Air Fryer Tilapia

This 10 minute Air Fryer Tilapia is a delicious dinner that you can make using fresh or frozen fish. Blackening seasoning gives this protein-packed meal incredible flavor with minimal effort!

Prep Time3

Cook Time7

Total Time10

Servings: servings

Calories: 155kcal

Author: Laura Miner

Equipment

Air Fryer
Meat Thermometer

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

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.

Video

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.

Nutrition