Grab your Air Fryer and make this Crispy Air Fryer Fish ASAP. Covered in a crispy delicious crust, you can have guilt free fried fish as often as you like. This post may contain affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here.
Summer fish fries are my favorite outings to attend. You know, the ones they have when your uncle who can season the fish like a champ comes over, fries up some amazing white fish, and the whole family gets together and enjoys. I’m talking that fried fish with that amazing golden fried glow. I’m talking that catfish, whiting, perch, yummy! I have those days that I want that amazing fish at home BUT I don’t want to deal with frying in oil.
Now thanks to my air fryer, the one I bought on a whim during my pregnancy, I can make delicious golden fish filets whenever I want without all the grease, and guilt.
Now I bet a few people are reading in disbelief that I made these golden beauties in my air fryer. How is this air fryer fish so golden? How is it so crispy and flaky? It’s all about the method, which I’ll explain below in the recipe instructions as well as the step by step photos below.
How Do I Air Fry Fish?
Great Question! Air Fried Fish is pretty easy and takes about four simple steps. The beauty with this recipe is that you don’t need any extra ingredients outside of your typical fish breading and a little bit of oil in a spray bottle. All you’ll do is:
Place fish in your favorite fish seasoning
Place in greased air fryer basket
Cook, spray, turn, cook some more
All done.
I like to make my own fish breading for this air fried fish recipe as I always have the ingredients and I like to season my fish some more after it’s cooked. I do the salt and pepper after it’s cooked for extra flavor. You can create your own or use the store bought kind, both would work.
Tips for Air Fried Fish
- I’d suggest using fresh fish fillets for this recipe or good quality frozen fillets. If you’re fillets are too thin, they won’t do well in this recipe as they won’t have enough time to crisp well.
- Spray your oil only halfway through cooking as this will increase crispiness.
- Do not use the over the counter misting sprays in your air fryer (For Example, Pam). For whatever chemical reason, those things can take the coating right off your air fryer basket. Your best bet is to invest in a good oil mister. I use this one
. If you really love your over the counter spray and want to use it anyway, remove the fish from the air fryer basket before spraying to make sure it doesn’t land on your basket. - Do not overcrowd your air fryer basket or your fish will steam rather than fry.
- Make sure when spraying, the fish is fully covered in oil and all seasoning has been fully covered with no flour spots showing. If flour spots are showing, you will not get that good golden color.
- I use whiteing fish in this recipe however this method will work for any other white fish. If using catfish, follow my method for soaking in milk first, which can be found on my very first my forking life blog post, Fried Catfish..
- Eat fried fish immediatley. All fried foods are better that way.
- You must have hot sauce. I mean, it’s just a must.
. If you really love your over the counter spray and want to use it anyway, remove the fish from the air fryer basket before spraying to make sure it doesn’t land on your basket.
If you’re looking for a delicious side to thit Air Fried Fish, try these Air Fryer Potato Wedges.
I’m having so much fun with my air fryer that I’m looking forward to sharing more Air frying recipes with you all. Make sure to check out my Perfect Air Fryer Steak , Crispy Air Fried Coconut Shrimp, Healthier General Tso’s Chicken in the Air Fryer, Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts.
Air Fryer Fish
Crispy Air Fryer Fish is golden, crispy, delicious, and healthy.
Ingredients
- 4-6 Whiting Fish fillets cut in half
- Oil to mist
Fish Seasoning
- ¾ cup very fine cornmeal
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 tsp old bay
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- OR
- Your favorite fish seasoning
Instructions
-
Combine ingredients for fish seasoning in a Ziplock bag and shake. Set to the side. In the alternative, you could use your favorite fish seasoning.
Rinse and pat dry your fish fillets with paper towels. They should still be damp.
Place fish fillets in ziplock bag and shake, until fillets are fully covered with seasoning.
Place fillets on a baking rack to allow any excess flour to fall off.
Grease the bottom of your air fryer basket and place the fillets in the basket. Cook filets on 400 degrees for 10 minutes.
Open basket and spray the fish on the side that is facing up before flipping, ensuring that the fish is fully coated. Flip and cook other side for 7 minutes. Remove fish and serve.
Recipe Notes
*Adjust cook times if needed depending on the thickness of the fillet.
Highly Recommended Tools
Step by Step photos of Air Fryer Fish
-
- Combine fish seasoning in a ziplock bag OR use your own favorite brand.
-
- Rinse fish fillets dry with paper towel. Make sure they are still damp. Place in ziplock bag and coat with fish seasoning. Shake any excess flour off.
-
- Spray bottom of air fryer basket and place filets on top. Cook at 400 for 10 minutes.
-
- After 10 minutes, your fillets should look like this. Spray lighlty with olive oil, covering any flour spots and flip fish. Cook for an additional 7 minutes.
-
- Remove fish when done and enjoy with tartat sauce, cocktail sauce, hot sauce, or as is.
Pin Crispy Air Fryer Fish
Find more Air Fryer Tips and Trick here.
Shirley says
Love the breading. Light but crusty and flavorful. I recommend this.
Ronald Bryant says
I love your recipes but I have one question to you or anyone out there. I am nervous about frying fish in my air fryer. I am afraid that it will leave a fishy smell in my air fryer. Can someone please tell me if this is true or not? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Tanya says
Hi Ronald, Thanks so much for the comment. As far as the smell, my Air Fryer doesn’t smell like fish after air frying in it. It’s another advantage of using the Air Fryer for frying fish.
Scott F says
I have done Cod and shrimp. First off, I am pleased to tell you the house did NOT smell like a fish processing plant.
When you get done eating the fish, the sooner you clean the air fryer with a soap sponge the better…. My next air fryer food did NOT smell or taste like fish…:
Barbie says
I’m going to try this tonight I hope it works.i never made that before..it looks good.
Adriane says
When using frozen fillets. such as cod, how would you go about preparing and cooking them? Thank you for the delicious looking recipe!!
Tanya says
Hi Adriane, I always defrost the frozen fish filets first. I find the majority of supermarket filets to be a tad bit thinner than the fresh, so I would reduce the cook time by a few minutes.
Angie says
Loved it!!!!
Halley says
I’ve been looking for an amazing fish air fryer recipe and this is it! One thing I did differently was after I pat down the fish to dry I sprayed it with olive oil before coating it with flour. I also used cassava flour instead and it was perfect!
Barb says
This looks so good, will try it this week. Do you have a good way to make frozen French fries? I have tried EVERYTHING and they still are not good. Thanks
Tanya says
Hi Barb, Thank you. I haven’t tried frozen fries yet in the Air Fryer but it is something I plan on trying soon.
Dina says
I love my frozen fries in my air fryer but its all in the timing. I place my air fryer on 400° and place my fries in, season, cook for about 10 mins take a spatula turn them, then cook for another 5 mins depending on how dark they have gotten the first time around. And you should have crispy delicious frozen fries.
joseph moore says
good recipe but you should put on seasoning as soon as fries are out of oven the seem to stick better
Ronald Bryant says
Hello, I have the Nuwav 10qt airfryer. I place them in a 400 pre-heated unit and I have 2 cycles, 4min each then flip them and do another 4 min. My unit has a vent that can be open or closed. Everything I want to turn out crispy is cooked with the vent open. I hope this helps.
Scott F says
Try Red Robin steaj fries. I find they work best and are already seasoned…. Enjoy
Scott F
Tacoma WA
Debbie Ebert says
I made wedges last night, 390 degrees for 20 minutes but that was too long, I’d try 15 minutes! Mine where partially thawed. And I tossed them in a tablespoon of olive oil. They came out crispy on the outside and soft inside. Perfect!
Dawn Grantling says
What is commercial oil spray?
Tanya says
Hi Dawn, Those are those non-stick sprays that you typically find in the oil aisle in the grocery store that are misting sprays, like Pam oil spray. These usually have an aerosol agent that can cause your air fryer coating to come off over time. They will still crisp your food but it can be bad on your air fryer over time.
Doris Strachan says
Thanks for the hint about commercial oil sprays. I’m new to air frying, but totally sold, and using it every day!
Tanya says
Awesome! It’s worth every penny. I love my Air Fryer.
Karen Eichenbaum says
Me too!!! LOVE it!! Gonna try this recipe tonight. Thanks 🙂
Charla says
Definitely making this recipe but will use only cornmeal for the coating to make it gluten free. It’s amazing how an airfryer can make battered fish so crispy without excess oil.
Angie says
I use rice flour instead of regular flour along with the cornmeal to make it gluten free. Easy recipe! Love it and can’t live without my airfryer!♡
Jennifer Barfield says
I found a great gluten free flour blend that is awesome. It’s Flour Farm organic gluten free flour blend and works and tastes like a charm! Keeps fried foods from tasting too dry. When I use it, my family can’t tell the difference.
Shanika says
Yum! This fried fish looks so GOOD! I remember eating fried catfish growing up, so this brings back such great memories! I have to try this!
Jazz says
My mom has an air fryer and it still amazes me how crispy things can get without oil. This will be my first recipe attempt in it lol!
Mila Buckley says
I’m totally in awe that you can make fish this good in an air fryer! I think you’ve sold me on getting one!
Erika Harrison says
Okay you’ve convinced me to get an air fryer, LOL. I always doubted how crispy they would turn out, but I am convinced!
Tanya says
It’s the best thing ever and it’s perfect for a fried food lover like myself.
Wanda Miller says
Can wait to get me one less oil I would have to use