You are in for a real treat with this easy but impressive recipe. This air fryer whole fish is so full of flavor with the most perfect crispy skin, and it's so effortless to make! Seasoned with garlic and lemon, it's ready to serve in less than 30 minutes.

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The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.
If preparing and cooking a whole fish seems daunting to you, and you only ever enjoy it when dining out, then I'm about to blow your mind!
Throw that entire fish in the air fryer and thank me later. Cooking a whole fish in the air fryer guarantees the most perfectly flakey fish with the most delicate flavors every single time.
Seasoned with garlic, lemon and thyme, this is one delicious meal that you'll turn to time and time again!
Be sure to check out my Air Fryer Crab Legs and Crispy Air Fryer Fish too!
How to make air fryer whole fish
Gather your ingredients. You need a smaller fish, about 1 lb and an air fryer that is at least 5 qts.
Remove the fins and descale the fish using a pair of kitchen scissors.
You can choose to score the fish by cutting slits in the side but I usually skip this part for thinner fish.
Rub oil over fish and season with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder on the outside and inside. Place garlic cloves, thyme leaves, and lemon slices inside of the fish.
Place the fish in the air fryer basket. The pictured parchment paper is not mandatory, but I like to use it to make lifting the fish out of the basket easier.
Cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 14-16 minutes or until the internal temperature of the thickest part reaches at least 145°F and the inside of the fish is flaky.
What's the best fish to use?
This recipe is great to make with a white flesh fish like red snapper, sea bass, or tilapia. One that weighs around 1 pound is perfect for this method. Choose a fish with bright and clear eyes and clean gills. A fresh fish should be firm to the touch, smell fresh, and not overly fishy.
Why cook fish in the air fryer?
I love to cook whole fish, and hands down, this delivers the most delicious results! The skin gets perfectly crispy (just as I like it!), and the flesh is flaky and flavorful. Because it is cooked in the air fryer, we don't need to add lots of additional oil to achieve those perfect results.
Current guidelines recommend that we eat two portions of fish a week, and this is one delicious way to do it. Fish is high in healthy Omega-3s, low in fat, and high in protein. You can feel great about this recipe!
What do you serve it with?
This air fryer whole fish is great to serve with all of your favorite veggies, potatoes, and salad sides, and it's great enjoyed with some rice. Try it with:
- Instant Pot Green Beans and Potatoes
- Air Fryer French Fries
- Southern Potato Salad
- Marinated Air Fryer Vegetables
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Pat the fish dry before seasoning it. This helps remove excess moisture that can cause the fish to steam and become mushy.
- If you prefer, you can “score” the fish by cutting diagonal lines in the skin before you season it. I tend to skip this step on thinner fish.
- Have fun with the seasonings and herbs. Rosemary and dill are great additions, or add some red chili flakes for a kick.
- Use a high-heat oil like canola or vegetable.
- For crispier skin, cook the fish longer, for around 16 minutes.
- The parchment paper pictured is not mandatory, but I like to use it to make lifting the fish out of the basket a little easier.
More Fish Recipes
- Crispy Air Fryer Fish
- Air Fryer Tilapia
- Jamaican Escovitch Fish
- Fish Soup
- Fried Catfish
- Marinated Air Fryer Salmon
- Oven Baked Fish Filets
Air Fryer Whole Fish
Ingredients
Instructions
- Rub oil over fish and season with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder on the outside and inside.
- Place garlic cloves, thyme leaves, and lemon slices inside of fish
- Place fish in the air fryer basket and cook on 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 14-16 minutes or until the internal temperature of the thickest part reaches at least 145F and the inside of the fish is flaky.
Nutrition
Notes
- Pat the fish dry before seasoning it. This helps remove excess moisture that can cause the fish to steam and become mushy.
- You can “score” the fish if you prefer, by cutting diagonal lines in the skin before you season it. I tend to skip this step on thinner fish.
- Have fun with the seasonings and herbs. Rosemary and dill are great additions, or add some red chili flakes for a bit of a kick.
- Use a high heat oil like canola or vegetable.
- For crispier skin, cook the fish longer, for around 16 minutes.
Veronica says
That snapper looks delicious… can you crisp it up a little more and make it escovitch? Also have you ever tried making bammy or plantains in the air fryer? Sorry but I’ve been debating on buying an air fryer because I need it to do these things.
Tanya says
Hi Veronica, you sure can! We actually did this recently for my mom's wedding. We fried all the fish in the air fryer and made the escovitch fish sauce on the stovetop and then poured it on. We had to do it in batches since we used the air fryer but it came out so good. We also chopped the fish in half. I've never made bammy in the air fryer. Plantains I have done and they work out well, but I like my plantains plump and juicy. I now buy them frozen from the grocery store and then air fry them from frozen. Those taste just like fried.
Veronica says
@Tanya,
Thank you again… I’m going to shop around and find a big enough air fryer for my family! This is going to make my life much easier… can’t wait! My mouth is watering just thinking about yummy escovitch fish!
chong says
Thank you, for sharing this recipe. I plan to make the dish this weekend. It looks so yummy and crispy. Wish me luck, it'll be the first time I've used an air fryer.
Tanya says
Thanks, I hope you like it as much as we do 🙂