Say goodbye to boring fish dinners with this incredibly easy Air Fryer Tilapia—ready in just 15 minutes! No breading, no fuss—just simply seasoned fish cooked to perfection, then topped with a zesty lemon butter sauce. It’s a restaurant-quality meal that’s quick, satisfying, and perfect for any weeknight.
The Quick Dish on Air Fried Tilapia
Prep: 7 minutes | Cook: 8 minutes | Total Time: 15 minutes
Cuisine Inspiration: Light and fresh seafood with a zesty twist
Primary Cooking Method: Air frying—crisp-tender
Dietary Info: Low-carb, gluten-free, and packed with protein
Key Flavor: A perfect balance of buttery richness, citrusy brightness, and warm spices
Skill Level: Easy—great for beginners and busy weeknights!
Why You Should Make this Air Fryer Tilapia Recipe
- My go-to weeknight dinner—quick, easy, and full of flavor, clean too!
- Tender and moist inside and slightly crispy outside, thanks to the air fryer
- It uses way less oil than traditional frying
- Flavorful spice blend + zesty lemon butter sauce = next-level delicious
- Forgot to Thaw? No problem, I’ll explain how to cook it from frozen!
- No Air Fryer? No problem! I’ll explain how to bake your fish in the oven!
Ingredients for the Best Tilapia in the Air Fryer
- Tilapia Fillets: You can use fresh tilapia fillets or frozen tilapia filets here! This white fish is a great source of omega-3 and fatty acids! You could also use Haddock, Cod, Grouper, and Snapper.
- Olive Oil: Use some olive oil to help the spices stick to the tilapia.
- Spices: Combine smoked paprika (or regular), garlic powder, onion, powder, ground pepper (or lemon pepper), and salt to season the tilapia to perfection!
- Baking Powder: I also add a bit of baking powder to the spices. This will help to create a nice, crispy layer on the outside of the fish! You may leave it out if you prefer. Similar to my Air Fryer BBQ Chicken.
- Lemon Butter Sauce: Combine lemon juice, lemon zest, butter and garlic!
- Green Onion: For garnish, if desired!
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
How to Make Tilapia in the Air Fryer
Step 1 – Prep the Tilapia
Pat tilapia fillets dry with a paper towel. Brush both sides with olive oil.
Mix smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, baking powder, ground pepper, and salt in a medium bowl.
Coat tilapia fillets with the dry mixture thoroughly, and give it a rub if you like, but gentle-like. Allow to absorb the spices for 5 minutes while preheating the air fryer to 400°F (205° C).
Step 2 – Air Fry
Lightly grease the air fryer basket with oil or spray oil.
Place tilapia fillets in the air fryer basket and cook for 4 minutes without crowding or overlapping. For extra crispy outsides, flip them over and cook for 3-4 minutes until they turn golden brown and crispy. Note: Cook time will vary depending on thickness of filets and your air fryer, as they all heat a little differently.
Step 3 – Make the Lemon Butter Sauce
While the tilapia is cooking, zest and juice one lemon into a small bowl; heat butter over medium-low heat until foamy; if brown butter is desired, swirl until brown and nutty, then add garlic, stirring one minute until fragrant. Stir in lemon juice and zest and serve.
Step 4 – Serve & Enjoy!
Garnish the cooked tilapia fillets with sliced green onions, parsley, or cilantro as desired.
How to cook tilapia fish in the oven
You can still make this recipe in the oven if you don’t have an air fryer. Preheat to 425°F (220°C), place the seasoned fillets on a parchment or aluminum foil-lined baking sheet (sprayed with oil), and bake for 10-12 minutes until the fish flakes easily. You won’t get quite the same crispy texture, but the flavor will still be delicious.
Air Fryer Tilapia Cooking Time and Temperature Guide
For perfectly cooked flaky and tender tilapia, air fry at 400°F (205°C) for about 8 minutes total. The cooking time might vary slightly based on the thickness of your fillets.
| Fillet Thickness | First Side | Flip | Second Side | Total Cook Time |
| Thin (½ inch) | 3 minutes | Optional | 2-3 minutes | 5-6 minutes |
| Medium (¾ inch) | 4 minutes | Optional | 3-4 minutes | 7-8 minutes |
| Thick (1 inch) | 5 minutes | Yes | 4-5 minutes | 9-10 minutes |
You’ll know your tilapia is done when it’s opaque throughout and flakes easily with a fork. If you have a meat thermometer, the internal temperature should read 145°F (63°C).
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How to Cook Frozen Tilapia in the Air Fryer
While it’s best to thaw tilapia before air frying for even cooking, you can cook directly from frozen if you’re short on time. Here’s how:
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (193°C) instead of 400°F.
- Brush the frozen fillets with oil and season generously.
- Air fry for 5 minutes, then carefully flip the fillets.
- Apply more oil if needed and cook for 5-7 minutes until the fish reaches 145°F internally.
When cooking from frozen, the exterior might not get as crispy, and the seasonings may not adhere as well, but you will still end up with flavorful tilapia!
Expert Tips for Cooking Tilapia in the Air Fryer
- Even Browning: Your fish should cook evenly without flipping, but if you are concerned or have thick tilapia filets, carefully flip using silicone-tipped tongs or a fish spatula to avoid breaking the fillets.
- Make sure your air fryer basket is clean and preheated before cooking to prevent sticking issues.
- Apply a light oil coating to the basket for the best non-stick results. Remember that some non-stick sprays can damage the air fryer basket over time, so it is best to use real oil.
- Important! Pat the fillets completely dry before seasoning to ensure the spices adhere correctly and to promote better crisping.
What to Serve with Air Fried Tilapia
This air fryer tilapia pairs beautifully with so many different side dishes! Try roasted broccoli and sweet potatoes, cauliflower rice, or zucchini noodles for low-carb or keto options. If you prefer classic comfort food pairings, steamed white or brown rice, Instant Pot mashed potatoes, air fryer hasselback potatoes, crockpot corn casserole, or garlic bread would all be delicious!
Consider a chopped Italian salad, apple coleslaw, or broccoli salad for something fresh and light!
Tasty Variations on This Air Fryer Fish Recipe
- Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia— Coat tilapia fillets with grated Parmesan cheese and panko breadcrumbs before air frying for an extra crispy texture.
- Lemon-Pepper Tilapia— Season the fillets with lemon zest and freshly ground black pepper or your favorite lemon pepper seasoning.
- Cajun-Style Tilapia in the Air Fryer— Use a cajun seasoning to season the tilapia in place of the spices in this recipe. This lends a bold, spicy flavor that would go perfectly with red beans and rice!
- Try these Air Fryer Fish Sticks or this Beer Battered Fish recipe.
- Try swapping out the white fish for these; use Grouper, Haddock, Cod, and Snapper.
How to Store and Reheat Air Fried Tilapia
Store: Let fish cool, then place in an airtight container with a paper towel underneath. Refrigerate up to 3 days. Store lemon butter sauce separately.
Reheat: Air fry at 350°F for 3–4 minutes or bake in a 350°F oven for 8–10 minutes. Skip the microwave—it makes the fish rubbery and soggy.
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Ingredients
Tilapia Fillets
- 2 thawed tilapia fillets see notes for frozen
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika or regular
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper also try lemon pepper
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Lemon Butter Sauce
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 zested lemon
- 3 tablespoons melted butter unsalted or salted, adjust salt to taste
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 sliced green onion for garnish or parsley or cilantro
Instructions
- Pat tilapia fillets dry with a paper towel. Brush both sides with olive oil.2 thawed tilapia fillets, 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Mix smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, baking powder, ground pepper, and salt in a medium bowl.½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon ground pepper, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Coat tilapia fillets with the dry mixture thoroughly. Let them marinate and absorb the spices for 5 minutes while preheating the air fryer to 400°F (205° C).
- Lightly grease the air fryer basket with oil or spray oil.
- Place tilapia fillets in the air fryer basket and cook for 4 minutes. Most fish shouldn't need to be flipped when air fryer, but if your filets are really thick, for even browning and crisping, you may want to flipi. Then, turn them over and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes until they turn golden brown and crispy. Note: Cook time will vary depending on thickness of filets and your air fryer, as they all heat a little differently.
- While the tilapia is cooking, melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. If desired, continue cooking the butter until it browns—it will foam, sizzle, and start to smell nutty. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30–60 seconds, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. In a small bowl, combine the lemon zest and juice, then stir in the browned garlic butter and a pinch of salt to make the lemon butter sauce.1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 1 zested lemon, 3 tablespoons melted butter, 2 cloves garlic
- Garnish the cooked tilapia fillets with sliced green onions, parsley, or cilantro as desired.1 sliced green onion for garnish
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Notes
How to cook tilapia fish in the oven
Preheat to 425°F (220°C), place the seasoned fillets on a parchment or aluminum foil-lined baking sheet, and bake for 10-12 minutes until the fish flakes easily. You won’t get quite the same crispy texture, but the flavor will still be delicious.Storage & Reheating
Store: Let fish cool, then place in an airtight container with a paper towel underneath. Refrigerate up to 3 days. Store lemon butter sauce separately. Reheat: Air fry at 350°F for 3–4 minutes or bake in a 350°F oven for 8–10 minutes. Skip the microwave—it makes the fish rubbery and soggy.Frozen Tilapia
While it’s best to thaw tilapia before air frying for even cooking, you can cook directly from frozen; here’s how:- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (193°C) instead of 400°F.
- Brush the frozen fillets with oil and season generously.
- Air fry for 5 minutes, then carefully flip the fillets.
- Apply more oil if needed and cook for 5-7 minutes until the fish reaches 145°F internally.
Nutrition
Nancy
I followed your recipe as written but, unfortunately it was not crispy. I cooked it longer hoping it would crisp up but it stayed wet. It became worse when I added the butter sauce. What did I do wrong?
Hi Nancy, I’m so sorry to hear that. My initial hunch is every air fryer heats a little differently, and it doesn’t sound like yours crisped it enough. I’d increase your heat in 10-15° increments to see if you get a better result. A few questions, did you use parchment paper underneath? Did you flip it? (if so, maybe try not flipping the next time). Did you pat the fish dry before oiling? Was is partially frozen or all the way frozen? Would love to help you troubleshoot this. I’m making it again tonight to video it, so I will pay special attention to the crisping factor.