Air Fryer Breaded Tilapia

one breaded fish fillet with a slice of lemon.

Air Fryer Breaded Tilapia is ready in under 16 minutes with just 5 ingredients. It's crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside, thanks to a simplified breading technique - Quick and healthy weeknight dinner that the whole family will love!

Course Air Fryer

Cuisine American

Keyword air fried tilapia, air fryer tilapia, air fryer tilapia with breading, breaded air fryer tilapia, tilapia in air fryer

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 11

Total Time 16

Servings Servings

Calories 294kcal

Author Maria Doss

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

Wet batter

2 large eggs
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper powder

Additional ingredients

1 ½ cups panko bread crumbs
2 large tilapia fillets patted dry

Instructions

Add all wet batter ingredients into a shallow bowl, whisk until smooth and well combined.
Place panko breadcrumbs in another shallow bowl.
Place tilapia in the wet batter, turning over couple of times to make sure that it is coated thoroughly. Lift tilapia with hands or tongs, allowing excess batter to drip off and then place over the bread crumbs.
Pack bread crumbs on both sides of the fish (pressing with fingers to adhere). Transfer to a plate and repeat process with remaining fish.

Cook

Pre heat air fryer to 400°F for 12 minutes. When ready, place tilapia, spacing evenly and spray the top with non-stick cooking spray. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes or until cooked through.
Tip: I like to spray a second coating of cooking spray halfway through cooking to achieve a golden and crispier crust.
Serve with homemade tartar sauce or make into fish tacos or sandwich.
(Refer notes for quick tartar sauce recipe)

Video

Notes

Quick Tartar sauce - Stir ½ cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoon pickle relish, 1 tablespoon water, 1 to 2 teaspoons lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon each salt, ground black pepper and sugar and a dash of cayenne pepper powder together.

Pat fish dry with paper towels on both sides - Any moisture on the fish might not allow the batter adhere well.

Nutrition