Crispy Air Fryer Breaded Tilapia is a quick and easy dinner recipe made with simple pantry staples. A healthy dinner idea that is crispy, flakey and completely delicious.
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Why We Love Air Fryer Breaded Tilapia
- Super easy recipe to make using simple pantry ingredients.
- Is done and ready to enjoy in less than 30 minutes.
- A healthy fish recipe that is made in the air fryer and not a pot of oil or deep fryer.
- A family friendly dinner that is perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients for Breaded Air Fryer Tilapia
- Tilapia Filets
- Breadcrumbs
- Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Lemon Pepper Seasoning
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Dried Parsley
- Salt
- Egg
- Olive Oil Cooking Spray
Substitution Suggestions:
- Tilapia Filets: This recipe also works well with other types of fish like cod, sole, and halibut filets. Tilapia is a budget friendly and mild fish, but the others work well too.
- Breadcrumbs: You could also use panko breadcrumbs. The breading will be a little bit more course but just as delicious.
- Seasonings: Feel free to use your favorite blend of seasonings. I really like lemon pepper because it pairs well with fish nicely.
This air fryer tilapia recipe is a healthy recipe that you can feel great about serving to the whole family!
How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Tilapia
- Pat the tilapia filets dry with a paper towel and set aside.
- In a shallow dish combine the breadcrumbs, grated parmesan cheese, lemon pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley and salt.
- In another shallow dish add the egg and beat it with a fork or whisk until frothy.
- Add one tilapia filet to the beaten egg and coat both sides.
- Next, place the egg coated piece of fish in the breading mixture. Turn it over and coat the other side. Pat the breading down with a fork or your fingers if needed.
- Shake off any excess and set aside on a baking sheet.
- Repeat with the other fish fillets until all are breaded.
- Lightly spray the tops of the fish with olive oil cooking spray.
- Air fry for 7-8 minutes until the breading is golden brown and crispy, the fish is flakey and the internal temperature has reached 145°F.
- Repeat with remaining breaded filets.
- Serve with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and tartar sauce. Enjoy!
What to Serve with Breaded Tilapia
You can keep the meal light and fresh and serve a delicious side salad with all your favorite salad toppings. Or you can make it more cozy and comforting and serve with with some of these yummy side dishes:
Storing Crispy Air Fryer Tilapia
Storing: Store any leftover tilapia in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheating: Reheat the fish in the air fryer at 400°F for 3-4 minutes. It can also be reheated in the microwave but the breading will not maintain its crispness. To reheat from frozen, place the frozen breaded filets in the air fryer at 400°F and air fry for 4-5 minutes, flip the fish over and fry another 4-5 minutes.
Crispy Air Fryer Breaded Tilapia Tips
- Pat the fish filets dry. Don't skip this step. Removing the access moisture helps the breading adhere and become perfectly crisp.
- Press the breading firmly on the fish to make sure it fully sticks.
- Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray or my preference, olive oil spray. This helps reduce any risk of the fish sticking to the basket.
- Spray the tops of the fish with olive oil cooking spray. The oil will ensure the breading gets nice and crispy.
FAQs About Breaded Air Fryer Tilapia
Air fry the frozen filets at 400°F. The cooking time will depend on the size of the fish. For a 4 ounce filet it will take about 10 minutes, and flip the fish half way for even cooking and browning.
Tilapia and other fish types should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F.
I like to air fry fish at 400°F. This is a good temperature because it is hot enough to create a perfect crisp exterior but not too hot to burn the outside before the inside cooks through.
Cooking breaded fish in the air fryer is so much cleaner and easier than frying it in a pan of oil. Follow recipe directions for the perfect crispy and flakey breaded fish.
Other Air Fryer Recipes to Try:
Crispy Air Fryer Breaded Tilapia
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 Tilapia filets, 4 ounces each
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- 1½ teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- olive oil cooking spray
Instructions
- Pat the fish filets dry with paper towels and set aside.
- In a shallow bowl combine breadcrumbs, grated parmesan cheese, lemon pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley and salt.
- In another shallow dish add the egg and beat it with a fork or whisk until frothy.
- Add one tilapia filet to the beaten egg and coat both sides.
- Place the egg coated piece of fish in the breading mixture. Turn it over and coat the other side. Pat the breading down with a fork or your fingers if needed. Shake off any excess and set aside on a baking sheet.
- Repeat with the other fish filets until all are breaded.
- Lightly spray the tops of the fish with olive oil cooking spray.
- Place 2-3 filets in the air fryer, depending on how large your basket or shelf is.
- Air fry for 7-8 minutes until the breading is golden brown and crispy, the fish is flakey and the internal temperature has reached 145°F. Repeat with remaining breaded filets.
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