Air Fryer Fried Fish – Light & Crispy! (VIDEO)
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Make the lightest, crispiest Air Fryer Fried Fish – no need for deep frying in oil! This comes together in just 30 minutes and is the perfect delicious protein for a quick and easy weeknight meal!
Watch the Air Fryer Fried Fish Recipe Video!
A Note from CJ
You’ll absolutely love how crispy this fish is!
The crispiness of this flakey fish is perfection! This air fryer fried fish is seasoned then lightly breaded with crispy panko breadcrumbs before being air fried for the best crunch all while keeping the fish moist and flavorful!
If you love cooking fish, try Air Fryer Salmon, Chinese Sizzling Oil Steamed Fish, Miso Glazed Salmon, Pan Seared Salmon, or Honey Soy Glazed Salmon! If you want an easy ‘no-cook’ recipe, try Ahi Tuna Poke!
Ingredient Tips
Refer to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and measurements!
- cod – I used cod but you can use any white, flakey fish – other great fish otions are halibut, pollock, or haddock fish. Make sure to cut the fish 5-6 inch fillets that are 1 inch thick – this will ensure they cook thoroughly but are not too thin/small to dry out.
- panko breadcrumbs – I recommend using panko breadcrumbs because they are lighter and turn out more crispy in the air fryer than regular breadcrumbs. If you don’t have panko, you can use regular breadcrumbs but it won’t be as crispy.
- seasoning – I used smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried parsley but you can adjust this to your preference!
- large egg – Combining the flour, egg and water will act as a strong batter to allow the panko to stick without falling off when air frying. This is similar to how I make Chicken Katsu or Pork Katsu!
By now, you know how much I love cooking with my air fryer – recipes like my Air Fryer Chicken Wings, Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, Air Fryer Chicken Skewers, Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts and Air Fryer Crispy Pork Belly are some of my most popular!
How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Fried Fish
Prepare the fish for the air fryer: Season the cod fillets with half of the salt and pepper and let sit while you make a station with two separate bowls – one for the wet batter and panko breadcrumbs. Pat the fish dry with paper towels. This is key, as dry fish will pick up the wet batter. Dredge the fish in the wet batter and let any excess drip off. Add the fish to the panko breadcrumbs and press on all sides to allow the panko to stick to the fish. Any bald spots will result in less crispy breading when air-fried. Repeat until all fillets are coated.
Air fry the fish fillets: Add the fillets to the air fryer in a single layer with space in between them and spray the fillets with a neutral oil spray. Air fry at 400F for 7 minutes. Flip the fillets, then spray the top of the fillets with another round of neutral oil spray, then air fry again at 400F for 4-5 minutes or until the fish reads 145F. Remove and enjoy with and squeeze of lemon and your favorite sauce, like my homemade Tartar sauce, Raising Cane’s Sauce, Chick-Fil-A Sauce, Homemade BBQ Sauce, and Spicy Mayo! I also love homemade Ranch, or Thai Sweet Chili sauce with this!
PRO TIPS
CJ’s Recipe & Storage Tips
- Use a flakey white fish for this recipe – I used cod but halibut, pollock, or haddock fish are all great options.
- Panko breadcrumbs are lighter and turn out more crispy in the air fryer than regular breadcrumbs – if you don’t have panko, you can use regular breadcrumbs but I recommend using panko if possible.
- Pat the fish dry before dredging, as the batter will stick better.
- Press the panko into the fish well to ensure they stick to the wet batter.
- Store any leftover Air Fryer Fried Fish in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Keep in mind that the fish will soften in the refrigerator and will not be as crispy – this is why I personally prefer to eat it fresh. Reheat quickly in the microwave until warmed through or in the air fryer for 375F for 5-6 minutes.
If you tried this Air Fryer Fried Fish Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
Crispy Air Fryer Fried Fish (VIDEO)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound cod, cut into 5-6 inch fillets that are 1 inch thick
- 2 tsp kosher salt, divided
- 1 tsp black pepper, divided
Seasoned Breadcrumbs
- 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon italian seasoning
Wet Batter
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Season the cod fillets with half of the salt and pepper and let sit while you prepare the panko and wet batter.
- To a plate, add the panko breadcrumbs, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, and the remaining salt and pepper. Mix until combined. In a bowl, mix together the egg, flour and water. Mix thoroughly until the batter resembles a loose pancake batter.
- Pat the fish dry on both sides with paper towels. Dredge the fish in the wet batter and let any excess drip off. Add the fish to the panko breadcrumbs and press on all sides to allow the panko to stick to the fish. Repeat until all fillets are coated.
- Add the fillets to the air fryer in a single layer with space in between the fillets and spray with a neutral oil spray. Air fry at 400F for 7 minutes. Flip the fillets, then spray the top of the fillets with another round of neutral oil spray, then air fry again at 400F for 4-5 minutes until the fish reads 145F.
Video
Notes
- Use a flakey white fish for this recipe – I used cod but halibut, pollock, or haddock fish are all great options.
- Panko breadcrumbs are lighter and turn out more crispy in the air fryer than regular breadcrumbs – if you don’t have panko, you can use regular breadcrumbs but I recommend using panko if possible.
- Pat the fish dry before dredging, as the batter will stick better.
- Press the panko into the fish well to ensure they stick to the wet batter.
- Store any leftover Air Fryer Fried Fish in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Keep in mind that the fish will soften in the refrigerator and will not be as crispy – this is why I personally prefer to eat it fresh. Reheat quickly in the microwave until warmed through or in the air fryer for 375F for 5-6 minutes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
