This Air Fryer Tilapia is perfectly flaky on the inside and crispy on the outside. It’s easy to make, flavorful, and topped with a homemade lemon garlic aioli.
Ingredients
There are two parts to today’s recipe: air fryer tilapia and lemon garlic aioli. Both contain simple ingredients that you likely have on hand already!
Air Fryer Tilapia
- Whole Wheat Flour – feel free to use all-purpose or a gluten free variety if necessary. The flour is the first layer in our breading, which helps the egg wash stick to the fish better.
- Dry Ranch Seasoning Mix – our seasoning. I love pre-made ranch seasoning mix, because it’s convenient, versatile, and packed with flavor.
- Egg – helps the breadcrumbs stick to the tilapia.
- Breadcrumbs and Parmesan – coats the outside of the tilapia and makes up the last layer of our breading. The breadcrumbs become ultra-crispy in the air fryer and the parmesan adds a deep, nutty, cheesy flavor.
- Salt and Pepper – enhances other flavors and adds a touch of spice.
- Tilapia – or other mild flavored white fish. I love tilapia because the “fish” flavor is mild enough that you can really taste all the seasonings in the recipe.
Lemon Garlic Aioli
- Olive Oil Mayonnaise – the base of our aioli. Using an olive oil based mayonnaise lightens it up while maintaining the classic, rich flavor. Feel free to use “regular” or “light” mayo instead.
- Garlic – adds a fresh, nutty flavor.
- Lemon Juice and Lemon Zest – the juice helps to thin the aioli to make it spreadable and the zest adds a concentrated, bright, acidic lemon flavor!
How to make
This air fryer dinner is ready in 30 minutes!
- Place flour and ranch seasoning mix onto one plate, whisked eggs onto another plate, then breadcrumbs, parmesan, salt, and pepper onto a third plate.
- Working with one filet at a time, season with salt and pepper then cover in flour/ranch mixture, egg, then breadcrumbs/parmesan. Season with additional salt and pepper.
- Place the tilapia into your greased air fryer basket with the air fryer set to 350ºF and spray the tops with cooking spray.
- Air fry for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through then serve with lemon garlic aioli and enjoy!
How long to cook
Fresh or frozen, then thawed tilapia cooks in a preheated 350 degree F air fryer for 8-10 minutes. The outside will be golden brown and crispy and the middle will be white and opaque. The fish should flake easily with a fork.
Do you need to flip tilapia in an air fryer?
Not necessarily, but I do recommend it. Flipping it halfway ensures that the air is reaching all parts of the tilapia so it is cooked evenly and gets browned and crispy all the way around.
Is tilapia healthy?
Yes! Tilapia is a great source of lean protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and other vitamins and minerals.
On top of that, since the fish is air fried instead of deep fried, it’s much lighter and healthier than fried fish would be, because we’re not using any oil.
What to serve with air fryer tilapia?
This tilapia is a delicious main alongside a number of different sides. Here are some ideas!
How to store
Leftover tilapia will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months.
To reheat, thaw in the fridge if frozen then heat either in the oven or in the air fryer to re-crisp.
– Jennifer
Air Fryer Tilapia
Equipment for this recipe
Ingredients
Air Fryer Tilapia
- ¼ cup whole wheat flour
- 1 (1 oz) package dry ranch seasoning mix
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ½ cup finely grated parmesan
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 4 (4 oz) filets tilapia fresh or thawed if frozen and dried well
Lemon Garlic Aioli
- ½ cup olive oil mayonnaise
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 lemon zested and juiced
- ¼ teaspoon salt plus more to taste (I used 1/2 teaspoon)
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
Air Fryer Tilapia
- Place flour and ranch seasoning mix onto a large plate and whisk to combine.
- Crack eggs onto another large plate and whisk until combined.
- Place breadcrumbs, parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 pepper pepper onto a third large plate and whisk to combine.
- Working with one filet at a time, season with salt and pepper, to taste, then fully cover the filet in the flour/ranch mixture (don’t be shy, this gives a lot of flavor), then whisked egg, and then panko/parmesan mixture.
- Season with more salt and set aside on a clean work surface.
- Repeat with remaining filets.
- Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees F.
- Grease air fryer basket with cooking spray and place in 2 of the prepared filets.
- Spray the tops with cooking spray and cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until the fish is cooked through.
- Remove from air fryer, repeat with remaining 2 filets, and serve with lemon garlic aioli as a dipping sauce.
Lemon Garlic Aioli
- Place mayo, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper into a medium sized bowl.
- Whisk until well combined and serve with cooked tilapia.
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Notes
Nutrition Information
*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.