Skip the fish fry—our favorite way to make fried fish this
summer is with the magic air fryer. While we love a classic beer battered fish, sometimes we’re not in the mood to do the whole deep-frying thing. When we need a quick and easy way to create crispy fried fish, we turn to our air fryer for extra-crispy, flaky, and tender fish with less oil and even less effort. Welcome the warm weather ahead, and keep reading on for all of our tips on how to perfect this quick and easy seafood dinner:
What kind of fish can I make in the air fryer?
This recipe works well with any firm, mild white fish. Haddock, pollock, cod, halibut, flounder, whiting, walleye–you get the idea. Cod is usually on the thicker side, so if you’re using a thinner fish like whiting or flounder, just adjust the cook time. You’ll know the fish is done when it can be flaked with a fork.
How to make crispy fish in the air fryer:
— Cook in batches. Work in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer. Overcrowding will create steam, and steam is the enemy of perfectly crispy fish.
— Refrigerate your breaded fish first. To make sure the breading adheres to the fish when you bite into it, pop the breaded pieces into the refrigerator for 10 minutes on a parchment-lined sheet tray before frying. Once it’s chilled, if you see any spots that look wet or soaked through, sprinkle a pinch of panko on the wet spot and pat gently before frying.
— No sticking here. Most air fryers have a nonstick coating on the basket, but if want to be extra careful, try lining the basket with air-fryer-friendly parchment paper.
— Switch up your seasoning. While Old Bay is certainly the gold standard when it comes to seafood seasoning, there’s plenty of room to get creative here. Try your favorite brand of Cajun seasoning, a spicy jerk seasoning blend, or even za’atar.
Serving ideas:
We love to serve this fish alongside tartar sauce and French fries, but you can’t go wrong with hush puppies, coleslaw, Greek lemon potatoes, or any of our favorite side dishes for fish. Alternatively, use this fish in our fish tacos or fish taco bowls to give some added crunch.
Air fryer fried fish variations:
For a low carb, keto-friendly version, sub in almond flour for the AP flour and crushed pork rinds for the panko. The pork rinds will break down with a few pulses in a food processor but be sure not to grind them into a powder. If you’re looking for a gluten-free version, go for almond flour and crushed corn flakes.
Storage:
Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days and reheated in the air fryer.
Made this recipe? Let us know how it went in the comments below!