Air Fryer Tilapia
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When you’re racing against the clock to feed hungry kids at dinner time, this 10-minute air fryer tilapia recipe is your best kept secret. As a busy mama, I’ve made this with both fresh and frozen fillets countless times. The blackening seasoning gives ordinary tilapia a wow factor and the air fryer helps tilapia come out perfectly flaky every single time.
2025 Update: This recipe is still a family favorite! It has been updated to simplify the cooking instructions and it includes additional cooking tips. We hope you love it as much as we do!
As a busy mom, I’ve found that tilapia in the air fryer is my solution to those “what’s for dinner?” panic moments. The air fryer method takes the stress out of cooking fish and cooks just in time for the end of an episode of Bluey 😉
Your family will love this protein-packed dinner – and you’ll love how simple it is!
Learn how to cook anything in your air fryer with our free cook time chart!
The secret is in the bold, smoky blackened seasoning that adds a ton of personality to this mild fish. Adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice enhances the natural flavors of tilapia.
Tilapia delivers protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and essential minerals, plus it’s a versatile fish that fits into so many eating plans making it a perfect family friendly option.
Happy Kitchen Secrets
Here are my most important mom tested cooking tips for making tilapia in your air fryer! We’ve made this countless times to save you from a failed attempt.
- Don’t flip the fish! Tilapia is so delicate that it will crumble if you flip it. It will cook beautifully and evenly and will stay in one piece if you leave it alone until the cook time is over.
- If using completely frozen tilapia, add a couple of extra minutes to the cook time.
- To prevent sticking, spray the basket with non-stick high heat approved cooking spray.
- Don’t overlap pieces of fish. Depending on the size of your air fryer and how large the filets are, you may need to air fry tilapia in a couple of batches.
- For extra crispiness, spritz or brush a bit of oil onto the fish before cooking.
Ingredients
Fresh or Frozen Tilapia
The best part is that this recipe works with either fresh or frozen fillets, great for those moments when you forgot to thaw something for dinner.
Frozen fish fillets are a great option if you want something affordable. They can be found at almost any grocery store, and cost less than fresh. However, if you choose to buy fresh tilapia, look for firm, pinkish-white flesh.
The method also works beautifully with other white fish like cod, halibut, or haddock (just adjust cooking time accordingly).
How To Make Blackened Air Fryer Tilapia
Scroll down to the recipe card for the full step by step instructions! ⬇️
- Dry off and season the fish. Use paper towels to remove excess moisture – especially if you are using frozen tilapia.
- Place the filets in your air fryer basket. Use a bit of non-stick cooking spray before placing the fish down.
- Near the end of the cook time, check the fish for an internal temp of 145ºF. When it flakes easily with a fork, it’s ready!
- Use a plastic spatula to carefully remove your meal from the basket. Squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the top before serving!
Storing and Reheating Leftover Fish
Storing: Cool completely, then store leftover tilapia in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating: For best results, reheat gently to avoid drying out the fish. Microwave: Cover with a damp paper towel and heat on medium power in 30-second intervals. Air fryer: Reheat at 300°F for 3-4 minutes until just warmed through. Fish should reach 145°F for safe consumption.
Serving Suggestions
The flavors in this dish taste great with pretty much anything. Here are a few sides we love with tilapia!
- Veggies: Pretty much any veggie will pair well with this tilapia. Dairy free mashed potatoes and roasted broccoli are two of my faves!
- Starches: You could make some air fryer baby potatoes, serve the tilapia on a bed of jasmine rice, or with a light lemon orzo pasta salad!
- Greens: Keep it light and serve over a Quinoa Arugula Salad or mixed green salad with greek salad dressing.
Make it kid friendly: adding fresh lemons to each plate will make this a fun experience for your kiddos to squeeze their own lemon juice onto their fish. You might also consider adding a dip on the side to encourage them to try this if it's new to them!
Air Fryer Tilapia FAQ
Absolutely! While blackening spices give great flavor, tilapia works well with many seasonings. Try lemon pepper, Italian herbs, or even just salt, pepper and garlic powder.
Tilapia is done when it flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 145°F. The flesh should be opaque and white throughout.
Tilapia is a great protein option for kids because of the mild flavor - or "fishiness" to kids. Its low mercury content makes it one of the safer seafood choices for kids.
I'd love to hear about your experience making this recipe! Please leave a comment and rating below!
Air Fryer Tilapia
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds tilapia fillets 6 filets, 4 oz. each
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large lemon
Blackened Seasoning
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika or smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
Video
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400℉ (204℃). Meanwhile, pat the tilapia fillets dry with a few paper towels.
- Sprinkle the fish generously with the blackened seasonings, then use your hands to gently rub it in, coating each piece on all sides.
- Spray or drizzle the air fryer basket with oil. Working in batches if needed, place 1 to 2 tilapia fillets in the air fryer basket so they don't overlap. Spray or drizzle the fish with a little extra oil for extra crispiness.
- Close the air fryer and cook for 7 minutes. When the fish is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork, use a spatula to carefully transfer the filets to serving plates.
- Repeat steps 2-3 until all the fish fillets are cooked. Squeeze a bit of fresh lemon juice on the plated fish before serving.
Notes
- Store bought blackened seasoning: use 3 tablespoons
- Cooking completely frozen tilapia: Preheat your air fryer, then spray the basket with oil. Season the fish and lay them in the basket without overlapping the pieces. Close the air fryer and cook for 9-12 minutes, until the fish is cooked through and flakey.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer. The fish should lay in a single layer without overlapping.
- Don’t flip the fish halfway through cooking! It will stay together better and still cook evenly.
- The exact cooking time will vary. You may need to adjust the cooking time +/- 1 to 3 minutes.
- Stop cooking the tilapia once it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C), per USDA, to avoid overcooking it. The fish will be flakey and opaque when cooked through.
- To keep the fish from sticking, spray the basket again before each batch of fish is cooked.
- You can easily modify the flavor by using any other seasoning blend you enjoy. Greek seasoning, zesty Italian seasoning, bold BBQ spices, or even simple salt and pepper would all work on tilapia.
