Air Fryer Tilapia

by: Air Fryer Eats Team
Updated: August 22, 2024

Air Fryer Tilapia is so fast and flaky! Coat this yummy white fish in seasoned breadcrumbs for a quick fish dinner with pantry staples.

Flaky air fryer tilapia with green beans on a round gray plate with a fork

recipe overview

Fish dinners feel so unattainable, but not with the air fryer! I love this Air Fryer Tilapia because it’s easy to throw together a meal on a weeknight dinner with no plans and prep!

It’s as crunchy as this air fryer eggplant with a seasoned breadcrumb coating that clings to the flaky white fish! Doesn’t it just look like you spent hours in the kitchen?

Tilapia with a breadcrumb crust on a gray round plate with green beans

ingredients

  • Tilapia filets: You can use fresh or frozen tilapia for this recipe! If it’s frozen, be sure to thaw it first so the breadcrumbs stick well.
  • Spray oil: To keep the tilapia from sticking to the air fryer basket, you need a little oil. It helps the breadcrumbs stick to the tilapia, too.
  • Chili powder: I love this spice because it brings a smokiness to the tilapia without a lot of heat. If you want more spice, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to your mix.
  • Garlic salt: I use this in place of salt because everything tastes better with garlic! Garlic salt has a sweeter flavor than raw or roasted garlic and goes great with fish.
  • Pepper: Pepper is good on all fish! It brings a little spice to the filets without overwhelming anyone at the table.
  • Breadcrumbs: I use gluten-free breadcrumbs for this air-fried fish recipe, but you can use any kind! Pat them on the chicken well for the crunchiest coating.

how to make it

Collage of steps to make tilapia in the air fryer
  1. Thaw your filets if necessary and dry them with a paper towel.
  2. Spray the filets with a little oil on each side.
  3. Mix together the spice blend in a small bowl.
  4. Put the breadcrumbs in a ziplock bag and add the spices. Shake it all together.
  5. Put one filet in the bag at a time and press the breadcrumbs gently into the tilapia. Make sure to coat it completely! Repeat for every filet.
  6. Cook filets for 10-12 minutes at 400ยฐF or 200ยฐC in air fryer basket. Flip filets halfway through cooking.
Close-up shot of flaky white fish on a fork with a breadcrumb crust next to green beans

what to serve with tilapia

Tilapia goes with any veggie you can think of. A simple side dish like roasted potatoes and Brussels sprouts are a delectable complement to the flaky fish.

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Fish and air fryer asparagus are best friends. The flavors are absolutely perfect together and it makes for a fancy dinner with almost no work.

Overhead shot of air fryer tilapia on a gray plate with sautรฉed green beans
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5 from 2 votes

Air Fryer Tilapia

Fish in the air fryer is super crunchy and perfectly flakey! Forget about deep-fried fish and try this easy fish recipe.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 109kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4 tilapia filets
  • Spray oil
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • ยฝ tsp garlic salt
  • ยฝ tsp pepper
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs

Instructions

  • Spray tilaipa filets with a little bit of oil and set aside.
  • Combine spices in small bowl.
  • Put breadcrumbs in ziplock bag. Add spices to bag and shake well to combine.
  • One at a time, place tilapia into bag and gently press breadcrumb mixture into the fish. Make sure all sides are coated, and repeat for each filet.
  • Cook filets for 10-12 minutes at 400ยฐF or 200ยฐC in air fryer basket. Flip filets halfway through cooking.

Notes

Line your basket with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easier cleanup!
Gluten Free? We used Ian’s GF Bread Crumbs in this recipe. You can find that product on Amazon and other grocers.
Pro Tip: This recipe can be made in the air fryer unit with a basket or the air fryer oven. If you are using the air fryer oven, use the middle rack and select the “Air Fry” function.

Nutrition

Calories: 109kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 497mg | Potassium: 63mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 148IU | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg
TRY AD FREE!

Crusted tilapia filets in an air fryer basket with overlay text

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3 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    We get the best talapia from Aldi and we love making it in the air fryer now that we found your recipe! We like to add a little bit of cayenne in there to spice it up!

5 from 2 votes

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