Description
This Air Fryer Tilapia recipe offers a quick, healthy, and flavorful way to prepare tender and flaky tilapia fillets. Lightly seasoned with garlic, paprika, thyme, and a touch of olive oil, the fish cooks to perfection in the air fryer, making it a perfect weeknight meal that pairs well with a variety of sides or can be served in tacos or salads.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Fish and Seasoning
- 16 oz. tilapia fillets (3 fillets)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
For Serving
- Lemon wedges, for serving
- Minced fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400ºF for 4 to 5 minutes to ensure it’s hot and ready to cook the fish evenly.
- Prepare Seasoning Mix: In a small bowl, combine olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, dried thyme, kosher salt, and black pepper. Mix well to form a flavorful seasoning blend that will coat the tilapia.
- Season Tilapia: Pat the tilapia fillets dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Brush both sides of each fillet thoroughly with the prepared seasoning mix to ensure even flavor.
- Arrange in Air Fryer: Place the seasoned tilapia fillets in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Depending on your air fryer size, you may need to cook in batches to avoid overcrowding and to ensure proper air circulation.
- Cook the Fish: Air fry the tilapia at 400ºF for 5 to 6 minutes. Check for doneness by seeing if the fish flakes easily with a fork and verify that the internal temperature has reached 145°F (63°C).
- Serve: Use a fish or thin spatula to carefully transfer the cooked tilapia to serving plates. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the fillets and garnish with minced fresh parsley if desired. Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Serve the tilapia with your choice of sides or use it in sandwiches, salads, or tacos for versatile meals.
- Adjust seasoning according to your taste; adding a pinch of cayenne pepper will add a spicy kick.
- This method is adaptable to other medium-sized fish like striped bass, rainbow trout, and red snapper.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet (approximately 5.3 oz)
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 0.2 g
- Sodium: 360 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
