How long do you cook tilapia in the air fryer?

It can take anywhere from 8-12 minutes to air fry tilapia, depending on the thickness of your fish. The tilapia loins I used in this recipe were about 1-inch thick and they took 10-11 minutes at 400F to fully cook. If you use thinner loins or fillets, your tilapia will cook quicker. The air frying time also depends on the type of air fryer you're using and on the target internal temperature for the fish (see next question).

How do you know when tilapia is cooked?

The internal temperature of the thickest part of the fish should be cooked to 145F degrees (according to the USDA). In Canada, Health Canada recommends cooking fish to 158F degrees. I like to use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. You’ll also be able to tell the fish is ready when it’s opaque and flakes apart easily with a fork.

Can you cook frozen tilapia in the air fryer?

You can use frozen tilapia fillets or loins for this recipe, but I recommend defrosting them first. You can do this by letting them thaw in the fridge overnight or use the cold water method. Just place your tilapia in a resealable plastic bag and remove as much air as possible. Submerge the bag in a large bowl of cold water. Replace the water every 5 minutes. The tilapia should be thawed in about 30 minutes.

Can another type of fish be used for this recipe?

Absolutely! If you don't have tilapia, you can replace it with cod, haddock or even halibut in this recipe.

How do you serve air fried tilapia?

Fish always pairs well with crispy potatoes like these air fryer potato wedges or these air fryer potato slices . Other veggies like air fryer carrots or mixed vegetables are a great side dish option too. You can also use this air fryer tilapia as a taco filling, similar to these air fryer fish tacos !

What type of air fryer was this recipe tested in?

This recipe was tested in a Cosori 5.8 quart air fryer. Depending on the size, brand and model of your air fryer, you may need to adjust the temperature and cooking time slightly. If your air fryer is smaller, you may need to air fry the fish in batches or cut it into pieces.

Air Fryer Tilapia

Name: Air Fryer Tilapia
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 17 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 tilapia loins or fillets (about 1 pound); 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/2 teaspoon dried basil; 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

Description

This Air Fryer Tilapia recipe is an easy and healthy dinner option with a few basic ingredients and ready in less than 20 minutes!

Ingredients

2 tilapia loins or fillets (about 1 pound)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

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Instructions

Preheat your air fryer at 400F for 5 minutes.
Pat the fish dry with paper towels and brush the oil on both sides.
Season both sides with the garlic powder and salt.
Mix together the dried herbs and season both sides of the fish with it. (Use your fingers to rub the herbs into the flesh).
Place the fish in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fry on 400F for 8-12 minutes. (The amount of time depends on the thickness of your loins/fillets). Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
Serve immediately with fresh lemon wedges or slices.

Notes

Make sure your loins or fillets are roughly the same thickness so they cook evenly.
I used 1-inch thick tilapia loins. Thinner pieces of fish will cook faster.
Try not to overcrowd the air fryer and cook the tilapia in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to air fry the fish in batches.
If you don’t have a non-stick air fryer basket, you may need to spray the basket with cooking oil or use parchment paper.
The tilapia loins cook evenly on both sides without flipping them over, but if they start to brown too much on one side, turn them over.
When flipping the fish or removing it from the air fryer, use a spatula. The fish will be delicate and tongs will cause it to break apart.
Cook the tilapia to a safe internal temperature of 145F degrees (United States) or 158F degrees (Canada).
Be sure to check out the other sections above the recipe card for more detailed advice and suggestions for making this recipe.