Easy air fryer frozen tilapia is a delicious dinner the entire family will love. A healthy meal for busy weeknights seasoned with a handful of simple ingredients. This recipe works well with fresh or frozen tilapia.
Cooking this frozen tilapia air fryer recipe is one of my favorite easy, last-minute dinners to get on the table when I'm short on time. Air fried tilapia has a crisp exterior on the sides of the fish with a smooth flaky interior.
Love air fryer recipes? Cook seafood in the air fryer like Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos and Air Fryer Mahi Mahi.
Ideally, when I have the time, I prefer to cook fresh fish fillets or defrost them before cooking. But, if you're in a pinch, it's quick and easy to cook frozen fish in air fryer.
This is my favorite air fryer tilapia recipe! Read on to learn how to cook tilapia in air fryer, especially how to air fry tilapia frozen.
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Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Convenient! Don't worry about thawing your frozen fish fillets, you can cook frozen tilapia in the air fryer.
- Quick & easy! Made in under 20 minutes with minimal ingredients.
- Healthy & budget-friendly! Tilapia has high protein, low fat, and is very affordable.
- Crispy! An air fryer uses hot air to cook food, so you can achieve crispy and golden-brown fish without excessive oil. Although this recipe has no breading, the tilapia will have delicious crispy edges.
- Versatile! Tilapia takes on the flavor of the seasonings you use, so get creative and experiment with different flavor profiles.
Ingredients
- Tilapia fillets - You can cook frozen tilapia fillets or fresh (thawed) fillets.
- Air fryer safe cooking spray or oil- use olive oil spray to coat the air fryer basket before cooking the fish so they don't stick to the bottom.
How to Cook Frozen Tilapia in Air Fryer
Weather you are cooking fresh or frozen tilapia in the air fryer, it will be easy and have a quick cooking time.
How to cook frozen tilapia? Using the air fryer is my favorite method. Air fry tilapia frozen with these simple steps:
Step 1: Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Spray the air fryer basket with an olive oil spray to prevent the fish from sticking to the bottom.
Step 2: Remove frozen tilapia from the packaging and pat it dry with paper towels. Season tilapia with salt and black pepper. Before cooking, spray the top of the fish with an olive oil spray. Brush melted butter over the fish fillets for an added buttery flavor.
Step 3: Place frozen tilapia fillets in the preheated air fryer in a single layer for best results - golden brown and crispy on the outside. Cook fish for 10-13 minutes until it flakes easily with a fork.
Squeeze fresh lemon wedges over the fish before serving. Serve this flaky fish with a side of tartar sauce for dipping.
How long to cook tilapia in air fryer?
Tilapia cooks quickly whether it is frozen or thawed. If you're cooking tilapia in air fryer you should add on a minute or two of cook time if it's frozen.
Depending on the size of the fillet, tilapia should be cooked at 400°F for 10-13 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the tilapia fillet is cooked to an internal temperature of at least 145°.
How to Season Tilapia?
Tilapia can be seasoned with a simple seasoning, such as: salt and pepper, garlic powder, butter, and lemon.
One of my favorite ways to add flavor to tilapia is with a Cajun garlic butter sauce. Combine Cajun seasoning with melted butter in a small bowl and coat fish in the mixture before cooking.
To make blackened tilapia coat the fish with homemade blackened seasoning then drizzle melted butter over the top.
For tilapia fish tacos, season the fish with a taco seasoning spice mix before cooking.
Pro Tips
- For an even cook, air fry frozen tilapia in a single layer taking care not to overlap the fillets.
- Lightly spray fish with olive oil before cooking to ensure the fish gets crispy.
- Tilapia will take on the flavor of the seasonings and sauce you pair with it, so it's important to season fish fillets well before cooking.
FAQ's
Tilapia has a mild flavor. It is light and slightly sweet, but for the most part tilapia can be a bit flavorless. Tilapia will take on the flavor of the seasonings and/or sauce you cook it with.
What to serve with tilapia? My favorite side dishes for tilapia are Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes, Air Fryer Green Beans, and Cauliflower Spanish Rice. Tilapia is delicious with roasted or steamed vegetables, rice, or a side salad.
Air fryer tilapia should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 145° as recommended by FDA. Cook fish until it's opaque (milky white) and flakes with a fork.
Yes. Just like you would preheat an oven before cooking, it's best practice to preheat your air fryer too.
Storage
Store leftover tilapia in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat tilapia on a large plate in the microwave for 1 minute or in the air fryer for 3-4 minutes.
Hungry for More?
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If you try this recipe or any recipe from Happy Honey Kitchen, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below! Enjoy!
Air Fryer Frozen Tilapia
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 tilapia fillets fresh or frozen
- olive oil spray
- salt and pepper to taste
- lemon wedge optional
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Spray the air fryer basket with an olive oil spray to prevent the fish from sticking to the bottom.
- Remove tilapia from the packaging and pat it dry with paper towels. Season tilapia with salt, pepper, and other desired seasonings (more tips for seasoning the fillets can be found in the notes). Before cooking, spray the top of the fish with an olive oil spray.
- Place frozen tilapia fillets in the preheated air fryer in a single layer. Cook fish for 10-13 minutes until it comes to an internal temperature of 145° and flakes easily with a fork. Squeeze with a lemon wedge before serving.
Notes
- Flipping the fish halfway through cooking isn't necessary.
- Air fry fish in a single layer to ensure an even cook.
- Tilapia can be seasoned with simple ingredients, such as: salt and pepper, garlic, butter, and lemon.
- To make air fryer blackened tilapia coat the fish with Homemade Blackened Seasoning.
- To make air fryer tilapia tacos, season the fish with Low Sodium Taco Seasoning.
W. Santiago | Literal Med
I love tilapia, it is very easy and fast to prepare. I did not know it can be prepared in an air fryer. Thanks!
Monika
ooh, I didn't know you can air fry them frozen! I always waited until they thawed... Thank you for the tip 🤗