Love cooking fish in the air fryer? Try my air fryer salmon, air fryer cod, air fryer mahi mahi, and air fryer salmon bites next. Tilapia is a fish I cook often because it’s super affordable, easy to find, and mild tasting enough that certain family members (cough sister cough) will not complain about easy fishy flavor. My air fryer tilapia recipe is a weeknight staple. Unlike using the oven or the pan, I never have to worry about overcooking or undercooking the fish. It’s also incredibly quick, and the cleanup is minimal.
Why I love this recipe
Easy and quick. No marinating is needed, and the tilapia takes just a few minutes to cook. Economical yet delicious. Compared to other fish, tilapia is affordable and easy to find at most grocery stores. Fresh or frozen. I’ve tested this recipe with both fresh and frozen fillets, and it works well either way. Healthy. Tilapia is a low-calorie and low-carb fish, with just 120 calories per 4-ounce serving (source). No fishy flavor. Unlike other seafood, it’s mildly flavored and can easily be customized. I mean, as someone who grew up not liking the taste of any fish, this one was an immediate winner!
Ingredients needed
Tilapia fillets. While fresh or frozen fillets work, always choose fresh tilapia fillets when possible. Also, try to choose equal-sized fillets so they cook evenly. I either buy this fish from my local fishmonger, but mainstream grocery stores have it too. Salt and pepper. To taste. Smoked paprika. Adds a lovely smokey flavor. Garlic powder. Adds a subtle garlic flavor without needing to use actual garlic. Lemon juice, garlic, and butter. To prepare the sauce. You can replace the butter with olive oil. Lemon wedges, cilantro, and parsley. To serve.
How to cook tilapia in the air fryer
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post. “I have done this several times since I found it. It is absolutely delicious !! Thank you!” – Nicole Step 5- Season and serve. Brush the sauce generously on your cooked tilapia fillets and sprinkle with more cilantro.
Arman’s recipe tips
Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket so your tilapia cooks evenly. If needed, cook the fish in batches. If you are worried that the fish will stick to the basket, you can use parchment paper to line the base. I’ve also recently tried using air fryer liners, which work quite well (the base of the fish won’t be as crispy). Flip the tilapia fillets during cooking to avoid over-cooking on one side. Once is more than enough. Use a meat thermometer. I find the easiest way to tell if the fish is cooked is to check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer. Tilapia is safe to eat once the thickest part reaches 145F (as per the FDA).
Storage instructions
To store: Leftover tilapia can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to three days. The beauty of this fish is that it is so mild tasting, you can change up the spice mix a plethora of ways.
Spicy– Add some cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the spice mix. Cajun– Coat the fish with Cajun or keto taco seasoning. Blackened– Make my blackened tilapia recipe. Teriyaki– Dredge the fillets in teriyaki sauce for ten minutes before air frying. Lemon pepper– The classic. Rub 1/2 large juiced lemon and black peppercorns over the fish.
To freeze: Place cooked and cooled tilapia in an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to two months. Reheating: Either microwave the fish for 20-30 seconds or reheat it in the air fryer for 2 minutes until crispy around the edges.
Frequently asked questions
More delicious air fryer dinners
Air fryer chicken breast Air fryer chicken thighs Air fryer pork chops Air fryer chicken drumsticks Air fryer chicken wings Or any of my air fryer recipes
