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Crispy Air Fryer Fish Recipe

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.

air fryer fish on white plate with tatar sauce and lemons


 

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Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the 
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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!

fish on plate with fork separating fish

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.

dredged air fryer fish on baking tray
Rinse fish fillets dry with paper towel. Make sure they are still damp. Place in ziplock bag and coat with fish seasoning. Shake any excess flour 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.

air fryer fish in basket before cooking

Open the basket and spray the fish on the side facing up before flipping, ensuring that the fish is fully coated.

cooked fish in air fryer basket

Flip and cook on the other side for 7-8 minutes. Remove fish and serve. 

cooked air fryer fish filet on paper
Remove fish when done and enjoy with tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, hot sauce, or as is.

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.
fried fish being covered in hot sauce

More Air Fryer Fish Recipes

fish on plate with fork separating fish
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4.85 from 39 votes

Air Fryer Fish

Grab your Air Fryer and make this Crispy Air Fryer Fish ASAP. Covered in a crispy delicious crust, you can have guilt free fried fish as often as you like. White fish is perfectly seasoned and comes out so flakey. Get that fried flavor with a lot less oil!
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword air fryer fish fillets, crispy air fried fish, how to cook fish in the air fryer
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 17 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 313kcal
Author Tanya

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

*Adjust cook times if needed depending on the thickness of the fillet.
Highly Recommended Tools
Air Fryer
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

Calories: 313kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 963mg | Potassium: 644mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 274IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 3mg
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pin image of air fryer fish filets

Find more Air Fryer Tips and Trick here

This post was updated with additional info on 5/2/2023.

4.85 from 39 votes (17 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




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 :)