Please grab your Air Fryer and make this Crispy Air Fryer Fish as soon as you can. Covered in a crispy, delicious crust, you can have guilt-free fried fish as often as you like.
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Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the
recipe card at the bottom of the post.
You can find important tips/tricks in the
blog post.
Summer fish fries are my favorite outings to attend. I’m talking about catfish, whiting, perch, and yummy! I had those days when I wanted that amazing fish at home, but I didn’t want to deal with frying it in oil.
I bought an air fryer on a whim during my pregnancy. Now, I can easily make delicious golden fried fish filets without all the grease. I can make them whenever I want.
Simple to prep and cook, the floured and seasoned white fish is perfectly flavorful, and the crust is addictively crispy.
Be sure to try my Easy Oven-Baked Fish too!
Ingredients for Crispy Air Fryer Fish
Fish and Oil
- Whiting fish fillets, or other suitable types of white fish, like cod, tilapia, haddock, or halibut
- Oil (for misting) - any high-heat oil will do. I use olive oil or avocado oil.
Fish Seasoning
- Old Bay seasoning
- Salt
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
- Very fine cornmeal
- Flour
How to make Crispy Air Fried Fish
Air Fried Fish is pretty straightforward and takes about four simple steps. The beauty of this recipe is that you don't need any extra ingredients outside of your typical fish breading and a little bit of oil in a spray bottle. All you'll do is:
Add fish seasoning in a sealable bag, like a Ziplock bag, and shake. Set to the side. In the alternative, you could use your favorite fish batter mix.
Rinse and pat dry your fish fillets with paper towels. They should still be damp.
Place fish fillets in a ziplock bag and shake until fillets are fully covered with seasoning.
Place fillets on a baking rack to allow any excess flour to fall off.
Grease the bottom of your air fryer basket and place the fillets in the basket. Cook filets on 400 degrees for 7-10 minutes.
Open the basket and spray the fish on the side facing up before flipping, ensuring that the fish is fully coated.
Flip and cook on the other side for 7-8 minutes. Remove fish and serve.
What's the best fish to use?
I use whiting fish in this recipe; however, this method will work for any other kinds of fish. If making a fried catfish version, follow my method for soaking in milk first.
Can you make this recipe with frozen fish?
I'd suggest using fresh fish fillets for this recipe or good quality frozen fillets. If using frozen, make sure that they are fully thawed before seasoning them, and pat them with a paper towel to remove excess water.
Is it healthier?
Fish is a great high protein and low-fat food, and it's recommended that you eat two portions a week as part of a well-balanced lifestyle. Because this fried fish is cooked in the air fryer, you only need a fraction of the oil compared to traditional frying and it comes out way crispier than oven baking. It's the best of both worlds!
What do you serve it with?
This crispy air fryer fish is perfect to serve for an easy weeknight family dinner with potato and veggie sides, and of course some hot sauce, remoulade sauce, and tartar sauce! Serve it up with some of these favorites:
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Spray your oil only halfway through cooking as this will increase crispiness.
- Do not overcrowd your air fryer basket or your fish will steam rather than fry.
- Make sure when spraying, the fish is fully covered in oil and all seasoning has been fully covered with no flour spots showing. If flour spots are showing, you will not get that good golden color.
- Eat fried fish immediately. All fried foods are better that way.
- You must have hot sauce. I mean, it's just a must.
- Serve with lemon wedges.
More Air Fryer Fish Recipes
- Lobster Tails in the Air Fryer
- Marinated Air Fryer Salmon
- Air Fryer Tilapia
- Air Fryer Whole Fish
Air Fryer Fish
Ingredients
- 4-6 Whiting Fish fillets cut in half
- Oil to mist
Fish Seasoning
- ¾ cup very fine cornmeal
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 teaspoon old bay
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- OR
- Your favorite fish seasoning
Instructions
- Combine ingredients for fish seasoning in a Ziplock bag and shake. Set to the side. In the alternative, you could use your favorite fish seasoning.
- Rinse and pat dry your fish fillets with paper towels. They should still be damp.
- Place fish fillets in ziplock bag and shake, until fillets are fully covered with seasoning.
- Place fillets on a baking rack to allow any excess flour to fall off.
- Grease the bottom of your air fryer basket and place the fillets in the basket. Cook filets on 400 degrees for 7-10 minutes.
- Open basket and spray the fish on the side that is facing up before flipping, ensuring that the fish is fully coated. Flip and cook on the other side for 7-8 minutes. Remove fish and serve.
Video
Notes
Non-Aerosil Oil Sprayer Bottle
Silicone Kitchen Tongs
- Spray your oil only halfway through cooking, as this will increase crispiness.
- Do not overcrowd your air fryer basket, or your fish will steam rather than fry.
- Make sure when spraying, the fish is fully covered in oil and all seasoning has been fully covered with no flour spots showing. If flour spots are showing, you will not get that good golden color.
- Eat fried fish immediately. All fried foods are better that way.
- You must have hot sauce. I mean, it's just a must.
Nutrition
Find more Air Fryer Tips and Trick here.
This post was updated with additional info on 5/2/2023.
Robert says
Hi,
What would have change in the recipe for air frying Smelt. Or can’t it be air fried this way.
Thanks,
Robert
Tanya says
Hi Robert, I've never tried Air Frying Smelt but now you've got me thinking, lol. I'd probably decrease the cook time a bit since it's a smaller fish.
Shirley says
Love the breading. Light but crusty and flavorful. I recommend this.
China says
Came out perfect thank you!
Ronald Bryant says
I love your recipes but I have one question to you or anyone out there. I am nervous about frying fish in my air fryer. I am afraid that it will leave a fishy smell in my air fryer. Can someone please tell me if this is true or not? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Tanya says
Hi Ronald, Thanks so much for the comment. As far as the smell, my Air Fryer doesn't smell like fish after air frying in it. It's another advantage of using the Air Fryer for frying fish.
Scott F says
I have done Cod and shrimp. First off, I am pleased to tell you the house did NOT smell like a fish processing plant.
When you get done eating the fish, the sooner you clean the air fryer with a soap sponge the better.... My next air fryer food did NOT smell or taste like fish...:
CYNTHIA E FABELA says
Once you clean the air filter on top (Air fryer Elite) the smell goes away. Make fish sticks all the time and throw the tray racks and filter into the dishwasher and they always come clean with no smell.
Barbie says
I'm going to try this tonight I hope it works.i never made that before..it looks good.
Adriane says
When using frozen fillets. such as cod, how would you go about preparing and cooking them? Thank you for the delicious looking recipe!!
Tanya says
Hi Adriane, I always defrost the frozen fish filets first. I find the majority of supermarket filets to be a tad bit thinner than the fresh, so I would reduce the cook time by a few minutes.
Angie says
Loved it!!!!
Halley says
I’ve been looking for an amazing fish air fryer recipe and this is it! One thing I did differently was after I pat down the fish to dry I sprayed it with olive oil before coating it with flour. I also used cassava flour instead and it was perfect!
Barb says
This looks so good, will try it this week. Do you have a good way to make frozen French fries? I have tried EVERYTHING and they still are not good. Thanks
Tanya says
Hi Barb, Thank you. I haven't tried frozen fries yet in the Air Fryer but it is something I plan on trying soon.
Dina says
I love my frozen fries in my air fryer but its all in the timing. I place my air fryer on 400° and place my fries in, season, cook for about 10 mins take a spatula turn them, then cook for another 5 mins depending on how dark they have gotten the first time around. And you should have crispy delicious frozen fries.
joseph moore says
good recipe but you should put on seasoning as soon as fries are out of oven the seem to stick better
Ronald Bryant says
Hello, I have the Nuwav 10qt airfryer. I place them in a 400 pre-heated unit and I have 2 cycles, 4min each then flip them and do another 4 min. My unit has a vent that can be open or closed. Everything I want to turn out crispy is cooked with the vent open. I hope this helps.
Scott F says
Try Red Robin steaj fries. I find they work best and are already seasoned.... Enjoy
Scott F
Tacoma WA
Debbie Ebert says
I made wedges last night, 390 degrees for 20 minutes but that was too long, I’d try 15 minutes! Mine where partially thawed. And I tossed them in a tablespoon of olive oil. They came out crispy on the outside and soft inside. Perfect!
Dawn Grantling says
What is commercial oil spray?
Tanya says
Hi Dawn, Those are those non-stick sprays that you typically find in the oil aisle in the grocery store that are misting sprays, like Pam oil spray. These usually have an aerosol agent that can cause your air fryer coating to come off over time. They will still crisp your food but it can be bad on your air fryer over time.
Doris Strachan says
Thanks for the hint about commercial oil sprays. I’m new to air frying, but totally sold, and using it every day!
Tanya says
Awesome! It's worth every penny. I love my Air Fryer.
Karen Eichenbaum says
Me too!!! LOVE it!! Gonna try this recipe tonight. Thanks 🙂
Charla says
Definitely making this recipe but will use only cornmeal for the coating to make it gluten free. It's amazing how an airfryer can make battered fish so crispy without excess oil.
Angie says
I use rice flour instead of regular flour along with the cornmeal to make it gluten free. Easy recipe! Love it and can't live without my airfryer!♡
Jennifer Barfield says
I found a great gluten free flour blend that is awesome. It's Flour Farm organic gluten free flour blend and works and tastes like a charm! Keeps fried foods from tasting too dry. When I use it, my family can't tell the difference.
Shanika says
Yum! This fried fish looks so GOOD! I remember eating fried catfish growing up, so this brings back such great memories! I have to try this!
Jazz says
My mom has an air fryer and it still amazes me how crispy things can get without oil. This will be my first recipe attempt in it lol!
Mila Buckley says
I'm totally in awe that you can make fish this good in an air fryer! I think you've sold me on getting one!
Erika Harrison says
Okay you've convinced me to get an air fryer, LOL. I always doubted how crispy they would turn out, but I am convinced!
Tanya says
It’s the best thing ever and it’s perfect for a fried food lover like myself.
Wanda Miller says
Can wait to get me one less oil I would have to use