How to make the best air fryer fish tacos with cod, halibut, or your favorite fillet. Perfectly tender yet crispy on the outside in every bite, air fryer tacos are the bomb!
Air fryer fish tacos are great! A healthy dinner with just 2 main ingredients and quite cheap too really. Amp it up with additional seasonings and sauce to serve to your family this week. One of many easy air fryer recipes here on The Typical Mom blog. (affiliate links present, originally published 6/21)
Fish Tacos in Air Fryer
There are tons of possibilities once you get the hang of this simple breading and how to cook it. Use whatever variety you like from fresh to frozen, lightly seasoned, breaded or everything in between.
Make air fryer tilapia, mahi mahi, cod, air fryer catfish or even salmon in air fryer if you prefer. It all works so well. You could even make more than one option so everyone can choose.
If you love air fryer recipes too, here are some resources to start with:
- THIS is my Favorite Air Fryer!
- You can find more Air fryer recipes here, we have Ninja Foodi recipes as well; bookmark them both!
- This is the best air fryer cookbook. It’s important to know and remember how to preheat air fryer for best results.
- Here’s a printable free air fryer cooking time chart here for your fridge.
- It has temp. and times for making the best frozen foods for air fryer too.
- Then join our Facebook page where you can share and find more ideas you’ll love.
Air Fryer Fish Tacos Tilapia
Honestly I used this white fish because that was on sale that day. We like any sort of air fryer fish honestly, I don’t think there’s a swimmer we haven’t loved.
You can make it very simple with just a sprinkle of salt and pepper or use bread crumbs lightly for a crunchy coating. Italian style has seasons already in it but I prefer to use Lawry’s or Old Bay to give it more flavors we love.
- Fresh or defrosted fish cut into large bite size pieces. The larger they are the longer the cook time will be, sizing below has turned out the best.
- Breadcrumbs or use this ready made dry fish fry mixture.
- Use any seasonings like garlic powder and/or salt you love to add flavor. Taco seasoning works good too. You can include it in the crumbs or directly on the fish before adding the coating.
- A fresh lime juice squeeze is great when serving these babies.
Once it is done the toppings you use are endless…..
Air Fryer Fish Tacos with Slaw
Our white sauce for fish tacos is the perfect way to top them all of course, or use tartar sauce if you prefer. Flour or corn tortillas are perfect, choose smaller sizes so you can pick them up easily. Cole slaw is a must too.
You can make a batch up pretty quick using bagged slaw mixture with a simple bottled dressing, buy in a container already made or homemade. I think the insides really need some crispy crunchiness inside but that is up to you.
Healthy Air Fryer Fish Tacos
These are way easier than you may think to make. Of course you can fill with any items you feel would make a good combo but simple is best for us.
Well you cook the fish initially, then you will put all the ingredients together after that is done. It is done in stages, you wouldn’t want your slaw hot!
How long do you air fry frozen fish fillets?
We have directions for air fryer fish and chips you can follow for that. Just leave off the french fries since you wouldn’t need those for this. I mean we have made air fryer fish sticks too but I wouldn’t use that style for these.
Can you cook fish in an air fryer?
Yes!! Not only can you cook it fresh and/or breaded, you can also cook frozen fish in air fryer and frozen salmon perfectly. You’d never know it was rock hard just minutes beforehand.
One tip you should really remember is that the basket really needs a spray of non stick spray or olive oil. If not I have made this mistake and it wasn’t good. It sticks pretty good and all that nice breading will peel right off.
Baja Style Fish Tacos Air Fryer
Time needed: 7 minutes.
Air Fryer Fish Tacos
- Prepare
Cut piece of fish into large bite size pieces. Make sure they’re the same size so fish cook evenly. Roll in your lightly seasoned bread crumb mixture until coated.
Spray inside of air fryer basket with non stick cooking spray and lay coated pieces inside without overlapping.
Now spray the tops with olive oil and the close drawer. - Cook
Air fry at 375 degrees F. for 6-8 minutes depending on how large your pieces are. Break one piece apart to see “doneness”. Lay on paper towel and cover if making multiple batches.
When perfect add into small tortillas with sliced red onion, squeeze of tartar sauce or white fish sauce, squeeze of lime and pinch of fresh cilantro.
You can see the coloring on ours here.
Air Fryer Fish Tacos Tilapia
Whether you use swordfish or cook frozen tilapia you’re going to want to add all the YUM inside to coat it and give it some crunch.
Then it is time to load these babies up!! I like to set all kinds of different things out on the island and make a fish taco bar of sorts. Having a get together for Cinco de Mayo or want to mix up the holiday buffet? Try this!
What goes good with fish tacos?
- White sauce is a basic vinegar and mayo mixture.
- Sour cream can be store bought with no effort on your part.
- Pico de gallo salsa is out of control especially if you grow tomatoes in your garden.
- Hot sauce of any kind can add heat if you like that.
If you wanted to offer other items to serve on the side we have options like making pressure cooker refried beans or Instant Pot Mexican rice. That will make it a really hearty meal and you won’t have to make as much protein because the sides will start filling people up too.
I mean we could eat these probably twice a week. Especially if you mix up the toppings and side dishes you offer everyone.
I will say that Wahoo’s is our favorite restaurant. I tried to mimic what they offer right at home during 2020 when everything was totally shut down. We messed with it over and over and this was the best for all 5 of us.
Great for those who are seeing low carb keto options that taste great. You can just shake a little of the crispy outer texture if you prefer or really roll it in there so it’s nicely coated well.
If you’d like a thicker breading on the outside, more like at a restaurant you’ll want to add egg. We did this when making air fryer fish nuggets. These can work just as well for this recipe too. You can see how it is a bit crispier and bite sized.
What is Baja sauce made of?
If you want to add another kick make this! Sour cream, mayo, lime juice, fresh cilantro, Old Bay, and ancho chili pepper are mixed together. Adjust as needed but basically start with equal parts of the first 2 ingredients.
From there you can add Tobasco or Sriracha to add some heat to this too. I am sure you could buy it ready made, you can with tartar sauce too, but it’s pretty darn easy to make it yourself too much cheaper.
Is leftover fried fish good?
When it comes to deep fried like at Long John Silvers, it really doesn’t save well. If you use more of a dry coating like this one it doesn’t get a weird and slimy. Use your Ninja Foodi or other brand to re-crisp for about 2 minutes.
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Air Fryer Fish Tacos
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 fish fillets cod was used
- 1/2 c breadcrumbs
- 1/2 tsp salt or more to taste
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp Old Bay
Instructions
- Cut the fish fillet into large bite size pieces. Roll in seasoned breadcrumbs until coated.
- Spray inside of air fryer basket with non stick spray and lay coated pieces inside without overlapping.
- Spray top with olive oil and close drawer. Cook at 375 degrees F for 6-8 minutes (depending on how large your pieces are).
- Break one piece apart to see "doneness".
- When perfect add into small tortillas with sliced red onion, squeeze of tartar sauce or white fish sauce, squeeze of lime and pinch of fresh cilantro.
Tara
Sunday 25th of September 2022
Ooooh, I love these fish tacos in the air fryer. The texture turns out fantastic.
Sara Welch
Sunday 25th of September 2022
Enjoyed this for dinner last night and it did not disappoint! Turned out perfectly moist yet crispy! Easily, a new favorite recipe!
The Typical Mom
Tuesday 27th of September 2022
Oh yay
Biana
Sunday 25th of September 2022
These fish tacos were delicious! I like how simple they are to make in the air fryer.
Andrea
Sunday 25th of September 2022
Big fan of fish tacos. Really happy that these are air fried and not oil fried. They make a fabulous taco.
nancy
Sunday 25th of September 2022
i love fish tacos. i made it with halibut! this air fryer recipe was super easy
The Typical Mom
Tuesday 27th of September 2022
oh good!