Are you ready for a crispy, healthy Air Fryer Fish Recipe that finishes in under 15 minutes? This guide beats boring deep frying and delivers flaky white fish with a golden crust, fast. In this guide, you’ll learn how to get restaurant-quality results at home and why air frying changes the game for weeknight dinners.
Quick win, right away: air frying cuts oil by up to 80%, which makes crispy fish lighter and lower in calories. If you want other fast, high-protein meal ideas, try our high protein sandwich recipes for lunch inspiration.
What Is Air Fryer Fish Recipe?
This Air Fryer Fish Recipe uses a mayo-based dredge and cornmeal coating to lock in moisture, then cooks at 400 °F for 8-10 minutes for a crisp exterior and tender interior. It works with cod, haddock, pollock, or tilapia, and scales for 1 to 6 servings.
The technique uses hot circulating air to create a crunchy crust, without submerging the fish in oil. That makes it faster and cleaner than traditional frying, and ideal for busy families.
- Quick Facts about Air Fryer Fish Recipe
- Cook time, 8-10 minutes at 400 °F (204 °C)
- Serving size, 1 filet ≈ 140 g
- Protein per serving, 20-25 g
- Safe internal temp, 145 °F (63 °C), source: USDA
Why Air Frying Works
Air fryers circulate hot air at high speed to mimic the Maillard reaction you expect from frying. The coating dries quickly and crisps, while the fish inside stays moist. This is especially helpful for lean white fish that can overcook fast.
Benefits include faster cook times, less oil, and easier cleanup. A downside is limited basket space, so avoid overcrowding to keep crisp results.
- Pros: less oil, fast, easy cleanup, consistent results
- Cons: small batch size, requires occasional flipping, some models vary in actual temperature
- Did you know? Air frying can reduce fat content by up to 80% compared to deep frying, while keeping crunch.
Air Fryer Fish
Ingredients
For the Dredge
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 4 filets white fish (cod, haddock, pollock, or tilapia) each ≈ 140 g
For the Coating
- 1/2 cup cornmeal
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Preparation
- Add mayonnaise and lemon juice to a large bowl and whisk until combined.
- Place fish filets into the mayonnaise mixture and toss until completely covered.
- In a medium shallow bowl, mix cornmeal, all-purpose flour, Cajun seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Dip each filet into the cornmeal mix and coat all sides.
Cooking
- Place coated filets into a 6-quart Air Fryer basket in a single layer.
- Cook at 400 °F for 8-10 minutes, flipping filets after 5 minutes.
Serving
- Plate the fish and serve with tartar sauce, remoulade, or a lemon wedge.
Notes
Nutrition
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these ordered steps for consistent, flaky air fryer fish every time. Each step shows the action and the expected result so you can check doneness as you go.
- Dredge the Fish: Add 1/2 cup mayonnaise and 1 tbsp lemon juice to a large bowl and whisk until combined. Place 4 fish filets (each ≈ 140 g) into the mayonnaise mixture and toss until completely covered. Expected result, film of dressing clings to fish for even coating.
- Coat the Fish: Mix 1/2 cup cornmeal, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp Cajun seasoning, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper in a medium shallow bowl. Dip each filet into the cornmeal mix and coat all sides. Expected result, even, dry-feeling crust ready to crisp.
- Cook in Air Fryer: Place coated filets into a 6-quart Air Fryer basket in a single layer. Cook at 400 °F for 8-10 minutes. Flip filets after 5 minutes. Expected result, exterior golden brown, fish flakes easily with a fork.
- Serve: Plate the fish and serve with tartar sauce, remoulade, or a lemon wedge. Expected result, hot, crisp fish with tender flakes inside.
Chef tip: Pat filets dry before the mayo bath to reduce excess moisture. For extra crunch, spray the coated filets lightly with oil before air frying.
Variations & Substitutes
Swap proteins or coatings to match diets, flavor profiles, or pantry supplies. Each swap changes texture, cook time, and nutrition, so adjust accordingly.
- Gluten-free, use 1/2 cup almond flour plus 1/4 cup cornmeal, cook time same.
- Keto, replace cornmeal with crushed pork rinds, expect higher fat, fewer carbs.
- Spicy, add 1/2 tsp cayenne to the dry mix for more heat.
- Regional twist, use Old Bay for East Coast flavor or chipotle powder for Southwest notes.
For other quick air fryer proteins, explore our boneless skinless chicken thighs in air fryer guide for a complementary main with similar timing.
Mistakes to Avoid
Beginner cooks often make the same errors. Use this checklist to prevent soggy crust, uneven cooking, and overcooked fish.
- Checklist: Do not overcrowd the basket, leave space between filets.
- Checklist: Do not skip the flip at 5 minutes, flipping ensures even browning.
- Checklist: Do not rely on timer only, check for flakes at 8 minutes.
- Checklist: Do not use wet batter, it can lead to steaming not crisping.
- Checklist: Do not forget to preheat the air fryer for 3 minutes for stable temp.
Storage, Reuse
Leftover air fried fish stores well, and you can revive crispness quickly. Cool completely, then refrigerate within 2 hours in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheat, 350 °F for 4-6 minutes in air fryer or oven to regain crispness.
- Repurpose, flake into tacos, salads, or a fish sandwich with slaw.
- Freeze cooked filets, vacuum sealed, for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
Related Recipes / See Also
If you love this, try our high protein chicken recipes for more dinner ideas that pair well with quick sides.
For Tex-Mex fans, our best chicken enchiladas recipes bring bold flavors to family meals.
Craving comfort food after fish night? Check out our best chili recipes for cozy one-pot dinners.
Conclusion
This Air Fryer Fish Recipe delivers quick, crispy results with less oil and easy cleanup, perfect for weeknights. Try the technique with different coatings and proteins to make it a staple. Enjoy crisp fish, faster prep, and reliable results every time.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to prep, cook, and store air fryer fish for the best texture and flavor.
