Here is a quick and easy air fryer pollock recipe that you are sure to love! It's made with pollock fillets and a delicious garlic lemon compound butter. This perfectly melt-in-your-mouth moist and flaky seafood dish is ready to enjoy in less than 20 minutes.

Today I am sharing another fantastic air fryer recipe! Like all of my nearly no-fail fish recipes, air fryer pollock is easy to prepare with a handful of ingredients and little fuss.

This seafood dish is both healthy and decadent, but not too heavy. For the most delicious pollock we top the fillets with a simple combination of minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, and just 1 tablespoon of butter.

The compound butter adds a bright and rich taste, while also helping the fish to get lightly crisp and tender... And without nearly as much butter or added fat/oil as other stovetop recipes!

Best of all, the delicate pollock meat becomes fork-flaky in under 10 minutes of air frying! So this healthier meal is just right for a fast but super flavorful weeknight dinner.

Recipe ingredients

Pollock fillets. Fresh, or frozen and thawed. Rinse gently under cold running water to clean, and lightly pat dry with a clean towel. before seasoning.

Garlic cloves. Bold savory flavor that is terrific with the light pollock meat.

Butter. Unsalted and slightly softened at room temperature.

Lemon. Both juice and slices of lemon are needed.

Salt and pepper. Classic seasonings to enhance the fish's flavor.

How to make air fryer pollock

If your fish is frozen, you need to thaw it first. Just leave it on the plate on the counter for about one hour or so. Pollock fillets are pretty thin so they defrost fast.

Rinse fillets with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Slice lemon and place slices in the air fryer basket. Place fish fillets on top of the lemon.

Lemon is used to prevent fish from sticking to the air fryer basket. Alternatively you can use air fryer liners or simply spray the basket with any oil spray or brush it with the oil.

Melt butter in a small bowl. It should take about 15 seconds in the microwave. Add salt, freshly ground black pepper and lemon juice. Add minced or chopped garlic and stir.

Pro tip: use unsalted butter if you are adding salt to the mixture. Otherwise use salted butter and skip the salt.

Cover fish with about half of the mixture preserving another half for later. Place air fryer basket in the air fryer and cook fish at 375 degrees for 4 minutes.

Open the air fryer, brush the rest of the butter garlic mixture on the pollock fillets and place back in the air fryer. Cook for another 4 minutes.

Variations

• Use a plant-based butter alternative for a dairy-free seafood recipe.
• I like to make this recipe with a bit of crushed white pepper in addition to crushed black pepper. The spice combination creates a fabulous earthy, spicy flavor. You can use other seasonings if you like! Try a bit of crushed red pepper for some heat, lemon pepper seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or Old Bay to make the compound butter.
• This basic air fryer pollock recipe can be used to cook other types of fish! Swap the pollock with your white fish of choice like cod, haddock, or red snapper.
• You can use olive or avocado oil instead of butter if you prefer.

Tips and suggestions

• Leave the fish skin on for the most flavor. This also helps keep the meat moist and from sticking.
• Wondering how to keep your fish from sticking? After preheating, line the basket of the air fryer with a square of parchment paper to keep the fish from sticking. Bonus: This also makes cleanup a snap!
• Alternatively, you can lightly spray the bottom of the basket with oil.
• Do not overlap the pollock fillets or overcrowd the basket. Give each piece a bit of room for the most well-cooked fish.
• There is no need to flip the fish while cooking!

Frequently asked questions

Side dishes

A bowl of steamy hot white, brown or wild rice never disappoints when served with any kind of fish. Grilled, roasted or steamed vegetables like zucchinis, mushrooms, eggplant, cauliflower, broccoli… you name it.

A nice green salad is also a great idea. Mix arugula or spinach or romaine lettuce with tomatoes, bell peppers, onions and cucumbers. Drizzle olive oil mixed with balsamic and mix.

For a more filling dish make some mashed or roasted potatoes, scalloped potatoes or couscous of any kind.

Leftovers and storage

1. Leftovers will keep in the fridge in the air tight container for up to 3 days. Fish is not getting any better when stored for longer time.
2. Reheat in the microwave on low heat until warm, about 1 minute. Or in the air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-3 minutes.
3. Freeze in the freezer friendly container for 2-3 months.

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Hope you will like this air fryer pollock recipe as much as we do. Rate the recipe if you made it and leave a comment below if you have any questions or suggestions.