This Air Fryer Tilapia is tender and flaky in the middle and golden-brown and crispy on the outside. This 25-minute recipe makes the best light, fresh, and healthy seafood dinner!
1teaspoonseasoning salt(reduce to ½ teaspoon if you prefer less salty)
½teaspoonItalian seasoning
¼teaspoonsalt
¼teaspoongarlic powder
¼teaspoonpaprika
⅛teaspoonblack pepper
Instructions
Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees according to manufacturer directions.
Pat tilapia dry with paper towel to remove any excess moisture.
Whisk together milk and egg in a wide shallow dish.
Combine coating in a large glass dish (big enough so that the dish can lay flat): bread crumbs, flour, Parmesan, seasoning salt, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder, paprika and pepper.
Coat tilapia in milk mixture and press firmly into the coating mixture, coating both sides well.
Open air fryer and brush basket with oil. Place tilapia in the basket (if you like, you can line the basket with parchment so they are easier to remove later). Spray top of tilapia with oil spray.
Cook for 8-10 minutes, until golden brown and fish flakes easily with a fork. If desired, you can flip the tilapia half way for more even browning, but remember that fish can be delicate.
Notes
Pat it dry. Before you season and bread the fish, pat it dry gently with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Too much moisture can prevent the exterior from getting. nice and crispy!
Preheat the air fryer. If the air fryer is heating up with the tilapia inside, the outside can burn before the inside is cooked all the way through.
Grease the basket. Be sure to grease the air fryer basket lightly with oil. This prevents the tilapia from sticking.
Another option is to line the air fryer basket with parchment paper to make it easier to remove the tilapia.
If you want to ensure even cooking, flip the tilapia halfway through the cooking time. If you do this, keep in mind that the fish is delicate, so be gentle.
Storage:Leftover air-fried tilapia will last in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months. To reheat, thaw in the fridge overnight if frozen, then reheat in the oven or air fryer to warm and re-crisp.