Get ready to experience the ultimate recipe for perfectly cooked Air Fryer Halibut! This dish is not your average fish dinner - the tender, flaky halibut is coated in a crispy, cheesy crust bursting with flavor! Plus, it is ready in just 20 minutes - making it ideal for a quick weeknight dinner! Trust me when I say even the pickiest eaters will love this dish! Serve it up with your favorite sides for an unforgettable meal!
As you probably already know, I love air frying. And this air fryer halibut? It's seriously delicious and super easy to make!
And the best part is that it is a much healthier alternative to traditional frying methods because it significantly reduces the amount of oil needed.
You will love how perfectly crispy and flavorful this halibut is, and because the air fryer cuts down on cooking time, it's perfect for those busy weeknights when you're short on time.
Serve this dish with yummy side dishes like Instant Pot Jasmine Rice, Air Fryer French Fries, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, or Twice-Baked Mashed Potatoes.
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❤️ Why You Will Love This Recipe
- It's incredibly easy to make, with only basic ingredients and simple instructions.
- The air fryer cooks the halibut perfectly, with a crispy exterior and tender, flaky interior.
- The parmesan crust adds a crispy layer of flavor to the fish.
- This air fryer recipe is a healthier alternative instead of deep frying.
- Halibut is a delicious and nutritious fish, full of protein, selenium, phosphorus, and vitamin D.
- It's simple enough for an easy weeknight meal but is also perfect for a special occasion.
- It's also great for meal prep throughout the week, and is delicious in fish tacos!
🐟 Ingredients
Only simple ingredients are needed to make this recipe, and you can find everything you need at your local grocery store.
- Halibut fillets: These are the star of the dish! You can use fresh halibut from the seafood counter, or frozen halibut from the freezer aisle. When choosing fresh halibut, the flesh should be firm and bounce back when pressed with your finger. If it feels mushy or slimy, it's not fresh. It should also have a mild smell. If it has a strong fishy odor, it's not fresh.
- Eggs help the Panko mixture stick to the halibut.
- Lemon juice adds a bright, tangy flavor to the dish. You can also use lime juice.
- Panko breadcrumbs create a crispy, crunchy crust on the halibut.
- Parmesan cheese, seasoning salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper flavor the Panko crust.
- Avocado oil spray is used to crisp up the outside of the fish. I used avocado oil spray, but you could also use an olive oil spray.
See the printable recipe card for exact measurements and a complete list of ingredients.
♨️ Step-By-Step Instructions
To make this easy seafood recipe, preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F.
The next step is to prepare the halibut fillets by removing the skin using a sharp knife. Cut along the edge of the skin, then gently pull it away from the flesh. You can also remove the skin after the fish is cooked, but it's easier to do it before cooking.
Then, pat dry the fillets with a paper towel.
Next, gather three shallow bowls to form your dredging station.
First, in a shallow dish, combine the flour and ½ teaspoon of seasoning salt.
In a separate dish, beat the eggs and lemon juice together.
In the third dish, combine the Panko breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, and the remaining seasoning salt and pepper.
Now it's time to coat the fish. First, coat the fish fillets in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.
Next, dip the fillets in the egg mixture, allowing any excess to drip off.
Finally, dredge the fillets in the Panko coating, pressing the breadcrumb mixture onto the fillets with your fingers to adhere.
Place the halibut fillets in the preheated air fryer basket and spray the top of them with cooking spray. Place the basket in the air fryer and cook for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, carefully flip the fish over with tongs and spray the top with avocado oil spray.
Air fry the halibut for ten more minutes, or until the internal temperature of the fish reaches 145 degrees F with a meat thermometer and the crust is golden brown and crispy.
Hint: The cook time will depend on the thickness of the fish. A thicker fillet will take longer to cook than a thinner fillet.
Once your halibut is done, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
Serve with your favorite side dishes.
Enjoy!
🥗 How To Serve Air Fryer Halibut
- Serve it with tasty vegetables like Air Fryer Broccoli and Cauliflower, Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus, or Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts.
- Pair it with a salad made with greens like spinach, arugula, or mixed greens, and topped with cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, and a light vinaigrette.
- Serve it with cauliflower rice, quinoa, or Instant Pot Rice for a more filling meal.
- Use the cooked halibut in a fish sandwich or wrap, along with your favorite toppings and condiments, or in a fish taco with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, cheese, and Mango Habanero Salsa.
💭 Expert Tips
- Use fresh halibut fillets for the best flavor and texture. If using frozen fish, ensure that it is completely defrosted.
- Cut the halibut fish into one-inch wide strips for homemade fish sticks.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket - cook the halibut in batches if necessary.
- Spray the halibut with cooking spray to help the crust brown and crisp up.
- Let the halibut rest a few minutes after cooking to allow the juices to redistribute and prevent the fish from drying out.
- Serve the halibut with lemon wedges and homemade tartar sauce.
❓ Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! While halibut is used for this recipe, you can use other firm-fleshed fish like cod, tilapia, or white fish.
Yes, you can experiment with different types of cheese, like cheddar or mozzarella. Just keep in mind that the flavor and texture may be slightly different.
Yes, you can bake the halibut in the oven instead. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and bake the halibut for 20-30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F and the crust is golden brown and crispy. If the halibut is thinner, it will cook faster.
Yes, you can use gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs to make this recipe gluten-free.
While the halibut is best served fresh, you can prepare the coating and store it in an airtight container until ready to use. Just coat the halibut fillets right before cooking.
Yes, you can! Simply swap out the all-purpose flour for almond flour or coconut flour. And instead of Panko breadcrumbs, use crushed pork rinds.
Leftover cooked halibut can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It's a great option for meal prepping, as you can easily reheat it in the air fryer or oven for a quick and easy meal.
👪 More Easy Seafood Recipes You'll Love
This Air Fryer Halibut recipe is delicious and easy to make, and it's perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion. With its crispy exterior, tender interior, and flavorful parmesan crust, this dish will become a family favorite. Give it a try, and let me know what you think!
📋 Recipe
Air Fryer Halibut with Crispy Parmesan Crust
Equipment
- Tongs
- 3 Shallow bowls
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds halibut fillets
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon seasoning salt divided
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup parmesan
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- avocado spray
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Prepare the halibut fillets by removing the skin using a sharp knife. You can also leave the skin on if desired. Pat dry the fillets with a paper towel.
- In a shallow dish, combine ½ cup of flour and ½ teaspoon of seasoning salt.
- In a separate dish, beat the two eggs and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice together.
- Combine 1 cup of Panko breadcrumbs, ½ cup of parmesan cheese, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, and the remaining ½ teaspoon of seasoning salt and ⅛ teaspoon of black pepper in a third dish.
- First, coat the fish fillets in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Next, dip the fillets in the egg mixture, allowing any excess to drip off. Finally, dredge the fillets in the Panko coating, pressing the breadcrumb mixture onto the fillets with your fingers to adhere.
- Place the halibut fillets in the preheated air fryer basket and spray the top of them with cooking spray. Place the basket in the air fryer and cook for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, carefully flip the fish over with tongs and spray the top with avocado oil spray.
- Air fry the halibut for ten more minutes, or until the internal temperature of the fish reaches 145 degrees F with a meat thermometer and the crust is golden brown and crispy. (The cook time will depend on the thickness of the fish. A thicker fillet will take longer to cook than a thinner fillet.)
- Once your halibut is done, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Use fresh halibut fillets for the best flavor and texture. If using frozen fish, ensure that it is completely defrosted.
- Cut the halibut fish into one-inch wide strips for homemade fish sticks.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket - cook the halibut in batches if necessary.
- Spray the halibut with cooking spray to help the crust brown and crisp up.
- Let the halibut rest a few minutes after cooking to allow the juices to redistribute and prevent the fish from drying out.
- Serve the halibut with lemon wedges and homemade tartar sauce.
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