This air fryer rockfish recipe is a healthy and delicious seafood dinner! It features moist and perfectly seasoned rockfish made in the air fryer without a breading. This tender and flavorful whitefish dinner is so quick and easy to make and can be on the table in under 30 minutes!

The air fryer is such an easy and convenient kitchen appliance to use in everyday cooking, especially for preparing seafood. You can use a minimal amount of oil and there's less cleanup compared to other cooking methods.

For this recipe, a whole rockfish is seasoned with a few everyday ingredients, such as garlic powder, ground paprika, lemon slices, and fresh parsley. It is perfectly flavorful with the perfect flaky texture that melts in your mouth! You don't need to add a breading, grab a deep fryer, or spend a whole lot of time in the kitchen. Served with a salad and your favorite sides, this is a delicious and healthy air fryer rockfish dinner that the whole family will love!

How to make air fryer rockfish

Clean and remove scales from your rockfish first. If you have a frozen fish thaw it by leaving in the sink or on the counter for a few hours.

Rinse the fish really well outside and inside the cavity as well. At this point you should start preheating the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. So when the fish is ready the oven is nice and hot.

Sprinkle rockfish with all the spices provided in the recipe, inside and out. Stuff the cavity with parsley and lay fish in the baking tray. The baking dish should be oiled or you can also slice lemon and put them on the bottom of the dish. Lay fish on top. Bake for about 20 minutes.

Recipe ingredients

Whole rockfish. You can use fresh, or frozen fish for this recipe. If using frozen, allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge or in a bowl of cold water until it's no longer icy. Rinse and clean the fish thoroughly before cooking.

Fresh parsley. Chopped and stuffed inside the fish cavity. Looks nice and adds a fresh herby flavor to this dish.

Salt. To balance out the sweetness of the fish and the other ingredients.

Garlic powder. Adds a wonderful garlic flavor to the fish.

Ground paprika. It adds a subtle smoky flavor and a nice red color.

Sliced lemon. Used to line the air fryer basket so the rockfish doesn't stick to it. A few slices are stuffed inside the fish cavity to add a nice bright citrusy flavor to the meat.

Vegetable oil. Helps the fish to stay nice and moist in the air fryer.

What is rockfish

Rockfish, also known as Rock Cod, or Pacific Snapper, refers to a group of fish that have similar characteristics. This group of saltwater fish is found in both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. They tend to hide among the rocks deep in the ocean, hence the name "rockfish".

Pacific rockfish is one of the most popular types of rockfish. It has a bright reddish/ orange color with orange and brown spots. It is very firm, and lean, with a mild pleasant flavor.

What does it taste like

Rockfish have a firm texture and white flesh. It has a slightly sweet and mild flavor with a hint of nuttiness. Its delicate taste is perfect for people who don't like fishy-tasting fish, preferring instead a more neutral seafood flavor. This delicate fish will take on the flavor of whatever you cook it with, so you don't need to use a lot of spices to have a wonderful and tasty meal.

This whitefish can be prepared in a variety of ways such as - baking, broiling, grilling, or air frying. Rockfish's mild flavor allows it can be used in place of other types of whitefish in many recipes.

Where to buy

Rockfish may be labeled as Pacific rockfish or Rock Cod. It is a popular and very abundant type of fish available at most grocery stores all year round. You can also look for it at online fish markets, or Asian grocery stores as well.

This type of fish has a naturally firm texture and a light seafood smell. So if you are buying it fresh, you don't want any fish that is mushy or has a strong unpleasant smell.

Frequently asked questions

Recipe notes

1. Do not overcook rockfish. The internal temperature of fully cooked fish should be at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Store leftovers in the air tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
3. Lay the baking dish with lemon slices. It will prevent fish from sticking to the bottom.

Side dish suggestions

For a late dinner try to make something light that will go well with the white fish like rockfish. Vegetable salad, roasted zucchinis, corn or eggplant. Seared mushrooms and Brussels sprouts. Asparagus with a touch of Parmesan and mashed sweet potatoes.

For a more traditional side dish try to make just white rice with some salsa or mashed or roasted potatoes!

Leftovers

Store leftovers in the air tight container for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or air fryer. Do not freeze cooked rockfish or it may get very dry and chewy after thawing.

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Hope you will like this air fryer rockfish recipe as much as we do. Please rate the recipe if you made it and leave a comment if you have any questions or suggestions!