This air fryer sardines recipe is quick and easy to make using fresh fish. These crispy air-fried sardines are juicy and full of flavor. They are seasoned with chili powder, turmeric, and garlic powder, air fried until crispy and topped with lots of green onions for the perfect healthy meal. Ready in 20 minutes, your family will love this easy seafood dinner.

air fryer sardines with chopped scallions on top

Fresh fish has many amazing health benefits and it is an easy dinner to make during the week. Sardines are very inexpensive, cook up quickly, and are a great protein-filled snack.

There are many amazing recipes for using canned sardines, and they are a great appetizer served with crackers. But this recipe shows you how to cook fresh sardines in the air fryer easily, how to pick out the perfect fish, and how to clean and gut whole sardines.

How to cook air fryer sardines

Start with thawing the fish. Just leave it on the counter for couple hours and it will defrost. Or thaw it in the fridge overnight. If sardines are not cleaned you may want to do that. Well, if you don't want to clean the fish you can leave it whole. It should be fine.

Open the fish and clean all the insides. If there is any scales remove them too. You decide if you want to leave the head on or to cut it off. I prefer to keep it on so its less work to do.

raw cleaned sardines in the clear glass bowl

Add flour in to a bowl along with all the spices. I used chili powder, turmeric, garlic powder and salt. Add more spices if you want. One by one roll fish in the dry mixture. Place coated sardines in the air fryer and cook for about 20 minutes. Flip after 15 minutes of cooking.

If you like cilantro add chopped cilantro on top of cooked sardines. I like some crunch so i added chopped green onions, delicious!

Are sardines a healthy fish to eat

Sardines are a very healthy and delicious fish to eat. They have a rich and meaty flavor that is similar to mackerel and it tastes great no matter how it is cooked.

Rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and B vitamins this small fish is great to add to your diet. Unlike mackerel, sardines are low in mercury, so this delicious fish can be enjoyed on a regular basis.

Popular in Mediterranean cuisines, sardines are prepared in a variety of ways. They are often grilled, but they can also be baked, pan-fried, or cooked in the air fryer.

How to choose the best fish

You want to work with the freshest fish possible and here are a few tips to help you when picking out your sardines in the grocery store or fish markets.

Sardines have bright blue silvery skin with firm and oily flesh. Look for fish that is free of bruises and isn't smashed or soft.

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This fish will have a fishy smell but it shouldn't smell unpleasant but like the sea. Its eyes should look clear and glossy, not at all cloudy.

Fresh fish can go bad quickly, so it's best to cook it as soon as possible. Ideally within a few days of purchasing.

seasoned breaded sardines before cooking

How to clean fresh sardines

Your sardines might be already cleaned and gutted, but chances are they aren't. Fishmongers can do this for you, but they might charge extra, however, it's simple to do at home.

Cleaning and gutting fresh fish might seem like a daunting task, but it's really easy and if you follow these steps you will be pro at it in no time!

To clean your sardines, start by rinsing them under running water or in a bowl, then gently scrape off the scales, if there are any.

Next, cut off the head (optionally), and slice the belly open. Open up the fish and using your fingers scrape out the insides of the belly under running water.

Lastly, rinse the fish out really well to get rid of any remaining blood or membranes. Now its time to make our air fryer sardines recipe!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do fresh sardines need to be gutted?

When cooked whole, sardines do not need to be gutted. Most people choose to gut their fish beforehand, but if you choose not to that's fine and it doesn't leave a bitter taste on the meat.

Are air fryers good for fish?

Using the air fryer to prepare fish is an excellent way to cook it. Most fish can be ready in 20 minutes or less and the skin crisps up very nicely. Air-fried fish is perfect for busy weeknight meals or quick lunches.

Are fresh sardines better than canned?

Both fresh and canned sardines are very healthy options rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and Omega-3 fatty acids. Canned fish is usually packed in oil, so if you are trying to reduce fat in your diet fresh would be better. Additionally, fresh fish will have a richer flavor and texture and will work better in many recipes.

air fryer sardines with chopped green onions

Expert tips

You can remove heads or keep them on.
Instead of bowl you can use a ziplock bag. Just close it and shake fish with spices.
Line air fryer basket with the proper size air fryer liner, if you have it.
Flipping the fish is optional. If you will leave enough space for air to circulate between sardines, there will be no reason to flip it.
Leftovers. Store leftover sardines in the air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Fish doesn't stay fresh for long so try to eat it as soon as possible.
Side dish. Add a bowl of white rice or a nice big big bowl of green salad. Those two are my favorite sides for fish.

Air fryer sardines

Yield: 3

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

7 sardines
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon flour

Instructions

Clean sardines and remove guts.
Place them in the medium size bowl. Add all the spices and flour on top and mix them together.
Put fish in air fryer, spacing out, and cook at 390 degrees for 15 minutes. Flip and cook for another 5 minutes.
Top with chopped green onions and serve.

Notes

You can remove heads or keep them on.
Instead of bowl you can use a ziplock bag. Just close it and shake fish with spices.
Line air fryer basket with the proper size air fryer liner, if you have it.
Flipping the fish is optional. If you will leave enough space for air to circulate between sardines, there will be no reason to flip it.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 3 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 89Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 870mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 2gSugar: 0gProtein: 8g