Air Fryer Tilapia -Tilapia is a tasty, quick, and delicious seafood made right in your air fryer. This recipe is fantastic. A simple flavoring, but it is full of flavor! An Ideal weeknight supper your whole family will adore!
Why We Love this Tilapia Recipe
One of the best and most simple ways to cook fresh fish is in the air fryer. That is why this tilapia recipe will come out delicious every time! I love a heart-healthy meal, and this one definitely doesn’t skimp on the flavor like some other tilapia recipes.
You’ll be using lots of herbs and healthy ingredients to season this fish which ensure that it’ll come out full of flavor. Use this recipe for a quick dinner when you are busy or you can meal prep this tilapia and reheat it later in the week!
This fish is very versatile as a meal. You can serve it on top of a fresh green salad, along side some pilaf rice, make tacos out of it, or make it even healthier with some roasted vegetables like my Air Fryer Roasted Cauliflower or my Air Fryer Roasted Vegetables.
If you are looking for even more air fryer fish recipes, some of my favorites are Honey Mustard Salmon or even Baked Haddock.
What You’ll Need to Make Air Fryer Tilapia
With just a few ingredients, you can cook this up in your air fryer basket or air fryer oven; It will be delicious. Remember, depending on the air fryer you are using, you may need to add a couple of minutes to your cooking time. Tilapia should be cooked to at least 145 F. For the best Air Fryer Tilapia, make sure that you watch your tilapia as it cooks up so you don’t overcook it. The result will be a delicious piece of Air Fryer Tilapia!
- Tilapia Fish: Use good sized pieces. They will be easier to cook. I recommend about 5 ounces each.
- Butter
- Grapeseed Oil: You can use any high heat oil such as Avocado Oil, Vegetable Oil, or even Coconut Oil.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Pine Nuts
- Shallots
- Seasonings: Lemon Balm Leaves, Basil Leaves, Lemons, Garlic, Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes, and Minced Garlic
How To Make Tilapia Filets In The Air fryer
- Prepare lemon balm pesto. Roughly chop lemon balm and basil leaves and place them into a food processor. Add garlic cloves, minced shallot, parmesan, pinenuts, and lemon juice. Puree into a paste, then add grapeseed oil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Puree 15 to 20 seconds more.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 F for five minutes.
3. Season tilapia with a pinch of salt and pepper. Add a slice of butter on top of each filet.
4. Spray the air fryer with cooking spray and place the tilapia fillets into the air fryer basket and cook for 5 minutes. Flip tilapia over, add a dollop of pesto on top of each filet, and cook for five more minutes.
5. Serve tilapia with pesto and garnish with lemon wedges.
Pro Tips:
Pesto Sauce: Today, I made a homemade pesto sauce. If you want a quick weeknight meal, feel free to switch to a store-bought pesto sauce. Some of my favorites are Trader Joe’s Pesto Sauce, Prego Basil Pesto, and Alessi Pesto Sauce.
Batches: Be careful not to crowd your air fryer basket. Otherwise, you will end up with unevenly cooked fish. Most air fryer baskets will hold between 2 to 3 tilapia filets. If you are using an air fryer oven, you should be able to fit 5 to 7 tilapia fillets.
Flipping: Depending on what air fryer you are using, you may need to flip the tilapia fish, halfway through the cooking process.
Parchment Paper: I sprayed my air fryer basket, which allowed the tilapia to slide out of the air fryer basket easily, but you can use parchment paper or a reusable silicone liner.
FAQs
This is a mild white fish that has been farm-raised.
Tilapia is a healthy fish and makes for a fantastic air fryer healthy recipe since it’s a source of protein and nutrients. It’s great for a heart-healthy meal, and with simple seasoning, your family will love them. Even picky eaters will like this tilapia since it is a mild tasting fish and will take on the flavor of the seasonings that you choose to add.
Let the tilapia cool to room temperature, and then place them into an airtight container. When stored in the refrigerator, they will last for 2 to 3 days. Heat it back up in the microwave or even pop it back into the air fryer for a few minutes to warm it up.
Tilapia is the perfect fish to make into another delicious dinner of tacos, salads, and other dishes. You can prepare it in many ways, such as fillets or chunks! To enjoy this tasty treat at its best, you should serve it with fresh lemon juice on top. Serve alongside some vegetables like Air Fryer Broccoli or even a bowl of Air Fryer Mashed Potatoes for a fantastic flavor experience that will satisfy your taste buds!
More Air Fryer Recipes
Looking for even more Air Fryer Recipes, some of my favorites are:
- AIR FRYER GARLIC BREAD
- AIR FRYER BREADED EGGPLANT
- Easy AIR FRYER IRISH SODA BREAD
- AIR FRYER PIZZA HUT BREADSTICKS
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Air Fryer Tilapia -Tilapia is a tasty, quick, and delicious seafood made right in your air fryer. This recipe is fantastic. A simple flavoring, but it is full of flavor! An Ideal weeknight supper your whole family will adore!
- 1/4 cup lemon balm leaves
- 1/4 cup basil leaves
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 1 large lemon juiced
- 1/2 ciup grapeseed oil
- 6 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1/2 tablespoon minced shallot
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 4 6 ounce tilapia fillets
- 4 tablespoons butter unsalted
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
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Prepare lemon balm pesto. Roughly chop lemon balm and basil leaves and place them into a food processor. Add garlic cloves, minced shallot, parmesan, pinenuts, and lemon juice. Puree into a paste, then add grapeseed oil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Puree 15 to 20 seconds more
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Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for five minutes.
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Season tilapia with a pinch of salt and pepper. Add a slice of butter on top of each filet.
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Spray your air fryer basket with cooking spray.
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Place tilapia fillets into the air fryer basket and cook for 5 minutes. Flip tilapia over, add a dollop of pesto on top of each filet and cook for 5 more minutes.
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Serve tilapia with pesto and garnish with lemon wedges.
Make sure to check the tilapia as it goes to make sure you don’t overcook it!
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