Air Fry Fish Fillets are quick, easy, and healthy too! We’ll show you the best tips and tricks to cook fish in the air fryer with bold flavor and a flakey texture from both frozen and thawed. Ready in minutes, it pairs well with all your favorite appetizers and sides for a complete meal you’ll love! Gluten-free and dairy-free.
Air Fryer Fish (3 Ways)
Air fryer recipes are seriously having a moment—and I’m 100% here for it. Whether I’m crisping up veggies or meal prepping Air Fryer Chicken Thighs, it’s become a go-to in my kitchen. But every time I mention that I cook fish in the air fryer, people give me that really? look. Can You Cook Raw Fish in the Air Fryer?
So let’s clear it up: Yes, you can absolutely cook raw fish in the air fryer—and I totally recommend it! Not only does it come out tender and flaky like your favorite restaurant-style fish, but it’s also fast, fuss-free, and requires minimal cleanup.
If you’ve ever struggled to get flavorful, perfectly cooked white fish at home, this is post is for you. We’re showing you how to make air fryer fish with simple pantry staples and 3 different types of white fish; cod, halibut, or tilapia. It takes just a few minutes of cook time and it’s surprisingly easy and versatile!
Tips for Success
- Use Thawed Fish When Possible. For the most even cooking and best texture, we recommend thawed fillets. But if you forget to defrost, frozen fish can still work—just add a few extra minutes of cook time and check doneness carefully.
- Pat Fish Dry First. Use a paper towel to gently blot any excess moisture before seasoning. This helps the outside crisp up instead of steam.
- Be sure to Preheat the Air Fryer A quick 2–3 minute preheat ensures the fish starts cooking immediately, helping it crisp and cook evenly.
- Light Oil Spray = Better Texture. Spritzing the fish with a bit of avocado or olive oil before air frying adds golden color and helps prevent sticking.
- Season with Intention. Air fryer fish cooks quickly, so a simple spice blend, lemon zest, or fresh herbs go a long way. Add citrus juice after cooking to preserve brightness. See my go-to fish seasoning blend below.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Basket. Arrange fillets in a single layer with space between them. If your basket is small, work in batches. Overlapping will lead to uneven cooking.
- Cooking Times will Vary – Check Internal Temperature. Depending on the type of air fryer you use, whether your fish is frozen or thawed (notes on that below), and the thickness of each fillet, the cooking time is likely to vary slightly. So, be sure to keep an eye on your fish, and check the internal temperature when done. For food safety, white fish should reach an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). The flesh should be opaque and flake easily with a fork.
- Let It Rest. Once done, rest the fish for 1–2 minutes before serving. This keeps it juicy and tender.
Ingredients You’ll Need
A common misconception is that white fish requires lots of ingredients and complicated herbs and spices to taste great, but that just isn’t true! We’ll prove it with the simple ingredients in this air fryer fish fillet recipe.
- White Fish – We use cod, halibut, and tilapia, but just about any white fish can be used.
- Butter or Olive Oil – This helps the seasoning cling to the fish while locking in moisture to guarantee it bakes to flakey perfection.
- Spices – Lemon pepper seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, sea salt, and black pepper created a refreshing, savory flavor.
- Lemon Juice – This helps cut through the heaviness of the fat, creating a light, well-rounded taste.
- Garnish – Technically optional, herbs like parsley, chervil, or chives help enhance the herbaceous taste, and lemon slices enhance the lemon flavor while creating a picture-worthy presentation.
Choosing the Best Fish to Air Fry:
Flavor + Texture Guide
Not all white fish are created equal, especially when it comes to air frying. Unlike air frying salmon, which is rich in natural oils and tends to stay moist, white fish like cod, halibut, and tilapia are much leaner, making them more prone to drying out if overcooked. That’s why it’s helpful to know the subtle differences between them before you get started—so you can adjust the cooking time and oil accordingly for perfect results every time.
- Halibut – Firm, dense, and slightly sweet, halibut has a thicker cut and less natural fat compared to other fish. It’s one of the leanest white fish options, so it’s especially important not to overcook it in the air fryer. A little oil or butter goes a long way in keeping it moist.
- Cod – A happy medium between halibut and tilapia, cod is moderately thick with a tender flake. It’s slightly sweet and not too “fishy,” making it versatile and forgiving in the air fryer if you keep an eye on the timing. I love using cod to make fish tacos in the air fryer.
- Tilapia – The lightest and thinnest of the three, tilapia cooks the fastest and delivers a mild, clean flavor. It’s delicate in texture and easily takes on whatever seasonings you pair it with—perfect for breading using our gluten -free panko to make a quick flavorful air-fried meal.
How to Cook Fish in the Air Fryer
Note: This recipe works best with thawed fish, but frozen fish in the air fryer will work as well. You’ll just need to add a few extra minutes of cooking time. See recipe card for details.
- Prepare the Fish. Use a paper towel to pat your fish dry. Then, brush both sides of the fillets with your oil or butter, and add a drizzle of lemon juice.
- Prepare the Seasoning. In a small bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients for the seasoning mix, and generously season both sides of your fish.
- Air Fry the Fish. Grease the basket of your air fryer with cooking spray, and arrange the fish in an even layer. Cook until the fish can be easily flaked with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 140- 145°F, placing a slice of lemon on each filet with 2 minutes of cooking time remaining.
Note: Cooking times for fish in the air fryer will vary based on the type and thickness of the fillet. For thawed white fish, set your air fryer to 360°F–375°F and cook for about 8 to 12 minutes. Thicker fillets may take a little longer, while thinner cuts cook more quickly.
For thicker fillets, use 360°F and cook for 10–12 minutes—this gentler heat helps cook the fish evenly without drying it out.
For thinner fillets, set the temperature to 375°F and cook for 8–10 minutes to achieve a quicker cook time and a slightly crispier exterior.
- Serve. Garnish your fish with any herbs or extra seasonings of your choice, and serve warm with all your favorite sides.
Serving Suggestions
The great thing about fish, white fish in particular, is that it pairs well with everything! To turn this recipe into a complete meal, we love to pair it with all our favorite gluten-free sides like:
How to Store
Fish in the air fryer is best when served right away. However, if needed, it can be stored in the fridge or freezer as well.
Refrigerator: Once cooked and cooled, transfer the fish to an airtight container, and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Freezer: Store leftover fillets in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To Reheat: When you’re ready to eat, let your fish thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, preheat your air fryer to 325° Fahrenheit, and warm your fish until your desired temperature is reached, flipping it over halfway through. Be careful not to overcook!
More of Our Favorite
Easy Fish Recipes
Air Fryer Fish Fillets Recipe
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 3-4 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Air Fryer Fish is quick, easy, and nutritious, too! We’ll show you the best tips and tricks to learn how to cook fish in the air fryer with bold flavor and a flakey texture from both frozen and thawed.
Ingredients
- 3 to 4 (6 ounces each) cod, halibut or tilapia fillets (1 inch to 1 ¼ inches thick)
- 3 Tablespoons melted butter or light olive oil
- 2 teaspoons to 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
Seasoning:
- 1 ½ teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- Pinch paprika
- Pinch coarse ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley, optional
- Garnish- lemon slices or fresh chopped parsley, chervil and/or chives
Instructions
- Pat the fish fillets dry with a paper towel. Brush both sides of the fillets with melted butter or olive oil. Sprinkle with lemon juice.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon pepper, garlic, salt, paprika, black pepper and parsley. Generously season both sides of each fish fillet with the seasoning. Place fish on a plate or baking sheet while the air fryer preheats.
- Preheat the air fryer to 360 F. Once preheated, spray the basked with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange fish in the air fryer basket. (See notes for cooking from frozen.)
- Close the air fryer basket and air fry for 6 to 14 minutes (see cook times below for specific fish). If desired, with two minutes left of cooking time, open the basket and add a sliced lemon to each filet.
- Close the basket and continue to cook for the remaining time or until the fish flakes easily with a fork (internal temperature reaches 140-145 F).
- Garnish with fresh herbs before serving.
- Once cooled, store the fish in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Cooking Times for Fish:
Cod (depending on thickness)
- Frozen: 12 to 14 minutes
- Thawed: 8 to 10 minutes
Halibut (depending on thickness)
- Frozen: 12 to 16 minutes
- Thawed 6 to 8 minutes
Tilapia (depending on thickness)
- Frozen: 10 to 12 minutes
- Thawed: 6-9 minutes
Notes
- Cooking Tips – Do not overcrowd the basket or stack the fish filets, cook in batches if needed. Cook from frozen or thawed. For best results, prepare from thawed. Depending on the thickness of the fish fillets, start checking for doneness halfway through cooking and add more time as needed.
Storage Tips – Store leftover fillets wrapped tightly in aluminum foil or freezer paper in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, let the fish thaw in the fridge overnight. Preheat the air fryer to 325° Fahrenheit, and warm the fish until the desired temperature is reached, flipping it over halfway through. Be careful not to overcook!
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 6-14 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 ounce cod fillet with seasoning
- Calories: 209
- Sugar: 0.1 g
- Sodium: 316.3 mg
- Fat: 9.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 1.5 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 30.1 g
- Cholesterol: 78.2 mg
Made this with Mahi Mahi … it was so good, flavorful and perfectly flaky. Probably one of the best fish recipes I’ve ever made. Thank you, Lindsay.
I am so glad that! Thanks for feedback Vicki! I’ll have to try it with mahi mahi next 🙌