Description
This Air Fryer Tilapia recipe offers a quick and easy way to enjoy crispy, flavorful fish with minimal oil and fuss. Coated in a seasoned breadcrumb crust and cooked to golden perfection in the air fryer, this dish is perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner that serves 4 in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Wet Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 egg
Breading
- 2 cups Italian-style breadcrumbs
Main Protein
- 4 tilapia filets
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking and promote even crisping during the cooking process.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a shallow bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder until well combined.
- Prepare Egg Wash: In a separate shallow bowl, whisk together the milk and egg until thoroughly combined to create the egg wash.
- Set Up Breadcrumb Station: Pour the Italian-style breadcrumbs into a third shallow bowl. Arrange your breading station in the order of flour mixture, egg wash, then breadcrumbs for efficient dredging.
- Bread the Tilapia: Dip each tilapia filet first into the flour mixture, coating both sides evenly. Next, dip the filet into the egg wash. Finally, press it into the breadcrumbs, ensuring full coverage. Repeat this process for all the filets.
- Cook in Air Fryer: Place the breaded tilapia filets in a single layer inside the prepared air fryer basket. Insert the basket into the air fryer and cook for 10 minutes or until the breading is golden brown and the fish flakes easily with a fork.
- Serve: Carefully remove the crispy tilapia from the air fryer and serve immediately to enjoy the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- For extra flavor, consider adding a pinch of paprika or cayenne pepper to the flour mixture.
- You can substitute Italian-style breadcrumbs with panko for an even crispier crust.
- Be sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket to allow proper air circulation and even cooking.
- Spraying the filets lightly with cooking spray before air frying can enhance crispiness.
- This recipe is great served with a fresh salad or steamed vegetables for a balanced meal.
