This air fryer tilapia recipe is one of the best tilapia recipes you'll ever try. It combines tender, flaky tilapia filets with garlic butter and an array of cajun seasonings to create a dish that's to die for. And, best of all, this simple and easy tilapia recipe takes just 15 minutes to make!
The Best Air Fryer Tilapia
If you're looking for a fish recipe that everyone will love, you've got to give this air fryer tilapia recipe a shot. The tilapia cooks to perfection every single time, and it's coated in the most delicious spices and seasonings.
Gah, it's just so, so good. And, as I mentioned, it's so easy to make this air fryer tilapia too. All you have to do is mix the seasoning blend, coat the tilapia fillets in it, and then let the air fryer take care of the rest.
Yup, that's really all there is to it, and since it's so effortless, you can make an equally delicious side to go with it - like this roasted kohlrabi or coleslaw.
Ingredients
Now, besides the tilapia filets, you'll only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this recipe. Plus, most of them are pantry staples, so you probably already have most - if not all of them - on hand already!
With that said, here's everything you'll need to make this air fryer tilapia recipe:
- ½ lb. tilapia fillets, preferably fresh
- 2 tablespoon butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic paste
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ½ tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- Fresh lemon, for garnish
- Chopped parsley, for garnish
Simple stuff, right?!
By the way, you can use a lot of these same ingredients to make this mahi-mahi recipe. If you like this air fryer tilapia, I can almost guarantee that you'll enjoy that one, too!
Ingredients Substitutions and Suggestions
Now, I always make this recipe with the ingredients I listed above, but there are a few adjustments you can make to it, and it'll turn out just as delicious.
So, although this recipe works best with fresh fish, frozen tilapia filets will work too. With that said, if you're starting with frozen tilapia, I recommend transferring them to a ziplock bag and submerging it in water until the fillets have completely thawed. Oh, and changing the water every 30 minutes will speed up the process.
As for the seasonings, you can use a premade cajun seasoning blend for this recipe or you make your own. If you're planning on making your on DIY cajun seasoning I recommend using a mix of black pepper, white pepper, cayenne powder, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika.
Honestly though, this air fryer tilapia recipe is delicious with just about any seasoning. I've used Old Bay a few times to make it, and the results were bangin'.
How to Cook Tilapia in the Air Fryer
Honestly, I'm obsessed with how easy it is to cook tilapia filets in the air fryer. Literally, all you have to do is brush the tilapia fillets with your seasoning mix and then they're ready to cook.
Plus, it's super quick to make tilapia this way too. In fact, from start to finish it'll take you just 15 minutes to whip up.
Anyway, without further ado, let's dive into this easy tilapia recipe, and get cooking.
Step 1: Season the Tilapia Fillets
First, you'll want to pat the tilapia filets dry with a paper towel and season both sides with some salt and pepper. Then, you'll want to use your hands to rub the salt and pepper into the fillets.
Now that the base seasoning is on the tilapia, it's time to really elevate the flavor. So, to do that, you'll want to take out a small bowl and whisk together the melted butter, olive oil, garlic paste, and Cajun seasoning until it combines.Then, when that's looking good, you can brush the tilapia fillets with the seasoned butter mixture - make sure to really coat the surface of both sides.
Step 2: Air Fry the Tilapia
Now that the tilapia is ready to go you, you'll want to arrange the tilapia fillets in one layer in your air fryer basket. If they're too big, you can cut the fish fillets in half, and then cook them like that. Also, if your air fryer basket is on the smaller side, you might have to cook them in batches.
Anyway, once you've got your air fryer basket ready to go with your filets, you can air fry them for 5 minutes, then flip the fillets and air fry 'em for another 3 minutes.
Finally, you can transfer the tilapia fillets to a plate and garnish 'em with parsley and lemon slices. Serve immediately and enjoy!
How to Store Leftover Tilapia
This recipe for air fryer tilapia will make enough for 2 servings. However, you can always make two or three extra batches for a bigger group or to ensure you have leftovers of it to eat later in the week.
Speaking of leftovers, you can store whatever leftover tilapia you have in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Alternatively, if you want to store it for even longer, you can transfer the fillets to a freezer-safe bag with the extra air squeezed out and freeze 'em for up to 2-3 months.
Wrapping It Up
Well, that's how to make the best air fryer tilapia in just 15 minutes!
There's honestly so much to love about this air fryer tilapia. I mean, it's fast, made with simple staple ingredients, and there's barely any hands-on cooking involved.
Seriously, what more could you ask for?!
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this air fryer tilapia recipe as much as I do. As always, if you make it, be sure to leave a comment below and let me know what you think.
More Easy Fish Recipes
If you love eating fish and are looking for some more delicious and easy fish recipes to make, I have a ton on the blog that you can try next!
Here are some of my favorite ones.
Oh, and don't forget to follow my TikTok, Instagram, and Youtube channel for even more delicious. I post new recipes on them all of the time!
PrintThe BEST Air Fryer Tilapia Recipe (Made In Under 15 Minutes)
This air fryer tilapia recipe is one of the best tilapia recipes you'll ever try. It combines tender, flaky tilapia filets with garlic butter and an array of cajun seasonings to create a dish that's to die for. And, best of all, this simple and easy tilapia recipe takes just 15 minutes to make!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Total Time: 14 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: Keto Low Carb
Ingredients
½ lb. tilapia fillets, preferably fresh
2 tbsp butter, melted
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp garlic paste
Salt and pepper, to taste
½ tbsp Cajun seasoning
Fresh lemon, for garnish
Chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Season the tilapia with salt and pepper.
- In a bowl, whisk together butter, olive oil, garlic paste, and Cajun seasoning.
- Brush the tilapia with the prepared mixture.
- Place the tilapia in an air-fryer basket. If your fillets are large, cut them in half.
- Cook the tilapia at 300°F for 5 minutes. Flip the fillets and cook for another 3 minutes.
- Serve tilapia warm, garnished with fresh lemon slices and chopped parsley.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 200
- Fat: 13
- Carbohydrates: 90
- Protein: 20
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Question: will this work in a standard oven that has an air-fry setting?
Definitely!