Homemade air fryer fish nuggets using cod, frozen tilapia in air fryer or salmon turns out great! With a light breading they’re tender on the inside but crispy on the outside. This may be our favorite new dinner creation.
These air fryer fish nuggets were kinda’ an experiment but they were so yummy I thought I’d share! Bite size pieces perfect for little fingers and full of protein for the win. Just one more air fryer recipe on The Typical Mom blog.
Ninja Foodi Fish Nuggets
If you’re looking for an easy Ninja Foodi recipe you’re in luck. Using the air crisp function on that machine, and our directions, you’ll love this meal too. Use your favorite fillets cut into bite size pieces and your favorite seasoning, even your kiddos will want seconds.
Now we’ve made a lot of air fryer fish lately. We just can’t get enough of it. I would say these are a bit like air fryer fish sticks but you can make them any size you want and know exactly what is in it. They are high in protein and low in fat it is something on our menu each week.
Tips: My Favorite models are the Cosori or making Ninja Foodi recipes with the lid that is attached.
It is best practice to put food into a hot basket. This is how to preheat air fryer first before adding your food so it becomes as crispy as possible. For best results, here’s a printable free air fryer cooking time chart here for your fridge.
Best Fish for Homemade Fish Nuggets
The one thing you should remember is that your filet should be on the firmer side. If you are just beginning with learning to love fish I might start the journey with some tilapia and some seasoned breadcrumbs. That is a very mild flavored piece of seafood and you can work your way up from there to things like air fryer fried shrimp and even air fryer bang bang shrimp.
Catfish Nuggets
This time I chose a few cod fillets because it was on sale really, and I knew it was somewhat firm. That is important but there are several other varieties that would work just as well, like catfish too. Any way you “slice it” just make sure that they are equal sizes so they cook evenly to a crisp golden brown texture.
Salmon Nuggets
If you love this pink variety, I get it, we do as well. You may have cooked our filet of air fryer salmon but especially if you have kids, finger foods are way more fun to eat. Since each piece is coated it has more flavor too and you can just pop them into your mouth!!
If your kids are obsessed with air fryer frozen chicken nuggets try to swap out a few of those with our fish versions here and see what they think!! You may change their mind about hating healthy. 😉
Ingredient Notes
The seasonings I just threw together. Of course you can swap out what you love more but Old Bay is my go to really. I personally like to add flavor but tone down on the salt. You can always add more of that when it is served.
I just used flour and egg as a coating for this. You could alternatively use a bagged fish breading mix of sorts and go that direction too. I’m sure the timing would be the same as ours using that on the outside.
You can throw this into an air fryer fish tacos when you’re done too if you want. Wrapped inside a small flour tortilla with some white sauce and cabbage it will fill lots of tummies, not cost a lot and tastes amazing as well.
Tips
Then it is time to dunk, coat, and put into a preheated air fryer. MAKE sure you spray the basket with non stick spray first though! These will definitely stick with the flour coating and you don’t want any to fall off.
I learned that the hard way on the first round because I totally forgot to do it, after that they just slid right out.
This is what I found to be the best method to add the most seasoning but not overdo it. I lightly sprinkled the walleye fish pieces with salt and pepper, then dunked into the flour, then the egg, and the flour again.
This does take a bit of time so just make it an assembly line on your countertop. Even your kids can help with this whole process. Yes it will be messy but if you integrate them in the process they are more likely to try it at the end.
The key is placing your fish bites or air fryer popcorn chicken into a single layer. This is important. Not only do you not want them sticking together but you need the hot air to touch it all the way around. Every piece will get crispy browned that way during every round this way.
How Long to Cook Fish Nuggets in Air Fryer
You are going to want about 8 minutes or so but the cook time will vary depending on how thick and large your pieces are. Flipping halfway thru is important to rotate the food and allow each side to get really crispy. This is when the non stick spray comes in really handy, so all your breading doesn’t fall off when you rotate them.
Like I said before, if your pieces are quite thick your timing may be closer to 10-12 minutes versus my 8. I would check after 8 though and break one piece open to check. Air fryer oysters are about the same time, sometimes we make both for a seafood dinner.
How long do fish fingers take to cook in air fryer?
If you chose to slice these into longer pieces like frozen chicken tenders in air fryer they would take a bit longer. I wouldn’t increase time by more than a minute or so though. I would use more bite size pieces though just to ensure the texture is the same all the way through.
Remove fried fish, taste, sprinkle more salt and pepper on if desired and enjoy with tartar sauce.
Air Fryer Fish Nuggets Recipe
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
- 2 bowls
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cube deboned fish into bite size pieces. Lightly sprinkle pieces with salt and pepper. (you can coat using a bagged fish breading mixture if you want or mix flour and seasonings together like I did below)
- In a shallow bowl mix together flour, salt, pepper, Old Bay and garlic powder.
- In another bowl whisk eggs.
- One at a time coat fish piece in flour mixture, then dip and coat with egg (allow excess to drip off), and then coat again with flour mixture.
- Preheat air fryer to 380 degrees F for 5 minutes. Spray basket with olive oil spray and put coated pieces inside in one layer without overlapping. Spray top of fish bites with olive oil spray so flour is moist.
- Close basket once full and cook for 8 minutes total. Flip pieces over after minute 4 and spray olive oil spray on top of pieces again.
- Remove, taste, sprinkle more salt and pepper on if desired and enjoy with tartar sauce.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is what ours looked like. Any longer and it wouldn’t still be moist and flaky inside. Serve with tartar or white sauce for fish and enjoy.A printable recipe for this is below which includes nutritional information as well.
If you have a Foodi you could do this same method but make air fryer fish and chips with french fries on the bottom! Air frying is a game changer when you’re a busy family who’s meal planning for a group.
Remember that olive oil spray is your friend on all air fryer fish recipes. Next you should try air fryer catfish too and go from there. A little spray will get the outside crispy yet keeping the inside nice and tender.
1. Fish fillets cut into bite-size chunks
2. Breadcrumbs or Panko
3. Whisked eggs
4. Salt and Pepper and/or other seasonings like Old Bay to add flavor
1. Add different seasonings to the breadcrumb mixture to change the flavor of the fish nuggets.
2. You can use Panko breadcrumbs for a lighter coating which you can find in gluten free as well.
You can serve the fish nuggets with a variety of dipping sauces, such as tartar sauce, ketchup, or ranch dressing.
These were yummy! I was making fish tacos and wanted an easy way to fry the fish without actually frying and they were perfect! I ate half of them while waiting for the second batch to cook 😉
This was such a unique and unexpected recipe that does not disappoint! They turned out crispy yet tender, juicy and delicious!
Hmm yes please! Drench it in ketchup and that’s the best way to get my toddler to eat fish!