Frozen fish in air fryer no breading is the way to go! Flaky tender meat inside with perfect crispiness to the outside. Lemon pepper tilapia or salmon done perfectly in your Cosori or Ninja Foodi. We have a bunch air fryer fish recipes right out of the freezer.
Jump To
- Ninja Foodi Frozen Fish
- How Long to Cook Frozen Fish in Air Fryer
- How to Season
- How do you know when frozen fish is done cooking?
- Can you make fish and chips with frozen fish in air fryer?
- Tips for Cooking Frozen Fish No Breading in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Frozen Fish Recipe
- Is air fryer fish healthy?
- Air fryer side dish recipes
Ready to learn how to cook frozen foods perfectly?? We were on a mission to figure it out, and share them all with you. THIS frozen fish in air fryer recipe turned out great, I think you will agree once you take a bite. Find this and more air fryer recipes here.
We love air fryer fish!! It’s easy to cook if it’s fresh, but frozen is a bit of a head scratcher, we’re here to help you. You won’t believe how tender and flaky it turns out even if it starts out rock hard right out of the freezer.
Once you get the hang of this you will be the hero of the day when dinner has been forgotten about until 4pm and everyone is hungry! You can lightly season it so it’s flavorful and nobody will ever know it was hard just minutes before.
Ninja Foodi Frozen Fish
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.
How Long to Cook Frozen Fish in Air Fryer
You may have never thought this was possible, I didn’t before I messed around with this, but it can in just 12 minutes. I had to make sure it would turn out perfect before sharing it with y’all. After a few go arounds it was just right and a hit with even the kids.
First we made air fryer frozen shrimp with a parmesan crust for dinner and they were over the top! Next on the list was air fryer salmon but it was defrosted, so the next challenge was some air fryer frozen fish. Here. It. Is!
Tilapia was bought from the grocery store in a bag, but you could find halibut just as easily if you preferred that seafood variety. Grab some fresh lemons and parsley while you’re there and get to cookin’ y’all!
How to Season
You can see what we used here. As far as the seasonings go you can really use your favorite ones, or use what’s listed in the recipe card below. That goes for any of our Ninja air fryer recipes in general. I tend to under-season and add salt and pepper at the end so everyone gets it exactly how they like it.
Now the difference between cooking Instant Pot frozen salmon vs. in your hot air machine is that you’ll get a bit of crispy crunch on the outside. It won’t be as much as if it were breaded, and that isn’t possible if your fish isn’t defrosted first but still.
If I had to choose whether I preferred a pressure cooker tilapia, or this method I think I’d opt for this one. Try them both though and decide for yourself.
How do you know when frozen fish is done cooking?
There are a few things you can look when cooking frozen fish fillets but the coloring is key. The top should become golden brown all the way to the center. If the center is still raw or frozen it will remain white so look for that evenly across.
What color should cooked fish be?
Fish filet should be opaque, not translucent like when it’s raw. When cooked perfectly it should break easily into flakes when you nudge it with a fork. If it’s still translucent and doesn’t flake add a few more minutes.
Throwing a batch of air fryer frozen fish sticks in there is SO good too if you want a quick meal. We have done this with a few of our other easy fish recipes. That is convenient as well if you’ve forgotten to take your food out.
Can you make fish and chips with frozen fish in air fryer?
We have made air fryer fish and chips with frozen and breaded Van deKamps right out of the box with air fryer frozen french fries and that turned out great. You could use fresh filets without breading like these the same way too. You just put fries on the bottom with seafood on trivet above them.
Tips for Cooking Frozen Fish No Breading in Air Fryer
If you do remember to thaw it out, here are directions for air fryer tilapia. You can make fried fish it in just a few minutes with light breading but tons of flavor. Keep in mind that with frozen foods the air fryer cook times will vary according to:
- How thick the fillet is
- The size of the fish
- Type of fish
- salmon will take a bit longer
- tilapia and halibut are about the same as the recipe card below
- air fryer scallops take little to no time
Once the meat is white and flaky with a fork you can then serve it inside air fryer fish tacos or lots of other ways.
Air Fryer Frozen Fish Recipe
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
Ingredients
- 4 medium frozen fish fillets, tilapia was used, frozen
- 1/2 tsp lemon pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 small lemon
- 1 pinch parsley
Instructions
- Spray air fryer basket with non stick spray and lay frozen fillets inside, do not overlap them.
- Cut lemon in half, lightly squeeze some of one half on to fish and then sprinkle with seasonings. (if you are only doing 2 at a time then only add half of seasonings to top of first batch)
- Slice other half of lemon and put a thin slice of fresh lemon on each fillet.
- Close basket and set to 390 degrees for 12 minutes, then check. Timing will vary depending on how thick each piece is and how "done" you like your fish to be. Add 2 minutes at a time and check again if you want them to have more time.
- Sprinkle diced fresh parsley on top and serve.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Is air fryer fish healthy?
YES!! It’s a way to make each piece lower in fat, calories, and eliminates some potentially harmful elements sometimes found in typically fried foods. If you love deep-fried foods crispiness this is a healthier option to get that same crunch!!
Air fryer side dish recipes
Try air frying zucchini sometime, it is amazing and only takes a few minutes after being sliced and tossed with olive oil. We do make air fryer hushpuppies with fish in general, all the time.
Air fryer corn on the cob is a healthy option and the kids always love them. For crispy broccoli with parmesan just set to 400 degrees for a few minutes with 1/4 cup water underneath so it’s crunchy but tender too. If you want to make fish and chips just pair this with frozen fries in the same basket. Serve with a side of tartar sauce and you’re set!
After this you’ll be ready to air fry everything and be obsessed just like we are. Even frozen snack foods are better I tell you. My kids won’t let me cook air fryer frozen chicken nuggets any other way! And our crispy air fryer fried shrimp is amazing beyond that.
Hello:
I was so blown away at making a great fish fry dinner from frozen!!! I used frozen cat fish and followed everything and me and my hubby were blown away!!! Thanks alot for that and I will use it again and again. Too you and your kin and family “HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!”
Oh so glad
Thanks for the cooking time and temp… super helpful, but your nutrition information for the fish is incorrect I do believe.
You Idiots Never just get to the point. If asked just tell it, plain n simple. I don’t want to hear you babble. Explain it plain n simple or just shut the fuck up
Hi @Richard J Mangels, if you scroll to the top of most food blogs, you’ll see a button that says, “Jump to Recipe” that should clear things up for you. Best of luck!
@Richard J Mangels, Hey Dick, if you don’t like it, go read something else, like a coloring book. No one asked you to be here, and no one needs to do anything for your rude, entitled ass. Sorry your parents hated you, but no need to act like a literal child and throw a tantrum because you can’t read.
@Richard J Mangels, Think you are the idiot here dude.
@Richard J Mangels,
Yet here you are all the way in the comment section, motherfucker! Guess you had the time. 💁🏻