Tillie Doyle
Air fryer tilapia is a quick, easy and healthy meal that can be made in less than 20 minutes. The mild flavour of tilapia makes it a family favourite, and the air fryer keeps the fish fillets tender and moist. This recipe uses a breading of flour, egg and panko breadcrumbs to create a crispy texture. The tilapia fillets are then cooked in the air fryer at 400°F for around 10 minutes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air fryer temperature | 400°F |
| Number of tilapia fillets | 4 |
| Flour mixture | Seasoned flour |
| Other ingredients | Eggs, panko breadcrumbs, cooking spray, olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, lemon wedges, lemon juice, butter, parsley |
| Cooking time | 8-10 minutes |
What You'll Learn
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F
Preheating your air fryer is a crucial step in the cooking process, as it ensures the appliance is at the correct temperature before you add your food. This helps to cook your food evenly and efficiently, preventing undercooking or overcooking.
When preheating your air fryer, it is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions and ensure the appliance is properly ventilated. Most air fryers will have a preheat function or setting, which you can use to set the desired temperature.
Once your air fryer reaches 400°F, you can proceed with the next steps of your tilapia recipe, such as coating the fillets with flour and seasoning, and then placing them in the air fryer basket.
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Pat tilapia fillets dry with a paper towel, then season with salt
To cook tilapia in an air fryer with flour, you'll first need to pat the tilapia fillets dry with a paper towel. Then, season the fillets all over with salt. You can also add other seasonings, such as paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper.
After seasoning the fillets, you'll need to coat them in flour. Set up a breading station with seasoned flour, beaten eggs, and a mixture of Parmesan cheese and panko breadcrumbs in three shallow dishes. Working with one fillet at a time, dip it in the flour, then the eggs, and finish with the panko mixture. Make sure to coat the fillets completely and evenly.
Once the fillets are coated, they're ready to be placed in the air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Arrange two tilapia fillets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, being careful not to overlap or overcrowd them. Cook the tilapia for about 10 minutes, or until the skin becomes flakey.
When the tilapia is done, remove it from the air fryer and serve with lemon wedges or a drizzle of lemon butter. Enjoy!
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Coat the fillets in flour, then dip in egg and coat in panko breadcrumbs
To cook tilapia in an air fryer with flour, start by heating your air fryer to 400°F. Pat the tilapia fillets dry with a paper towel, then season with salt. Next, coat the fillets in flour, then dip in egg and coat in panko breadcrumbs. Make sure you work with one fillet at a time and coat the fillets completely. Place the coated fillets on a large plate in a single layer and coat the top with cooking spray. Arrange two fillets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they don't overlap or overcrowd the basket, as this will cause the fish to steam rather than fry and won't be as crispy. Air fry the tilapia for about 10 minutes, or until the skin becomes flakey.
You can also add some extra flavour by sprinkling a seasoning mix of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper over the fillets before cooking.
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Air fry two fillets at a time for 10 minutes
To cook tilapia in an air fryer with flour, you'll need to air fry two fillets at a time for 10 minutes. Before you do this, you'll need to heat your air fryer to 400°F and pat the fillets dry with a paper towel. Then, season the fillets with kosher salt and coat them in a flour mixture. Next, dip the fillets in egg and then coat them in a panko mixture. Place the fillets in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they don't overlap or overcrowd the basket. This will ensure the fish fries evenly and becomes crispy. Air fry the fillets for 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through. When they're done, remove them from the air fryer and serve with lemon wedges, lemon butter, or a squeeze of lemon juice.
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Garnish with lemon juice and fresh parsley
To garnish your tilapia with lemon juice and fresh parsley, first make the lemon butter by whisking together melted butter, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Drizzle this over the fish, then sprinkle with fresh parsley. You can also simply squeeze lemon juice over the fish and sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley.
If you want to add a little extra flavour to your tilapia, you can season the fillets with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper before cooking. You can also serve the fish with lemon wedges.
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Frequently asked questions
Set your air fryer to 400°F.
Cook the tilapia for 8 to 10 minutes.
Some recipes suggest flipping the fillets halfway through cooking, while others say there is no need to flip them.
Season the fillets with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, Parmesan cheese, and/or lemon juice.
You can use either flour or breadcrumbs, or a combination of the two.
