Air fryer frozen tilapia is super convenient and super delicious! Tilapia filets are seasoned with a zesty blend of spices and then air-fried to golden perfection in a matter of minutes. It's a quick, easy, and healthy main course everyone will love.
I love fish, and I love cooking with my air fryer. So, any time I have a chance to combine those, I do. Recipes like my air fryer salmon bites are always heavily featured in my rotation, and now I've added this frozen tilapia to the mix.
Using frozen tilapia filets makes it easy to whip this recipe up anytime, especially for meal prepping, and the air fryer cooks them quickly and easily without having to defrost them.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Air Fryer Frozen Tilapia
- Basic Ingredients: All you need is tilapia, a little oil, and seasonings. That's it!
- Easy: Just season the fish and air fry it. You don't even have to defrost it!
- Bold Flavor: I use lemon olive oil for a hint of citrus and bold seasonings to make every bite explode with big, big flavor.
- Great for Meal Prep: This is a quick and easy recipe perfect for meal prepping.
Ingredients
- Tilapia Filets: Tilapia is firm and has a mild flavor that pairs well with the bold seasonings in this recipe.
- Bell Pepper: Bell pepper adds color and texture.
- Oil: A blend of Costabile olive oil and Costabile lemon olive oil helps the tilapia get a good color as it air-fries and gives it a citrus note. Use Code: 15GOLDENGK for 15% off.
- Seasonings: A blend of Cajun seasoning, Old Bay, thyme, and garlic powder gives the filets tons of flavor in every bite.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
Flavor Variations
- Tilapia: Any white firm white fish like orange roughy, cod, red snapper, pollock, or catfish will work in place of tilapia.
- Mild: For a more subdued flavor, omit the Cajun seasoning.
- Extra Spicy: Add cayenne for a kick of heat.
- Lemon Olive Oil: If you don't have lemon olive oil, use the same amount of lemon olive oil and add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.
How to Make Frozen Tilapia in Air Fryer
1: Combine all the seasonings in a small bowl. Then, wash the tilapia filets and pat them dry. Coat both sides of the filets with both olive oils. Then, evenly coat both sides of the filets with the seasonings.
2: Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil and add three fillets to it. Then, place the sliced green bell peppers on top.
3: Cook the tilapia at 395 until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees with a food thermometer.
Hint
I find it easiest to check for doneness with my food thermometer. This ensures that my tilapia is moist and flaky without being undercooked and prevents dry, overcooked fish.
Storage
Refrigerate this tilapia for up to 3 days in an air-tight container.
To reheat the tilapia, microwave individual portions at 30-second intervals until heated through.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Frozen Tilapia Filets
Serve this tilapia with rice and a flavorful vegetable side like air fryer asparagus. You can also add it to pasta dishes like Marry Me pasta or put it in place of shrimp in this blackened shrimp alfredo recipe.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Frozen Tilapia Recipe
- Don't defrost the tilapia. This recipe was designed to cook frozen fish. If you thaw the filets, adjust the cooking time.
- It's important to rinse and dry the fish so the olive oil and seasonings stick to it readily.
- Preheat your air fryer for even cooking and the best results. It only takes a couple of minutes.
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Bone-In Pork Chops
- Air Fryer Zucchini and Squash
- Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
- Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken
- Air Fryer Gluten-Free Chicken Parmesan
- Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Grilled Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Skewers
- Air Fryer Prosciutto Egg and Cheese Waffle Sandwich
- Air Fryer Thin Pork Chops
- Air Fryer Sweet Chili Honey Garlic Chicken Skewers
- Air Fryer Roast Beef Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Air Fryer Chicken Birria Spring Rolls
- Gluten-Free Air Fryer Cheese Toast
- Air Fryer Chili Lime Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
- Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken
FAQ
In general, you should preheat your air fryer. Preheating only takes a few minutes, and it ensures the food cooks evenly and consistently throughout.
Many white fish varieties can be used in place of tilapia. Fish like catfish, snapper, flounder, halibut, orange roughy, and cod all have a firm texture and mild flavor like tilapia.
With this recipe, you don't have to defrost your fish. However, if you do need to defrost fish, the safest way to defrost fish is overnight in the refrigerator. This ensures there is no bacteria growth as the fish defrosts. For quicker defrosting, place the fish in cold water. NEVER defrost fish in hot water.
Related
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Frozen Tilapia
Ingredients
- 3 tilapia filets medium
- ½ tablespoon lemon olive oil
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay
- ½ teaspoon thyme
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ bell pepper sliced
Instructions
- Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil, and preheat the air fryer to 395 degrees while you prepare the fish.
- Combine the Cajun seasoning, Old Bay, thyme, garlic powder, and sea salt in a small bowl.
- Coat each side of the filets with both olive oils. Then, coat each side of the filets with the seasoning blend.
- Place the filets in the air fryer basket and top them with the bell peppers. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes until the internal temperature registers 145 degrees with a meat thermometer.
Liz says
SO easy and delicious!! This was a quick entree that was perfect for a weeknight meal!
Anonymous says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
Tisha says
Air Frying these worked out great, and they were delicious and cooked to perfection!
Marie Breton says
Was my first time trying fish in the air fryer and it turned out perfect!
Ieva says
Perfect! Love how I didn't need to thaw the fish first, and I find that it tastes like it was;t frozen when I cook it in an airfryer. Overall, great recipe, with perfect seasoning to our taste!
Criss says
Just tried cooking frozen tilapia in the air fryer, and it turned out amazing! Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and ready in minutes. Such a quick and healthy meal option—highly recommend giving it a go!