Air fryer frozen tilapia is a quick and delicious way to cook fish when you don't want to thaw it or don't have a lot of time. Healthy dinner on the table in less than 15 minutes!
In this recipe i will show you how you easily cook air fryer fish from frozen. Its simple and will save your time when you are rushed to make a meal.
How to cook air fryer frozen tilapia fillets
Take tilapia out of the package and optionally rinse it with cold water. Slice enough lemon to cover the air fryer basket. Lemon has two roles here: it prevents fish from sticking to the bottom of the air fryer basket. Also it infuses tilapia with yummy lemon aroma and taste. Win win.
Place frozen tilapia on top of lemon slices. Now if you are using an oil spray, lightly spray each tilapia fillet. You can also use an oil and brush fillets with it using a silicon brush. I prefer a spray because its quicker and easier.
After spraying fish, mix all the spices ingredients in one little bowl. Cover fillets with spice mix. I only seasoned tilapia on one side but you can totally sprinkle spices on both.
There is no need to preheat the air fryer, just close the basket and cook for 12 minutes at 390 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you will place little pieces of lemon on top of fillets too, you need to know that they may fly all over the air fryer while cooking. You can use little toothpicks to secure them or just cut a thicker piece. Or do not use them at all.
Can i use another fish
Absolutely. Other similar white fish like cod or swai will be just fine. Mahi mahi is amazing too. You need to make sure that the thickness is the same as the tilapia. Otherwise you will need to change cooking time.
Tilapia is a great choice for those on the budget. The fish is very inexpensive and affordable for many people. Tilapia that is sold in stores is farm raised and available in many countries.
Where to buy frozen tilapia
Tilapia is a very popular fish here, in US and there should be no problem to find it in the store. I bought mine in Walmart and fillets in this pack are pretty small (see picture below). I was able to fit 4 of them in one batch.
Some other stores sell bigger tilapia fillets. If you have a bigger fillet, you may want to cook it a little longer. Also the air fryer will fit only two large fillets at the same time.
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Expert tips
Just like any other recipe, this air fryer frozen tilapia recipe has some tricks.
- Make sure the fish is cooked until the instant thermometer shows at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit. It will ensure that the fish is cooked properly and there is no raw parts inside.
- Use your favorite seasoning. I used what i thought fit well in this recipe which is garlic powder, onions powder, dried thyme, salt and pepper. But if you like lets say basil on your fish, add it too.
- Lemon slices are used to prevent tilapia from sticking to the basket and for flavor. Don't skip that step.
- If you don't have an instant meat thermometer, there is another way to check if the fish is cooked through. The meat will turn opaque color and fillets will flake easily.
Side dish
White fish goes very well with a light salad. This is a perfect low carb dinner option. If you don't care about carbs, have this air fryer frozen tilapia with a nice bowl of white or brown rice. Classic combination of white fish and rice is always a great idea. Homemade mashed potatoes in Ninja Foodi is an excellent choice if you have a pressure cooker, Instant pot will work too.
How much fish to buy per person
It is recommended that the fish portion size is 3,5 oz per serving. That's about right in this recipe. If fillets are small then its 2 small fillets per person. If they are large, then its 1 large tilapia fillet per serving.
Cooking time and temperature
Cook frozen tilapia in air fryer at 390 degrees for 12 minutes. This time is enough to cook 4 little fillets all the way through. If using large fillets, increase cooking time to 14 minutes.
Leftovers
You can store leftovers in an air tight container in the fridge for 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer or in the microwave. You can also freeze leftovers. Use a freezer friendly plastic bag or container and freeze tilapia for up to 4 months. Reheat right in the air fryer at 400 degrees for a few minutes.
More air fryer recipes
More fish recipes
Air fryer frozen tilapia
Air fryer frozen tilapia is a quick and delicious way to cook fish when you don't want to thaw it. Healthy dinner on the table in less than 15 minutes!
Ingredients
- 4 frozen small tilapia fillets (or 2 large)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 1 lemon, slices
- oil spray
Instructions
- Lay sliced lemon in the bottom of the air fryer basket.
- Place frozen fillets on top of lemon slices. Mix spices in a small bowl. Spray some oil on top of tilapia and cover with spices.
- Place a little piece of lemon on top of each fish fillet.
- Cook at 390 degrees for 12 minutes. Cover with chopped cilantro.
Notes
- Increase cooking time to 14-15 minutes if using large tilapia fillets.
- Make sure the fish is cooked until the instant thermometer shows at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit. It will ensure that the fish is cooked properly and there is no raw parts inside.
- Use your favorite seasoning. I used what i thought fit well in this recipe which is garlic powder, onions powder, dried thyme, salt and pepper. But if you like lets say basil on your fish, add it too.
- Lemon slices are used to prevent tilapia from sticking to the basket and for flavor. Don't skip that step.
- If you don't have an instant meat thermometer, there is another way to check if the fish is cooked through. The meat will turn opaque color and fillets will flake easily.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 226Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 625mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 45g
Alysha
Are you preheating for this recipe?
Tanya
no there is no need to preheat the air fryer
Tom
Great recipe - i used 2 pieces of tilapia over the slices of one lemon, but i should have used the slices from 2 lemons for top & bottom, and def used more pepper! I used half tsp of "garlic pepper seasoning" instead of half tsp of each -def not enough garlic nor pepper. I'll follow your recipe closer next time - PERFECTLY done tho- from frozen to fully cooked in about 12 mins . I did squeeze out juice from the cooked lemons on the bottom, I didn't slice enough for lemons on top!
So don't be shy with the lemons or the pepper!
Thank you Tanya for a great recipe for this first timer. Happy Cooking!
Tanya
Thank you! So glad you liked it!
Mar Mar
Tilapia on the lemons is Genius - i scooped up the tilapia with my flat spatula without disturbing the delicate shape, so it plated perfectly, and
I added bits from the cooked lemon slices over the top of the fish for added flavor. Clean up was a breeze too - Kudos for all the ingenuity. Will have this again soon.
Tanya
thank you for review and so glad you liked it!
Charlene
This came out great! I didn't bother with the lemon on top, and added some smoked paprika... just because I love it. But the timing was perfect, and it turned out delish! thanks for an easy recipe for a fast meal!