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Air Fryer Tilapia Recipe

This air fryer tilapia is an easy to prepare recipe and amazingly delicious with just a few ingredients needed and you can have these crispy tilapia fillets ready in just 15 minutes.

air fryer tilapia

How to cook tilapia in an air fryer

An overview of the cooking process, air frying tilapia only requires a few simple steps. First, prepare flour mixture and cornflakes mixture in two separate bowls. Cover tilapia fillet with the flour mixture. Dip the tilapia fillet into a beaten egg then dip into the breadcrumb seasoning mix. Place the fish fillet in the air fryer and cook for 13 minutes at 350F.

Scroll to the recipe below to get the detailed step by step instructions.

Best cooking time for air frying tilapia

Cooking time for air frying tilapia is around 13-15 minutes. Depending on the thickness of the fish fillets you may want to lower/add a few minutes. Internal temperature should be at least 145F.

Can you cook frozen tilapia in an air fryer?

Cooking frozen tilapia or other types of fish in the air fryer involves the same cooking steps. I recommend adding 2-3 minutes to regular cooking time. Time will vary depending on the size of the fish fillet.

Can you really cook fish in an air fryer?

Tilapia or other types of fish are perfect for air frying. It is a quick way to cook fish in a healthier way without the use of oil.

how to air fry tilapia

What are the best foods to cook in an air fryer?

Most vegetables and thinner/smaller type meats are perfect for air frying such as ribs, chicken tenders, meatballs, chicken breasts, chicken wings, pork chops, fish fillets, shrimps, potato fries, brussel sprouts, butter squash, zucchini, and mushrooms are just some of the foods you can cook in an air fryer.

Can you use batter in an air fryer for tilapia?

You can use a wet batter for tilapia when air frying but sticking to dry coating is better. Wet batter will drip while cooking making your fish fillets not visually appetizing.

Does the air fryer make food crispy?

Air frying will make the food super crispy. The air circulation will heat up very quickly making the outer layer crispy while keeping the inside tender and juicy. One thing I do is spray a little bit of oil on to the food to help crisp up the outer coating.

tilapia in air fryer

How do you properly clean an air fryer?

Cleanup after using an air fryer is much easier than using a deep fryer. Most of the cooking components of an air fryer are dishwasher safe such as the basket and dripping pans. Other areas might have a little food splatter, just use a wet paper towel or cloth to wipe off random drippings and splatters. The key is to clean your air fryer after every use to avoid food from hardening on to the pan or basket.

What are the pros and cons of using an air fryer?

There are many benefits in using an air fryer including faster cooking, easier cleanup, healthier method of cooking, energy efficient, and most air fryers are compact making it easier to fit anywhere in the kitchen.

Although the pros outweigh the cons of using an air fryer, it is worth mentioning some of the disadvantages. The quick heat inside the air fryer is great for faster cooking, but if you let it cook for too long can leave your food burnt or dry. Also, an air fryer is not ideal if you are cooking a large volume of food as it can only fit a small amount of food.

Additional Tips When Air Frying

  • Use it for baking and use pan inserts for baking cakes.
  • Air fryer is great for roasting vegetables.
  • Always coat food with a little bit of nonstick cooking spray.
  • Leave space around food for air to circulate. Do not overcrowd.
  • Always use dry coating instead of wet batter.

air fryer tilapia recipe

Air Fryer Tilapia

Delicious air fryer tilapia fillets

Course Main Course
Cook Time 13 minutes
Servings 2

Ingredients

  • 2 pieces Tilapia Fillets
  • 1 cup Crushed Cornflakes
  • 1/3 cup Flour
  • 1 piece Egg beaten
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper
  • 1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper
  • 2 tbsp Water
  • 1 tbsp Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • Nonstick Cooking Spray

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, combine flour, salt, ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper.

  2. In a separate bowl, whisk egg and add water.

  3. In a zip lock bag, crush cornflakes and add grated parmesan cheese.

  4. Dip tilapia fillet into the flour mixture. Take the fillet and dip in egg/water mixture. Place the fillet into the zip lock bag with the cornflakes mixture and shake until well covered.

  5. Place the tilapia fillet in the air fryer and cook for 12-13 minutes at 350F or until internal temperature reaches 145F. Flip halfway cooking time for even cooking.

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