This crispy air fryer fish makes for an easy weeknight dinner. The fish cooks to absolute perfection in less than 15 minutes, coming out super tender, juicy, and flaky on the inside and deliciously crispy on the outside.
Fish isn’t always the easiest protein to cook, but the beauty of this recipe is that it cooks the most delicious, crispy fish with little to no effort and without deep-frying!
Not only is cooking fish in the air fryer less hassle, but it also cooks faster and makes for easy cleanup. It’s a great choice for feeding the whole family without breaking a sweat. Plus, air fryers create a crunchy texture around the fish that would be hard to achieve with any other cooking method.
Simply dredge your flish filets in egg and then into a spiced breadcrumb mixture. Then, air fry at 8 minutes. Flip and cook for 4 more minutes.
PS: try our grilled fish for a quick and fresh fish recipe!
Ingredients You’ll Need for Air Fryer Fish
- Cod: you can use either fresh or frozen cod filets; it’s up to you!
- Eggs: eggs act as a binding agent so that the breadcrumbs adhere to the fish.
- Bread crumbs: we kept it simple with plain breadcrumbs.
- All-purpose flour: flour is what gets the fish nice and crispy.
- Old Bay seasoning: a classic seafood seasoning, Old Bay adds a delightful kick of flavor.
- Salt: salt is necessary to bring out all the great natural flavors of the fish
- Olive oil: olive oil provides crispiness and prevents the fish from sticking to the air fryer.
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Can you use a different fish for air fryer fish?
Have another white fish you’d like to use! You’re in luck. This recipe works with most white fish. You’ll just need to keep an eye on the time depending on the thickness of your filets.
- Tilapia
- Whitefish
- Haddock
- Walleye
Other Ingredient Swaps
Instead of regular breadcrumbs, you can use gluten-free or Italian. Feel free to use whatever spices you wish in place of the old bay seasoning.
Top Tips for this Easy Air Fryer Fish Recipe
- Cut cod into equal size strips: Cutting your fish into the same size will ensure they will all take about the same amount of time to cook.
- Have fun with flavors: If you don’t have Old Bay seasoning, try something new, like smoked paprika, garlic powder, or even a combination of herbs.
- Don’t overcrowd: Make sure your air fryer basket isn’t overcrowded so that the fish will cook evenly.
- Coat fish in oil before frying: If there are dry, powdery sections of the fish after air frying, be sure to add more oil.
Homemade
Tartar Sauce
This healthy dill pickle dip doubles as a sauce and is a favorite in our house. Eat it with chips or serve it on top of a salmon filet.
Storage
Store any leftover air fryer fish in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days.
To reheat: cook your fish in the air fryer for 3 to 4 minutes until crispy and warmed through. Be careful not to overcook as it can dry out the fish.
Serving Suggestions
There are plenty of ways to savor this delicious air fryer fish like in fish tacos! Serve it with tartar sauce or a light and refreshing coleslaw. We also like pairing it with sides such as these:
Roasted Veggies
Salads
Grains & Starches
Easy Air Fryer Fish
Ingredients
- 1 lb. fresh or frozen cod ~2 filets
- 3 large eggs
- ¾ cup plain bread crumbs
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon old bay seasoning
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF, and if using frozen cod, be sure to thaw it.
- Prepare the fish by blotting the cod with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Cut the fish into 4 strips or pieces that will fit in your air fryer. Set aside.
- Add the eggs to a mixing bowl and whisk together. In a separate bowl, combine the bread crumbs, flour, old bay seasoning, and salt. Stir to combine.
- Dredge the fish filets through the egg mixture. Allow excess egg to drip from the fish. Dredge the fish through the breadcrumb mixture. Use your hands to firmly pat or press the breadcrumb mixture into the fish filet.
- Dredge the fish through the egg and breadcrumb mixture a second time. Repeat until all the fish filets have been coated twice.
- Coat the air fryer basket with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and then transfer the fish filets to the air fryer. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the fish.
- Cook the fish for 8 minutes and then gently flip the fish. It’s ok if the fish falls apart a little bit. Cook the fish for an additional 4 minutes or until the fish is golden brown.
- Remove from the air fryer and enjoy.
Tips & Notes
- Any white fish can be used instead of cod.
- Panko breadcrumbs can be used instead of breadcrumbs.
- Be sure the fish is coated in oil before frying. If there are dry, powdery sections of the fish after air frying, be sure to add more oil.
- Other oil can be used instead of olive oil.
Nutrition facts
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Photography: photos taken in this post are by Ashley McGlaughlin from The Edible Perspective.
