This Air Fryer White fish recipe is our go-to healthy meal when we’re craving a seafood dinner. Add your favorite spices and you’ll never get tired of eating white fish often.

Air fryer white fish recipe in basket

Easy Air Fryer White Fish Recipe

Super simple and always a favorite, this air fryer tilapia recipe is are to satisfy. What’s not to love about a quick and easy low carb fish recipe in the air fryer? Within minutes, a healthy fish dinner is on the table. And the possibilities are endless because you can use what ever spices you want for this air fried tilapia. We love using simple garlic power and lemon pepper seasoning. But you can use paprika, onion powder, curry powder or what ever your heart desires. The fish comes out fantastic and always perfect. Add some fresh lemon for an over-the top delicious healthy tilapia dinner.

air fryer white fish recipe on plate with lemons

Video: White Fish in the Air Fryer with Garlic & Lemon Pepper

How to keep air fryer white fish from sticking? 

If your fish tears or sticks to air fryer wire racks or baskets, try these non-stick liners.

  • Non stick reusable silicone liners can be found here. Fish air fries perfectly and barely sticks to the liner. They’re easy to clean too. You can release the fish, salmon or even chicken in one whole piece! 
  • Parchment liners. These work good too but are single use. Also, don’t preheat the air fryer with just the parchment. If no food holds down the parchment, it will fly around and possibly hit the heating element and burn. Read more about air fryer parchment liners here. 
  • You can also use aluminum foil for this air fryer tilapia recipe. 
air fryer white fish on liner in air fryer basket

Spices for white fish or seafood

We love using simple garlic and lemon pepper. But you can certainly use your favorite spices. There’s lots of different seafood spices out there. We sometimes will add some curry powder and ground cumin for a very delicious and rich curry flavor. If you like spicy, add a sprinkle of cayenne pepper. For a Mexican flavored and seasoned fish, try adding chili powder or even some simple taco seasoning. This flavor would be perfect for fish tacos!

Types of white fish to air fry

There’s quite a few options for air frying white fish. You can use cod, halibut, quality tilapia, haddock, sea bass and even sole. Each type of white fish has a different thickness so you’ll have to adjust cooking times for the fish you choose. Use our base air frying time and check the fish. Use a fork and pierce the center of the filet. If it flakes easily, then it’s cooked. Or you can cook it to your personal preference.

How to Use Air Fryer Perforated Parchment Paper Rounds

No sticking and easy cleanup but they are not re-usable. The silicone liners we talked about are better for using continuously. It makes cooking delicate fish so much easier to release without sticking or tearing the fish. These air fryer sheets are perforated, which allows air to circulate through and provide more even cooking. They are super easy to use. There’s many different sizes, so make sure you buy the one that fits your air fryer basket! You can buy the parchment liners here.

Air fryer white fish recipe in basket

Air Fryer Healthy White Fish with Garlic & Lemon

This fish recipe is so versatile. Cook whatever flat white fish you want and choose your favorite spices. If you’re cooking a thicker fish like halibut or cod, just add a few minutes extra cooking time. We have a crispy breaded version on the website too. Just search “seafood” and you’ll find it! To avoid sticking and tearing of the fish, we like to use perforated silicone liners or perforated parchment/baking paper made for air fryers. Our recipe write up has lots of info on these.
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Ingredients

  • 12 ounces (340 g) tilapia filets , or other white fish (2 filets-6 ounces each)
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) lemon pepper seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) onion powder , optional
  • kosher salt or sea salt , to taste
  • fresh cracked black pepper , to taste
  • fresh chopped parsley
  • lemon wedges

Instructions 

  • Pre-heat Air Fryer to 360°F for 5 minutes.
    Preheat Air Fryer
  • Rinse and pat dry the fish filets. Spray or coat with olive oil spray and season with garlic powder, lemon pepper, and/or onion power, salt and pepper. Repeat for both sides.
    Uncooked white fish filets with lemon pepper seasoning
  • Lay an air fryer silicone liner or perforated parchment paper inside base of air fryer. Lightly spray the liner. (if not using a liner, spray enough oil spray at the base of the air fryer basket to make sure fish does not stick).
    Line with Parchment Paper
  • Lay the fish on top of the liner. Add a few lemon wedges next to fish.
    Uncooked white fish in air fryer basket
  • Air Fry at 360°F/182°C for about 6-12 minutes, or until fish can be flaked with a fork. Timing will depend on how thickness of the filets, how cold the filets are, & individual preference.
    Cooked white fish in air fryer basket
  • Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve warm with the toasted lemon wedges. Add additional seasonigns or salt and pepper, if needed.
    White fish fillets with lemon pepper on a plate

Video

YouTube video

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 169kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 34g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 85mg, Sodium: 89mg, Potassium: 514mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Calcium: 17mg, Iron: 1mg

Delicious Side Dishes to Serve with Air Fried Fish

This tender and flavorful lemon pepper fish is great with a side of healthy vegetables. You can’t go wrong with air fryer vegetables or even microwave broccoli. If you want to make a full meal out of it, add it to healhty zucchini noodles, pasta or with a side of potatoes. Fish tacos are fantastic too! It’s so easy to air fry a big batch of this fish and make tacos out of it. Or you can add it to burritos for a healthy fish burrito.

Healthy White Fish Recipes

If you’re looking for more fish recipes, check out these popular recipes we have in our collection:

How to Store Leftover Fish

If you have leftovers, freeze it in airtight bags or containers. We usually don’t like to freeze fish for too long as it might get freezer burn. Try to eat the frozen leftover fish within a month. Before eating, thaw it in the fridge overnight. Then you can heat it for a few minutes in the microwave or on a pan.