Air Fryer Fish Fillet Recipe – How to Make It Crispy & Crunchy

Ivy Smith February 14, 2023 in Kitchen & Food, Air Fryer - 10 Minutes

Read Time:4 Minute, 54 Second

The air fryer is used to cook these golden fish fillets to perfection, making them crispy and delectable. The fish is soft and velvety on the inside and is covered in a tasty crust. Just 20 minutes to complete! Serve air-fried fish with homemade tartar sauce, lemon wedges, and other fixings.

Fish fillets should be cooked in the air fryer at 390°F (200°C) for 12 to 15 minutes. Open the air fryer after the first 8 to 10 minutes and turn the fish fillets over.

You guys LOVED my air fryer chicken nugget recipe that I shared with you on the blog, so I thought that it would be a good idea to also share my air fryer fish recipe. Crispy, juicy, and mouthwatering fish is the result! You’ll adore it just as much as I do, I’m certain.

Table of Contents

Why Air Fryer Fried Fish?

How do you like to eat fish? I enjoy them steamed, grilled and especially fried!

The addition of a crispy component simply gives fish, which is naturally moist and flaky, a nice texture and bite.

Being forced to use so much oil when making fried fish at home is typically annoying.

Fish can be cooked so well in an air fryer. The fish is cooked crisply while remaining moist and flaky.

Plus, you can do it so quickly and not have to worry about oil splatters or monitoring the fish.

This crispy battered fish can now be made at home in an air fryer! And it’s so fast and easy!

How to Cook Battered Fish in Air Fryer

It’s so simple to make fried fish in an air fryer!

Pat the fish dry. You can slice into strips to have more pieces, or just do one big air fried fish fillet.

Personally, I like them in smaller strips because you get a better batter-to-fish ratio and they cook more evenly.

Combine the flour (or breading), garlic salt, black pepper, and paprika to make the dry mix.

Coat the fish with mayonnaise.

Then dredge the fish on the dry mix.

The fish is stacked on the air fryer basket.

In order for it to cook evenly, avoid overlapping and crowding.

For 12 minutes at 400F (205C), air fry the battered fish.

Because mayonnaise already contains oil, you don’t need to oil the basket or the fish.

Take them alone as a snack, side dish, appetizer, or main course!

How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Fish

Great Question! Air Fried Fish is pretty easy and takes about four simple steps. The simplicity of this recipe lies in the fact that all you need is regular fish breading and a small amount of oil in a spray bottle. All you’ll do is:

Put your preferred fish seasoning on the fish.
Place in greased air fryer basket
Cook, spray, turn, cook some more
All done.

What Can I Use Instead of Mayonnaise?

If you don’t have or don’t want to use mayonnaise, you can replace mayonnaise with:

Oil only – coat the fish with oil then dredge with flour mix.
Egg and oil – beat the egg and dredge with the flour mix. Before air frying, oil the air fryer basket or spray the fish on both sides with cooking oil.

Recipe Notes and Tips

Only halfway through cooking, spray your oil because doing so will make your food crispier.
Do not use Pam or other commercial misting sprays in your air fryer. These items have the ability to completely remove the coating from your air fryer basket for unknown chemical reasons. Buying a good oil mister is your best bet. I use this one. Remove the fish from the air fryer basket before spraying to ensure that it doesn’t land on your basket if you really love your over-the-counter spray and still want to use it.
Avoid packing your air fryer basket too tightly so that your fish steams rather than fries.
Make sure the fish is completely coated in oil and that all seasoning has been applied, leaving no visible flour spots. You won’t obtain that desirable golden color if flour stains are visible.
Immediately consume fried fish. All fried foods are better that way.
Hot sauce is a must-have. I mean, it’s just a must.

FAQs

What’s the Best Fish to Use?

Although I use whiting fish in this recipe, you can use this technique with any other white fish. Follow my instructions for soaking in milk first if making fried catfish.

Can You Make This Recipe With Frozen Fish?

For this recipe, I’d advise either fresh or high-quality frozen fish fillets. If using frozen, make sure they have thawed completely before seasoning them, and pat them dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture.

Is Air Fryer Fish Fillet Healthier?

Fish is a great high protein and low-fat food, and it’s recommended that you eat two portions a week as part of a well-balanced lifestyle. Due to the air fryer’s use of less oil than traditional frying methods, this fish is cooked to a much higher degree of crispiness than when baked in the oven. The best of both worlds are present here!