Air Fryer Beer Battered Fish (Crispy & Easy)

Air Fryer Beer Battered Fish is light, crispy, golden brown, and shockingly easy to make. If you’ve ever wondered how to make battered fish in the air fryer without a vat of hot oil, this is the recipe you’ve been waiting for. It’s my mom’s recipe, straight from our Friday-night table in Boston, and it’s every bit as good as the version you’d order at a seafood shack.

Most people think of the air fryer as the “healthy” appliance, and it is. But it’s also a genius way to get that crispy, fried texture on comfort foods like this beer-battered cod, with a fraction of the grease.

Why Beer Battered Fish in the Air Fryer?

Growing up in an Italian Catholic household in Boston, Fridays were always reserved for fish. My mother would pick up cod or haddock, depending on whatever was on sale that week. This recipe is her Air Fryer Beer Battered Fish, made with cod, though any mild white fish works beautifully.

The beer batter fries up light and crispy, and the air fryer crisps it to a golden brown without deep-frying. It’s usually served with air fryer French fries, a scoop of copycat KFC coleslaw, and a generous dollop of homemade tartar sauce.

If you love easy air fryer seafood recipes, a few of my other favorites are Air Fryer Lemon Crab Cakes, Air Fryer Salmon with Whole-Grain Mustard, and Lemon Dill Air Fryer Salmon.

What Is Beer-Battered Fish?

Beer-battered fish is a classic dish made from a piece of white fish coated in a batter of beer and flour. The carbonation in the beer gives the batter a light, airy texture, while the flour creates a crisp, golden crust. You can enjoy it on its own or with a dipping sauce, and it’s a great choice for parties because the batter can be mixed ahead of time and cooked when you need it.

If you’re after an easy, crowd-pleasing dinner, this air fryer beer-battered fish is perfect for a weeknight and takes only about 30 minutes start to finish. It’s basically a lighter, homemade take on the classic fish and chips.

Ingredients Needed For Air Fryer Beer Battered Fish

• Cod: Traditionally used, but any white fish works.
• Cooking Spray: Olive oil spray helps the batter crisp and brown.
• All-Purpose Flour: For both the batter and the dredge.
• Baking Soda: Adds lift for a lighter coating.
• Cornstarch: Helps create extra crunch.
• Beer: A pale lager is best (more on that below).
• Egg: Binds the batter.
• Seasonings: Salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and Old Bay Seasoning.

How to Make Air Fryer Beer Battered Fish

Step One: In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the beer batter ingredients and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for about an hour.

Step Two: In a medium bowl, mix together the flour dredge ingredients.

Step Three: Cut your fish into equal-sized portions and spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray.

Step Four: Dip each piece of fish into the beer batter, shake off the excess, then coat it in the flour dredge. Use your hands to make sure every piece is fully covered.

Step Five: Place the battered fish in the air fryer basket and spray the tops generously with olive oil spray. This is the key to letting the batter fully crisp up, so don’t skip it.

Step Six: Set the temperature to 380 degrees F for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through and respraying with olive oil.

Pro Tips

Preheating: You don’t need to preheat your air fryer for this recipe. Starting with a cold (room-temperature) basket actually helps, otherwise your batter can slide off.

Crowding: Leave plenty of room around each piece of fish. Good air circulation is what crisps up the beer batter.

Flipping: Depending on your air fryer, you may need to flip the fish halfway through so both sides brown evenly.

Seasonings: Want some heat? Mix 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper into the flour dredge, or add a dash of hot sauce to the beer batter.

What Type of Fish Should You Use?

This is a true old-fashioned recipe with fantastic flavor, and it’s traditionally made with cod. That said, you can swap in any mild white fish. Being from Boston, cod and haddock are my go-tos. If you’d rather skip the fillets altogether, these Air Fryer Trader Joe’s Battered Fish Nuggets are a fun shortcut.

What Is Beer Batter?

Beer batter is a wet batter made with beer. The carbonation is what causes the coating to puff up and turn crispy as it cooks.

Can You Use Wet Batter in the Air Fryer?

Yes! You may lose a little of the coating compared to deep-frying, but wet batter works well in the air fryer with a couple of tricks. Keep the batter on the thinner side so it doesn’t slide off, and always spray the coated fish generously with olive oil (or another high-heat oil) before cooking. That spray helps the batter adhere and brown. If you love this technique, try it on Air Fryer Beer Battered Onion Rings next.

What Type of Beer to Use in Beer Battered Fish

The best beer for fish batter is any pale-colored lager. Avoiding dark, heavy beers keeps the flavor light and the color golden rather than muddy.

Some great options are:

• Corona
• Budweiser
• Michelob

What to Serve With Air Fryer Beer Battered Fish

Turn this into a full fish-and-chips spread with a few easy sides and sauces:

• Fries: Crispy Air Fryer French Fries are the classic pairing. In a hurry? Air Fryer Frozen French Fries come together in minutes.
• Coleslaw: A creamy, tangy Copycat KFC Coleslaw balances the crispy fish perfectly.
• Tartar Sauce: You can’t beat homemade. Try this Gordon Ramsay Tartar Sauce, a Captain D’s copycat, or a Long John Silver’s copycat.

Have leftovers? Here’s exactly how to reheat fish and chips in the air fryer so they crisp right back up.

More Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Beer Battered Shrimp
• Air Fryer Blackened Shrimp
• Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp
• Easy Captain D’s Copycat Recipes

Looking for even more? Browse all of my air fryer recipes for easy, family-favorite dinners.