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
- 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.
Ed Garson
Sunday 13th of October 2024
I have a new stove with the air fryer built into the oven. Will this recipe work in this type of air fryer?
Tanya
Monday 14th of October 2024
Hi Ed, yes it will. However, you will likely need to cook it a little longer. I have one of those, too and I always find I need to add a few minutes to the cooking time. I would say check it and the cooking times I stated, and if they aren't golden and crispy enough, just leave them in for a few more minutes until they get nice and golden.
Nadine Philp
Thursday 15th of August 2024
Your instructions were the launching pad for a first ever (and successful) Air Fryer Catfish dinner! The Catfish pieces coated with Panco Bread Crumbs and homemade Ranch Dressing powder then air fried 8 min each side @ 400*. Picture perfect, Golden, and yummy! Thank you! 😊
Tanya
Friday 16th of August 2024
Thanks so much, Nadine Philp. So happy you enjoyed the recipe :) I love that you used ranching dressing powder. Sounds delicous!
Lori
Friday 22nd of March 2024
I like catfish wondering if and how you can cook this in an air fryer using a Cajun seafood breadEr
Tanya
Tuesday 26th of March 2024
Hi Lori, you would use that seasoning in place of the cornmeal, flour, and old bay in this recipe. Then follow the same instructions I have provided. Looking forward to hearing how you like it.
Dell
Thursday 25th of January 2024
I tried this recipe with fresh cod. The only change I made to the recipe was soaking the fish in almond milk for 3 hours prior to coating with seasoning mixture, instead of using egg.(I have an egg allergy). The fish was delicious! I will definitely make it again. Thank you for sharing!
Tanya
Thursday 25th of January 2024
Thank you for the feedback, Dell! So glad you liked the recipe and the almond milk worked.
Elain
Sunday 9th of July 2023
I tried this recipe using fresh caught sunfish. Since the filets are very small, I adjusted the cooking time, but otherwise followed the recipe. We will definitely be making it again!
Tanya
Monday 10th of July 2023
Thanks, Elain! So happy you liked the recipe :)