desired seasonings. See notes for seasoning suggestions.
- Place fresh or frozen tilapia filet in air fryer or Ninja foodi basket or on air fryer tray.
- Cook frozen tilapia filets on 400° for approximately 10-13 minutes depending on size and thickness of fish. Flipping halfway through cooking process is recommended but not required.
- Air fryer tilapia should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 145° as recommended by FDA.
- Service with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Air Fryer Fresh Tilapia
- For fresh tilapia fillets, you can reduce your cook time by about 2-3 minutes.
Note: FDA recommends cooking finfish to an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees. Times will depending on the size and thickness of your tilapia fillets.
FDA recommends: “When a food thermometer is not available or appropriate, follow these tips to determine when seafood is done: Cook fish until it’s opaque (milky white) and flakes with a fork.”
Pre-Heating Air Fryer: I recommend pre-heating air fryer. However, if you choose not to pre-heat, add about 3-4 minutes to your cook time. Check to be sure your tilapia fillets are fully cooked. Add additional cook time as needed.
How to season your air fryer fish
Fun seasoning ideas for your air fryer fish are listed below. I recommend that you coat your fresh fish in oil and then add your seasoning. If you are cooking your tilapia from frozen, I recommend that you add seasoning after your first flip.
- Salt and pepper
- Lemon pepper seasoning
- Blackened seasoning
- Steak seasoning
- Mesquite seasoning
- Paprika and smoked paprika
- Garlic or onion powder
- Cayenne or crushed red pepper
Blackened Tilapia Air Fryer (Blackened Seasoning):
For blackened air fryer tilapia, I recommend using fresh fillets. Coat your fish with oil and seasoning with blackened seasoning mix below.
- 1 tbsp smoked or sweet paprika
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp cayenne
- ½ tsp basil
- ½ tsp thyme
- ½ tsp oregano
Air Fryer Tilapia Sauces for Dipping:
- Bang Bang Sauce: Sweet and spicy, creamy sauce.
- Zhoug: An herbaceous and zesty spicy sauce.
- Chicken Wing Sauce: A sweet and spicy, buffalo sauce.
- Eel Sauce: Salty and sweet with deep umami flavor.
- Cilantro Dressing: A bright and herbaceous dressing.
Air Fryer Tilapia Side Dishes
Looking for some delicious sides to go with your air fried tilapia? I have got you covered!
Some delicious vegetable options include this easy Roasted Asparagus or Mediterranean Chickpea Salad.
Some easy air fryer side dishes that pair well with tilapia air fried tilapia: Frozen Garlic Bread in Ai Fryer, Air Fryer Frozen Sweet Potato Fries, Air Fryer Tater Tots, and Air Fryer Frozen French Fries.
FAQ and expert tips
You should but one tilapia fillet per person. Tilapia fillets generally weigh around 6-8 ounces. This serving amount is perfect to pair with a side.
When cooking air fryer tilapia, you can choose either fresh or frozen fillets. If you have time to defrost the tilapia fillets overnight, they will cook more quickly. If you are in a hurry, you can defrost the fish fillet by placing it in an air-tight plastic bag in bowl of cold water for 15-30 minutes.
Reheat leftover tilapia in air fryer on 400 degrees for about 5 minutes. Reheated tilapia is best paired with salads or in a sandwich.
Looking for other delicious air fryer recipes?
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Air Fryer Tilapia (Frozen or Fresh)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 6-8 oz tilapia fillets (fresh or frozen)
- 1 teaspoon oil (or air fryer safe spray)
Instructions
Air Fryer Frozen Tilapia
- Preheat air fryer to 400°
- Spray air fryer basket with oil or coat your tilapia filets directly.
- Season your tilapia with desired seasonings. See notes for seasoning suggestions.
- Place fresh or frozen tilapia filet in air fryer or Ninja foodi basket or on air fryer tray.
- Cook frozen tilapia filets on 400° for approximately 10-13 minutes depending on size and thickness of fish. Flipping halfway through cooking process is recommended but not required.
- Air fryer tilapia should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 145° as recommended by FDA.
Air Fryer Fresh Tilapia
- For fresh tilapia fillets, you can reduce your cook time by about 2-3 minutes.
Notes
- Salt and pepper
- Lemon pepper seasoning
- Blackened seasoning
- Steak seasoning
- Mesquite seasoning
- Paprika and smoked paprika
- Garlic or onion powder
- Cayenne or crushed red pepper
- 1 tbsp smoked or sweet paprika
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp cayenne
- ½ tsp basil
- ½ tsp thyme
- ½ tsp oregano
- Bang Bang Sauce: Sweet and spicy, creamy sauce.
- Zhoug: An herbaceous and zesty spicy sauce.
- Chicken Wing Sauce: A sweet and spicy, buffalo sauce.
- Eel Sauce: Salty and sweet with deep umami flavor.
- Cilantro Dressing: A bright and herbaceous dressing.
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