In 10 minutes, you can enjoy hand-breaded Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia made in your air fryer; it's so easy! The best part is you don't even have to thaw the frozen fish fillets! I'll show you how to make them, step-by-step.
Can I really cook fish fillets in the air fryer while still frozen?
Yes! Good-bye frozen, chopped and formed fish sticks! Hello fresh quick and easy fresh or frozen tilapia fillets. Fish is actually one of the best foods to cook in the air fryer. It's the perfect way to cook thin, fragile fish fillets like tilapia and bream because you don't have to turn them.
Since air fryers are basically miniature convection ovens, their super-heated air flows above and below the fish so you don't even have to turn the fillets.
What can I use for a crumb coating for air fryer fish?
There are so many choices! My favorite is your basic fine, dry breadcrumbs. You can also find them with Parmesan cheese or Italian seasoning in them.
Panko breadcrumbs are also use to coat fish but I find they work best if they are tossed with melted butter first.
Straight up plain cornmeal also works, especially if you are cooking thin catfish fillets.
There are many choices on the market of pre-seasoned fish breading or coating such as Louisiana seasoned crispy fish fry lemon-seasoned breading mix.
How do you coat fish with breadcrumbs while fish is frozen?
Spray olive oil directly on both sides of the frozen fish fillets. Avoid aerosol cooking sprays that uses propellant and soy lecithin. I buy propellant-free olive oil or fill a glass oil sprayer like this one.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper (if desired), then gently press parmesan cheese onto the fillets on one side. Then press the fillets into the breadcrumbs on both sides.
Cook frozen tilapia fillets 7 to 9 minutes at 390 degrees for crispy "air-fryed" fish. No need to flip them because the fan forces the hot air underneath the fish, too!
For fresh (not frozen) or thawed tilapia fillets, cook them at 390 or (Air Fry) setting for 5 minutes. Be sure to check at 4 minutes to make sure you are happy with the amount of browning.
Do I always need to preheat my air fryer?
Almost always. One of the most common mistakes made with an air fryer is forgetting or choosing not to preheat the air fryer. Remember, it is an oven. You would preheat your oven, so preheat your air fryer. It helps in producing that crunchy, browned texture we all love in "fried" fish.
What can I serve with Air Fryer "fried" fish?
Broccoli is always my go-to veggie to serve with everything but seriously, it is perfect with fish. You can even toss broccoli florets in a little bit of oil and cook them alongside your fish. The time it takes to roast broccoli is the same as frozen, thin tilapia fillets.
Watch the short video of Kathleen cooking tilapia in the air fryer.
Try these air fryer recipes:
Air Fryer Indian-Spiced Sweet Potato Fries
Bacon-Wrapped Dove Jalapeno Poppers
Apple and Roasted Butternut Squash Salad
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Easy Air Fryer Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
- 2 thin tilapia fillets (about 4 ounces) fresh or frozen (times given for both below)
- Olive oil pump spray not aerosol or 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper (optional)
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup fine dry breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 390-400 degrees for 3 minutes. Most air fryers preset “air fryer” button is 390 degrees.
- Meanwhile, spray or coat fish fillets with olive oil spray or olive oil.
- Sprinkle both sides of fillets with salt and if desired, pepper.
- Sprinkle the top side of fillets with Parmesan cheese.
- Place the dry breadcrumbs on a plate and gently press the fish into the breadcrumbs to coat them.
- I like to spray the breaded fish again on top with a little bit of olive oil spray (again, not aerosol)
- Frozen fish: Air Fry at 390-400 degrees for 9 t0 11 minutes, without turning, depending on thickness of fish until fish flakes easily in the center.
- Fresh fish: Air Fry at 390-400 degrees for 7 minutes, without turning, depending on thickness of fish until fish flakes easily in the center.
- Carefully remove the fish with a silicone coated spatula to prevent scraping the nonstick surface.
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