Description
This Air Fryer Tilapia recipe offers a quick and healthy way to enjoy perfectly crispy and flavorful tilapia fillets. Seasoned with a fragrant blend of paprika, chili powder, garlic, and onion powders, these fish fillets cook to tender perfection in the air fryer, delivering a deliciously light meal that pairs wonderfully with lemon wedges and your favorite sides.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Tilapia
- 4 tilapia fillets (4–6 ounces each)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil or melted butter
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder or granules
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
For Serving
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (180°C) for 5 minutes to ensure even cooking and a crispy finish on the fish.
- Prepare the Seasoning Blend: In a small bowl, combine paprika, chili powder, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt to create a balanced and aromatic seasoning mix.
- Coat the Fillets: Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels. Drizzle the olive oil or melted butter over the fillets and use a pastry brush or your hands to lightly coat each piece evenly with the oil.
- Season the Fish: Sprinkle the prepared seasoning blend generously over both sides of each tilapia fillet to infuse rich flavor.
- Prepare the Air Fryer Basket: If desired, line the air fryer basket with a parchment paper liner to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Air Fry the Tilapia: Place the seasoned fish into the air fryer basket without overcrowding. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes at 375°F, flipping the fillets halfway through to cook evenly and create a crispy texture on both sides.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the tilapia from the air fryer and let it rest for 5 minutes. Serve your perfectly cooked tilapia with fresh lemon wedges and your choice of sides for a delightful meal.
Notes
- You may use fresh or completely thawed frozen tilapia fillets. Avoid very thin fillets as they may not cook well in this method; for smaller pieces, try an Air Fryer fish sticks recipe instead.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure the fish crisps properly and cooks evenly.
- Cooking time may vary based on the thickness of the fillets and the specific air fryer model used. Fish is done when it flakes easily with a fork.
