Air Fryer Tilapia Recipe – Ready In Only 15 Minutes!

Whether you are looking to eat a little healthier or are looking for a quick and easy meal that requires little preparation, this Air Fryer Tilapia recipe will become one of your favorites! Best of all, the entire recipe takes only 15 minutes!!!

Not to mention you can have perfectly cooked, flaky fish with using only a few common ingredients. Simply sprinkle the fish with your favorite seasoning and put it in the air fryer.

Once the fish is ready, squeeze a little lemon juice on top and serve it with your favorite side dishes. Add a side salad or roasted vegetables to keep things healthy. Or serve it on top of your favorite cream sauce along with garlic smashed potatoes and asparagus for a complete meal that will keep you feeling full for hours.

What Is Tilapia?

Tilapia is the common term for about 100 species of white fish. It is mainly a freshwater fish that live in shallow streams, ponds, rivers and lakes.

However nearly all of the tilapia that you will find in grocery stores are farm-raised. The thin white fish filets are one of the most inexpensive types of fresh fish that you can buy.

In fact, because they are so budget friendly, tilapia is the 4th most consumed fish in the United States. They are loved by many not only because of the low cost, but also because they are low in calories and high in protein.

In addition, because of its mild flavor it is a great fish to make for those who aren’t fans of seafood That is because Tilapia will take on whatever taste that you season it with.

Use Caution When Purchasing Tilapia

However, you must be very careful when purchasing tilapia. Depending on where the fish was raised, it might not be considered healthy at all.

Although there are a few US based fish farms, most of the Tilapia farms are located overseas. And many of the tanks are overcrowded and the fish are raised in poor conditions.

In the attempt to keep the fish healthy they are often fed both antibiotics and pesticides. Therefore, before you purchase your Tilapia for the Air Fryer, be sure that it comes from a sustainable farm.

The sustainable farms make every effort to raise healthy fish and take care not to cause damage to local, natural ecosystems. They avoid using harmful things like additives, chemicals, hormones, or antibiotics.

So when you go to purchase this commonly found fish, be sure to look for tilapia that’s been eco-certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) and/or Naturland.

If you don’t find the certification on the labels look for where the fish was raised. It is best to purchase tilapia that has been raised in the US, Peru in raceways and in Ecuador in ponds.

So now that you know what type of Tilapia to buy, let’s get cooking!

The Best Seasoning For Tilapia

As mentioned above tilapia has a very mild flavor. Therefore you can make the fish take on whatever flavor that you season it with.

The best seasoning will depend on your personal preference. However I have listed some popular seasoning options when it comes to cooking tilapia in your air fryer in case you need some inspiration or you want to try something different.

• Lemon and Herb
• Cajun Seasoning
• Old Bay Seasoning
• Garlic Butter
• Lime and Cilantro
• Italian Seasoning
• Blackened Seasoning

There are several pre-mixed seasonings that you can purchase at the store. There are even some great low-sodium options as well, including this Mrs. Dash Garlic Herb spice.

However feel free to combine your own seasonings with a combination of spices that you already have on hand. I will often season the Tilapia filets using the same combination of spices that I use when making my Air Fryer Salmon recipe.

How To Make Tilapia In The Air Fryer

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 Tilapia filets
• 1 Tbsp. of your favorite seasoning, ex. garlic herb, cajun, fish seasoning blend
• 1 Tbsp olive oil or olive oil spray
• 1/2 lemon, cut in 4 wedges

INSTRUCTIONS (Air Fryer Tilapia)

Start by pating your tilapia filets dry with a paper towel. Be sure to dry both the top and bottom sides. This will help ensure that the fish cooks properly and not steam and become soggy.

Then brush or spray both sides with olive oil spray. Now use your favorite seasoning and sprinkle it on each side.

Preheat the Air Fryer

Next, preheat your Air Fryer. Although not all air fryer brands require this step, it is important to do so for this recipe.

You want your fish to be put on a hot basket or rack. This will help the fish from sticking to the bottom of the basket during the cooking process.

In addition you need to oil the basket for best results. However because we are cooking our Tilapia at high heat, be sure to spray the basket with olive oil spray (not extra virgin olive oil). Or you could also use another high heat oil such as Grapeseed, Avocado or Canola oil.

Carefully place the Tilapia in the Air Fryer basket and cook for 8-12 minutes. After the 4 minute mark, carefully flip the fish over using a silicone spatula so you don’t scratch the basket of the air fryer.

Then continue to air fry the fish until it can easily flake with a fork. Because all Air Fryers cook at different rates, it is best to check your Tilapia around the 6-7 minute mark for doneness. This is especially true when you are cooking thin filets.

When it can easily flake remove the Tilapia from the air fryer, squeeze a little fresh lemon juice on top and enjoy!

Enjoy! Mary

What To Serve With Tilapia

• Air Fryer Ranch Potatoes
• Garlic Butter Smashed Potatoes
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Mexican Street Corn
• Air Fryer Green Beans
• Wild Rice Salad
• Light & Creamy Coleslaw
• Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice

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