This air fryer tilapia is quick, easy, flavorful, delicious, juicy, and tender, and is the perfect weeknight dinner that is healthy and satisfy your family.
This recipe uses a super simple seasoning that is just perfect with this fish. You can make this fish with fresh fillets or defrosted frozen fillets. Both taste amazingly delicious.
I make this fish dish all the time for a quick meal if it's for a light lunch next to a leafy salad, or for dinner with a delicious carb on the side. This fish is affordable (which is a must-have for today's economy) and super simple to make.
Serve this air-fried tilapia next to our cauliflower with tahini, carrot fries, cabbage steaks, green beans and potatoes, dairy free mashed potatoes, greek fries.
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Why this recipe works
- This fish is flavorful, juicy, tender, and absolutely delicious!
- Time- this whole dish takes 10 minutes to make from start to finish! It is perfect if you are tight on time.
- Flavor- the flavor of this fish is just perfect, with a delicious yet simple mix of spices. You can use your favorite spice mix as well.
- Ease- this dish is extremely easy to make and can be made by anyone!
- Healthy- this fish is full of nutrition and is made with just 2 tablespoon of olive oil (or oil of your choice).
- Affordable- compared to other fish like salmon and cod, tilapia is very affordable and easy to find in most grocery stores.
Ingredients
Before you start to make this recipe, measure and prepare your ingredients so the cooking process will go smoothly and easily.
Full measurements are in the recipe card below.
Tilapia fillets- you can use either fresh tilapia or frozen tilapia for this. If you are using frozen tilapia, defrost it in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for 30-60 minutes.
Olive oil- use extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor. If you don't want to use olive oil, you can use avocado oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil!
Kosher salt– we used kosher salt in this recipe. You can use sea salt or flakey salt as well.
Black pepper- for flavor. Adjust the black pepper to your personal liking.
Lemon zest- you will need 1 teaspoon of lemon zest. I recommend zesting the lemon first and then juicing it. You can use the slices of lemon for serving.
Paprika– use your favorite brand of paprika. You can use smoked paprika as well for a smokey flavor.
Onion powder- use your favorite brand of onion powder. You will need ½ teaspoon for this recipe.
Garlic powder- use your favorite brand of garlic powder. You will need ½ teaspoon for this recipe.
Instructions
Into a small mixing bowl, add the olive oil, lemon zest, paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder, and mix with a spoon until well combined.
Lightly rinse and pat dry the tilapia fillets until they are dry. Split the spice mixture and brush each fillet with half of the mixture.
Brush the air fryer basket with the oil of your choice and place the fillets with the skin side down without overlapping.
Cook at 200c (400f) for 9-12 minutes depending on the thickness of the fillets. I cooked mine for exactly 10 minutes. Cook until golden brown and check doneness with a fork. If the fish feels tender, it's ready!
Top the fish with chopped parsley and serve with slices of lemon next to your favorite side dish!
Expert Tips
- Do not disturb the fish! Let the fish cook for at least 8 minutes without flipping it so it will not stick to the basket of the air fryer.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket! This will ensure that your tilapia cooks evenly and perfectly.
- Choose fish fillets that are similar in size to ensure that they'll cook evenly.
- Pat dry the fish with paper towels before you add the spices mixture to make it crisp up on the outside.
- Don't overcook the fish to keep it tender and juicy.
- I don’t recommend flipping the tilapia as it cooks. You risk breaking the delicate fish if you flip it at the halfway point. However, the air fryer will allow for browning on both sides of the fish without flipping.
- If your fish was frozen beforehand, make sure to pat dry the fillets before seasoning. Doing so ensures the seasoning sticks better, and the tilapia will crisp up instead of steam in the air fryer.
Faq's
White fish like tilapia takes 8-11 minutes to cook (depending on the size and thickness of the fillet).
While you can cook almost every fish in the air fryer, the best fish fillets to cook in the air fryer are white fish like cod, haddock, pollock, or mahi mahi.
Yep! This fish dish is indeed keto. For a whole keto meal, serve this fish with cauliflower rice or vegetables.
Definitely! Cooking fish in the air fryer is awesome because it takes less time to cook the fish, is healthier since you are using less oil, and the fish cooks evenly.
The best way to check if your fish is done is by inserting a fork gently into the fish and if it flakes easily, it's ready.
Storing
If you have leftovers, you can store them in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
Reheating
Reheat in the air fryer- reheat the fish in the air fryer at 180c (350f) for about 5 minutes.
Reheat in the microwave- reheat the fish in the microwave for a minute or until it's warm enough to your liking.
Reheat in the oven- preheat an oven to 180c (350f) and reheat the fish for about 5-8 minutes.
Freezing
If you want to extend the shelf life of the fish, you can freeze the cooked tilapia by wrapping it tightly with plastic wrap or foil, and then place it in an airtight container and freeze it for up to 3 months.
Thaw in the fridge overnight and then reheat in the oven or in the microwave.
Substitutions
Fish- you can use your favorite fish or white fish if you want to make this recipe but can't finds tilapia. If the fillets of the fish that you are using are thicker, you will need to add a few minutes for cooking.
Variations
Spicy- you can make this dish spicy by adding a pinch or two of cayenne pepper or adding more chili flakes. Add it to your personal liking.
Dried herbs- you can use your favorite mix of dried herbs for this chicken!
Paprika- you can swap the paprika with smoked paprika.
Garlic butter- top this fish with a delicious garlic herb butter that we made in this cast iron skillet chicken breast recipe.
Teriyaki- add your favorite homemade or store-bought teriyaki sauce to the fish and make this teriyaki flavored.
More air fryer recipes
Air fryer potato wedges- These air fryer potato wedges are a healthier version of traditional fried potatoes. They are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Air fryer home fries- These air fryer home fries are ready in under 30 minutes from start to finish! They are the perfect quick side dish, breakfast, or appetizer. They are seasoned perfectly and crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Air fryer garlic bread- This air fryer garlic bread is crispy and flavorful and comes together in 10 minutes! It is made with french bread and a delicious mix of butter, garlic, fresh herbs, parmesan, and dried herbs.
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Tilapia (10-Minute Meal)
Ingredients
- 2 Tilapia fillets
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- ½ teaspoon Garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Onion powder
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Lemon zest
Instructions
- Into a small mixing bowl, add the olive oil, lemon zest, paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder, and mix with a spoon until well combined.
- Lightly rinse and pat dry the tilapia fillets until they are dry. Split the spice mixture and brush each fillet with half of the mixture.
- Brush the air fryer basket with the oil of your choice and place the fillets with the skin side down without overlapping.
- Cook at 200c (400f) for 9-12 minutes depending on the thickness of the fillets. I cooked mine for exactly 10 minutes. Cook until golden brown and check doneness with a fork. If the fish feels tender, it's ready!
- Top the fish with chopped parsley and serve with slices of lemon next to your favorite side dish!
Notes
- Do not disturb the fish! Let the fish cook for at least 8 minutes without flipping it so it will not stick to the basket of the air fryer.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket! This will ensure that your tilapia cooks evenly and perfectly.
- Choose fish fillets that are similar in size to ensure that they'll cook evenly.
- Pat dry the fish with paper towels before you add the spices mixture to make it crisp up on the outside.
- Don't overcook the fish to keep it tender and juicy.
- I don’t recommend flipping the tilapia as it cooks. You risk breaking the delicate fish if you flip it at the halfway point. However, the air fryer will allow for browning on both sides of the fish without flipping.
- If your fish was frozen beforehand, make sure to pat dry the fillets before seasoning. Doing so ensures the seasoning sticks better, and the tilapia will crisp up instead of steam in the air fryer.
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