Crispy Air Fryer Tilapia
A simple, comforting, and quick air fryer tilapia recipe perfect for busy weeknights, delivering a crispy exterior and tender, flaky fish.
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- paper towels
- Medium bowl
Ingredients
Hauptzutaten
- 24 ounces tilapia filets 4-6 ounces each
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 lemon cut into quarters
- 1 tablespoon parsley finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Gently pat the tilapia filets dry with paper towels. This is a super important step for getting that nice, crispy texture, so don’t skip it!
- In a medium bowl, add your dried tilapia filets. Drizzle them with the avocado oil, then sprinkle on the paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Toss everything gently until each filet is beautifully coated.24 ounces tilapia filets
- Carefully place the seasoned tilapia filets in your air fryer basket. Make sure they are in a single layer, with a little bit of space between each one. Overcrowding can lead to steaming rather than crisping, and we want that lovely crunch!24 ounces tilapia filets
- Pop the basket in and air fry for 8-12 minutes. How do you know it’s ready? The fish will be opaque and should flake easily when you gently poke it with a fork. Keep an eye on it, as cooking times can vary slightly depending on your air fryer and how thick your filets are.
- Once cooked to perfection, remove the tilapia from the air fryer. Serve them immediately with those lovely lemon wedges and a generous sprinkle of fresh parsley. That bright citrus and fresh herb combo is just chef's kiss!24 ounces tilapia filets
Notes
Don't overcrowd the air fryer for maximum crispiness. Patting the fish dry is crucial. Cooking times may vary depending on your air fryer.