How to cook whole tilapia in air fryer

This air fryer Tilapia is the absolute best way to fry fish. It's quicker and healthier than a regular fried fish. No one would even know that this crispy fish was cooked in an air fryer instead of a deep fryer.

Healthy Air Fryer Tilapia

If you need a quick dinner fix, try this air fryer tilapia recipe! It is so easy to put together and can be done in less than 25 minutes.

The fish is cooked at high temperature and requires very little oil. No splatter and no mess to clean up! 

• Healthy Air Fryer Tilapia
• What is Tilapia
• Where to Purchase Tilapia
• The Best Seasoning for Tilapia
• How to Cook Tilapia in an Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Tilapia

What is Tilapia

Tilapia is a freshwater fish that has a mild flavor and inexpensive. In 2016, the fish was the fourth-most consumed fish in the United States. And today,  Tilapia is farmed in over 135 countries, including in Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Honduras, US, and Indonesia.

Tilapia contains the essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 that play important parts to heart, vision, and joint health. It's also a great source of protein and low-fat.

When selecting tilapia, it's important to choose from a responsible source to ensure that the fish is safe to eat.

Where to Purchase Tilapia

You can find tilapia fish at any grocery market. In this recipe, I used a whole tilapia that I purchased from my local Costco warehouse for $3.99 per pound.

The Best Seasoning for Tilapia

This fish recipe is so simple and doesn't require a ton of ingredients. You'll need a whole tilapia, sage leaves, thyme sprigs, rosemary sprig, a slice of lemon, kosher salt, and black pepper.

How to Cook Tilapia in an Air Fryer

Frying tilapia can't get any easier than this. This air fryer tilapia recipe is so easy to put together.

Step 1. Prepare the Fish

• First, pat the fish dry with paper towel.
• Use a knife to cut three deep, diagonal slits on both sides of the fish. Make sure that you cut all the way down to the bone.

Step 2. Season the Fish

• Stuff the cavity with rosemary, thyme, sage, and a slice of lemon.
• Season the outside of the fish with a small amount of oil, salt and black pepper, including the cavity.

Step 3. Preheat the air fryer

Follow the product manual on how to preheat the air fryer.

Step 4. Air Fry the Fish

Lightly grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the fish into the basket. Cook at 400°F for 10 minutes then flip, continue cooking for 10 minutes.

In this recipe, I used my Gourmia 8 qt air fryer.

Step 5. Check for Doneness

Open the basket to check for doneness. If the fish is not ready, cook it a bit longer until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.

FAQ and Fish Cooking Tips:

What temperature does tilapia need to be cooked to?

The USDA recommends cooking fish (such as tilapia) to an internal temperature of 145°F before removing the fish from the heat source.

How do you know if the fish is cooked?

1. The fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
2. Remember that color is never a reliable indicator of safety and doneness. To ensure perfectly-cooked fish check doneness with a food thermometer.

How long will fresh fish last in the refrigerator?

Any raw or fresh fish should be keep in the refrigerator at 40°F or less and must be cooked or consumed within 1-2 days.

How to store leftover cooked fish?

Store the leftover in an airtight container then transfer to a refrigerator. The leftover can last 3 to 4 days or up to 1 month in the freezer.

How to reheat cooked fish in an air fryer?

You can reheat the cooked fish in the air fryer at 350 for about 5 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

165°F is the minimum temperature for reheating leftovers.

Check Out More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Bone-In Pork Chops
• How to Cook Frozen Mini Tacos in an Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
• Air Fryer Frozen Orange Chicken
• How to Cook Frozen Taquitos in an air fryer
• How to Cook Frozen Corn Dogs in an Air Fryer
• Frozen Chicken Nuggets in an Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Frozen Mini Bagel Bites
• Air fryer Frozen Mini Pretzel Dogs

This air fryer Tilapia is the absolute best way to fry fish. It's quicker and healthier than a regular fried fish. No one would even know that this crispy fish was cooked in an air fryer instead of a deep fryer.

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, World

Servings 2

Calories 124 kcal

• 1 whole tilapia (pat the fish dry with paper towels)
• 2 tsp vegetable or avocado oil
• ¾ tsp kosher salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper

For Cavity:

• 1 sage leaf
• 1 rosemary sprig
• 3 thyme sprigs
• a slice of lemon

• Use a knife to cut three deep, diagonal slits on both sides of the fish. Make sure that you cut all the way down to the bone. Rub outside of fish and cavity with salt, oil, and black pepper.

• Stuff the cavity with rosemary, thyme, sage, and a slice of lemon.

• Preheat the air fryer and set the temperature to 400°F.

• Lightly grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the fish into the basket. Cook at 400°F for 10 minutes then flip, continue cooking for 10 minutes.

  Check for doneness, cook it a bit longer if needed.

Calories: 124kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 17gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 917mgPotassium: 273mgFiber: 1gVitamin A: 87IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Air fryer tilapia, how to cook fish in an air fryer, how to cook tilapia in an air fryer

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