Tilapia in Air Fryer - No Breading

Tilapia in the Air Fryer (No Breading) is the best way to cook fresh or frozen fish. The fish is lightly crispy on the outside, tender and flaky on the inside, and ready in only 12 minutes. The unbreaded fish is perfectly seasoned, low-carb, and an easy recipe for busy weeknights.

Cooking unbreaded fish in the air fryer is one of the easiest recipes and one of my favorites! It doesn't matter if you don't have time to defrost it first, you can cook frozen fish in the air fryer!

Serve this tilapia on a bed of Pressure Cooker Rice, lettuce, or in a tortilla shell with Authentic Pico de Gallo for a delicious fish taco that everyone will love. You can even drizzle it with Jalapeño Vinaigrette for even more flavor!

If you are in the mood for tacos, try Rockfish Tacos next!

Why You'll Love Air Fryer Tilapia No Breading

• You can use fresh or frozen fish fillets.
• The fish is ready to eat in 12 minutes.
• No breading or bread crumbs, making it low-carb and keto-friendly..
• This super quick recipe is an easy dinner perfect for busy weeknights.
• Perfectly seasoned with simple seasoning.
• It's not greasy like deep-fried fish.

Ingredients

Only four ingredients are needed to make this easy air fryer fish no breading:

• Tilapia, fresh or frozen
• Lemon-pepper seasoning
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder

See the printable recipe card below for exact amounts and a complete list of ingredients.

How To Cook Tilapia In Air Fryer No Breading

1. To make fish in the air fryer with no breading, brush olive oil on the bottom of the air fryer to prevent the fish from sticking.
2. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
3. If using fresh or defrosted fish, dry it with a paper towel. Then, place the fish fillets in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between them.
4. Mix seasoning in a small bowl and sprinkle half evenly on the fish fillets. Flip the tilapia fillets over and sprinkle the rest of the seasoning evenly over the fish. You can also put seasoning in a shallow bowl and coat the fish.
5. Air-fry fresh tilapia for 12 minutes or frozen tilapia for 14 minutes. You do not need to flip the fish halfway through the cooking time, as it is a very delicate fish that may fall apart.
6. When the timer is done, ensure the fish is cooked. It should flake easily with a fork and have an internal temperature of 145°F (62.8°C) in the thickest part of the fillet when measured with a meat thermometer.
7. To serve, squeeze some fresh lemon over the fish and serve with more lemon wedges! Enjoy!

Everyone in my family loves fish tacos. This recipe is the easiest way to turn this ⬆️ into this ⬇️.

Substitutions and Variations

• Tilapia. This recipe will also work well for flaky white fish such as sole and cod.
• Seasoning. Adjust seasonings to your taste. Use less lemon-pepper seasoning, less garlic powder, or more onion powder. Add cayenne pepper, chili powder, or Cajun seasoning if you would like to spice it up.

If you want a delicious breaded pan-fried fish recipe, try out this Crispy Japanese Fish Katsu with Homemade Katsu Sauce.

Expert Tips

• Preheat the air fryer before placing the tilapia in it.
• If the fish is frozen, it will need to cook for 2-3 minutes more than fresh tilapia fillets.
• Leave a bit of space between the fish fillets so air can pass around them for even cooking.
• Do not overcrowd the basket. You may need to cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
• For extra crispy fish, spray with olive oil spray before seasoning.

Storage Tips

Store leftover air-fried tilapia in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

You can also freeze cooked tilapia in an airtight container or Ziploc bag for up to 2 months.

Recipe FAQ's

Related Recipes

• Maple Soy Glazed Salmon
• Best Smoked Salmon on Pellet Grill
• Cod Fillet In Shrimp and Mushroom Sauce
• Ultra Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes
• Ultra Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
• Air Fryer Halibut with Crispy Panko Parmesan Crust

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

Recipe