Published: May 9, 2025 by Tanya · This post may contain affiliate links · 142 Comments

Crispy Air Fryer Fish Recipe

Name: Air Fryer Fish
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 17 min
Total time: 27 min
Ingredients: 4-6 Whiting Fish fillets (cut in half); Oil to mist; ¾ cup very fine cornmeal; ¼ cup flour; 2 teaspoon old bay; 1 ½ teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon paprika; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon black pepper; OR; Your favorite fish seasoning

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Air Fryer Fish delivers the perfect crispy, golden crust without the grease of deep frying. This easy recipe gives you flavorful, tender fish with a delicious crunch you'll want to make again and again.

air fryer fish on white plate with tatar sauce and lemons

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.

Summer fish fries are my favorite outings. I’m talking about catfish, whiting, and perch—yummy! I had those days when I wanted that amazing fish at home, but didn’t want to deal with frying it in oil.

I bought an air fryer on a whim during my pregnancy. Now, I can easily make delicious golden-fried fish filets without all the grease, whenever I want.

The floured and seasoned white fish is flavorful, simple to prep and cook, and the crust is addictively crispy.

Be sure to try my Easy Oven-Baked Fish too!

Ingredients for Crispy Air Fryer Fish

Ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions are on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Fish and Oil

Whiting fish fillets, or other suitable types of white fish, like cod, tilapia, haddock, or halibut
Oil (for misting) - any high-heat oil will do. I use olive oil or avocado oil.

Fish Seasoning

Old Bay seasoning
Salt
Paprika
Garlic powder
Black pepper
Very fine cornmeal
Flour

How to make Crispy Air-Fried Fish

Air-fried fish is pretty straightforward and takes about four simple steps. The beauty of this recipe is that you don't need any extra ingredients outside of your typical fish breading and a little oil in a spray bottle. All you'll do is:

Add fish seasoning to a sealable bag, like a Ziplock bag, and shake. Set to the side. You could also use your favorite fish batter mix.

Rinse and pat dry your fish fillets with paper towels. They should still be damp.

Place fish fillets in a 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 it. Cook the filets at 400 degrees for 7-10 minutes.

Open the basket and spray the fish on the side facing up before flipping, ensuring that the fish is fully coated.

Flip and cook on the other side for 7-8 minutes.

cooked air fryer fish filet on paper — Remove fish when done and enjoy with tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, hot sauce, or as is.

What's the best fish to use?

I use whiting fish in this recipe; however, this method will work for other white fish. If making a fried catfish version, soak it in milk first.

Can you make this recipe with frozen fish?

I suggest using fresh fish fillets for this recipe or good-quality frozen fillets. If using frozen, ensure they are fully thawed before seasoning them, and pat them with a paper towel to remove excess water.

Is air-fried fish healthier than deep-frying?

Fish is a great source of protein and works well in all kinds of meals. Air fryer fish gives you a crispy, golden crust similar to deep frying, but uses less oil and comes out crispier than oven-baked versions.

What do you serve it with?

This crispy air fryer fish is perfect for an easy weeknight family dinner with potato and veggie sides and some hot sauce, remoulade sauce, and tartar sauce! Serve it up with some of these favorites:

Recipe Notes and Tips

Spray your oil only halfway through cooking, as this will increase crispiness.
Do not overcrowd your air fryer basket; your fish will steam rather than fry.
When spraying, make sure the fish and all seasoning are fully covered in oil, with no flour spots showing. You will not get that good golden color if flour spots are showing.
Eat fried fish immediately. All fried foods are better that way.
You must have hot sauce. I mean, it's just a must.
Serve with lemon wedges.

I hope you love this air-fried fish as much as we do. If you've tried this recipe, please leave us a comment below. We appreciate your feedback.

More Air Fryer Fish & Seafood Recipes

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4.86 from 42 votes

Air Fryer Fish

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. White fish is perfectly seasoned and comes out so flakey. Get that fried flavor with a lot less oil!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword air fryer fish fillets, crispy air fried fish, how to cook fish in the air fryer

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 17

Total Time 27

Servings people

Calories 313kcal

Author Tanya

Ingredients

4-6 Whiting Fish fillets cut in half
Oil to mist

Fish Seasoning

¾ cup very fine cornmeal
¼ cup flour
2 teaspoon old bay
1 ½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon 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 7-10 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 on the other side for 7-8 minutes. Remove fish and serve.

Video

Notes

*Adjust cook times if needed depending on the thickness of the fillet.

Highly Recommended Tools

Air Fryer

Non-Aerosil Oil Sprayer Bottle

Silicone Kitchen Tongs

Spray your oil only halfway through cooking, as this will increase crispiness.
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.
Eat fried fish immediately. All fried foods are better that way.
You must have hot sauce. I mean, it's just a must.

Nutrition

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Although myforkinglife.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Under no circumstances will myforkinglife.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.