Air Fryer Tilapia is simple to make and creates a tender piece of tilapia with a crispy breaded layer on the outside. This tilapia works perfectly on its on, as a fish fry on a bun with tarter sauce or on Tilapia Fish Tacos!
This Air Fryer Tilapia is the perfect way to make tilapia and is so easy. It works great in tacos, rice bowls or on its own.
It is the perfect way to make a crust on the fish yet still have a tender inside. It is the perfect use for fish tacos or a rice, bean and fish wrap.
Tilapia is a thin fish so it cooks quickly in the air fryer, making this a quick weeknight meal option.
In today’s Air Fryer Tilapia recipe I use a lime marinade to infuse extra flavor into the tilapia.
You can skip this part if you want and the fish will still taste great.
Some of my favorite air fryer recipes to make for my family are this Air Fryer Cod recipe and Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp.
You also might like a pan fry fish recipe because it also gets the nice crispy crust on the fish.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s an overview of the simple ingredients we’re using. Jump to the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and printable instructions.
- Marinade: The marinade helps to infuse flavor into the tilapia. I created the marinade with lime juice, tequila {optional}, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. I suggest marinating the tilapia for about 10-15 minutes before coating the fish in the crust.
- Tilapia: I like using tilapia because it cooks so quickly. I used 12 ounces of tilapia which was about two large filets. You could use other cuts of fish but the cook time will depend on how thick the fish is.
- Flour: The all-purpose flour helps to create the crust on the tilapia.
- Egg: I used two large eggs and whisked them to create the wash that helps to keep the crust on the fish.
- Breadcrumbs: I like using panko breadcrumbs as a crust on fish. You can use regular breadcrumbs if you want. I also added cumin and chili powder into the breadcrumb mixture to add extra flavor.
How do you Make Air Fryer Tilapia
Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees.
For the Marinade: Add lime juice, tequila, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper to a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
Cut fish into 1” bite size pieces and add to the marinade. Place in the fridge for 10 minutes.
Dredge the fish: Set up a dredging station with 3 bowls.
Add flour to one bowl, eggs to the other, and panko bread crumbs to the last bowl.
Drain fish from marinade and pat dry.
Pat the tilapia fillets dry then dip each fillet into the flour and coat both sides.
Dip them into the egg wash and transfer them to the breadcrumb mixture to coat both sides of each fillet.
Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil or cooking spray. Take the air-fryer basket and place 1 to 2 tilapia fish fillet in the air fryer.
You don’t want to overlap the fish so you may need to do two batches.
Spray the top and bottom of the tilapia with olive oil. Place the tilapia into the air fryer and cook for 8-10 minutes. Remove the fish once it gets a brown crust on the outside and the internal temperature is 145 F and is easily flaked by a fork at the thickest part.
Recipe Tips
- Make sure to spray the air fryer basket with olive oil to help prevent the fish from sticking.
- Put the tilapia in one layer in the air fryer basket. You might want to make the fish in two batches if the tilapia won’t fit.
- The fish should flake and reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees when it is done cooking.
- You can’t use frozen fish, you will want to thaw out the fish in the fridge before cooking it in the air fryer.
- Make sure to preheat your air fryer before cooking the fish. This will help the fish to cook evenly.
What to Put on Tilapia Tacos
- Salsa: Salsa is always a nice addition to fish tacos. I love making this Homemade Salsa, Avocado Tomatillo Salsa, Easy Homemade Salsa Verde and Mango Black Bean Salsa Recipe.
- Slaw: Slaw is one of my favorite additions to tacos. I often make this Healthy Coleslaw and this Mango Cabbage Coleslaw.
- Beans: I also really like adding refried or black beans to my tacos.
- Vegetables: There are a lot of vegetable options to add to fish tacos. I often use tomatoes, bell pepper, red onion and radishes.
More Seafood Recipes
Seafood
Sheet Pan Mediterranean Cod
Seafood
Pan Fried Garlic Butter Cod
Seafood
Pan Seared Greek Salmon
Seafood
Easy Blackened Tilapia Fish
Air Fryer Tilapia
Ingredients
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 tablespoon tequila {optional}
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 12 ounces of tilapia {about 2 large filets}
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs, whisked
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs or regular breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees.
- Prepare the marinade: Add lime juice, tequila, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper to a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Cut fish into 1” bite size pieces and add to the marinade. Place in the fridge for 10 minutes.
- Dredge the fish: Set up a dredging station with 3 bowls. Add flour to one bowl, eggs to the other, and panko bread crumbs, cumin and chili powder to the last bowl. Drain fish from marinade and pat dry.
- Pat the tilapia fillets dry then dip each fillet into the flour and coat both sides. Dip them into the egg wash and transfer them to the breadcrumb mixture to coat both sides of each fillet.
- Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil or cooking spray. Take the air-fryer basket and place 1 to 2 tilapia fish fillet in the air fryer. You don’t want to overlap the fish so you may need to do two batches.
- Spray the top and bottom of the tilapia with olive oil.
- Place the tilapia into the air fryer and cook for 8-10 minutes. Remove the fish once it gets a brown crust on the outside and the internal temperature is 145 F and is easily flaked by a fork at the thickest part. Serve the tilapia in tacos, on its own, on a bun or in a wrap.
Notes
- Be very careful when flipping the fish over as it can stick to the air fryer and break apart.
- You can skip the marinade and it will still taste great.
