These crispy air fryer fish filets go from the freezer to your plate in under 15 minutes! Add some tartar sauce and your favorite side dish and dinner is ready in practically no time.
You know I’m a big fan of cooking food straight from the freezer. Whether it’s shrimp or chicken or even steak, cooking protein from frozen is definitely a handy skill to have. It’s saved me on more than a few occasions when I didn’t pull something out to defrost for dinner!
I recently discovered that you can use the same technique as the shrimp I mentioned above to make crispy air fryer fish from frozen — and it only takes a few minutes longer than the original recipe does. The texture of these frozen fish filets is a little meatier and not quite as flaky as my air fryer fish filets and they’ll only be breaded on one side, but they still come out super crispy and piping hot.
Do You Have To Defrost The Fish?
The beauty of this recipe is that you don’t need to defrost the frozen fish fillet first – it basically goes straight from the freezer to the air fryer basket, with just a short stop along the way to get a nice coating of breadcrumbs and seasonings.
The fish defrosts and cooks through while the breading crisps up, resulting in perfect fish filets with minimal effort.
Kind Of Fish Fillets
I used frozen tilapia for this air fryer recipe, but most kinds of white fish fillets will work as well. Try pollock, haddock, halibut, or cod as well for your breaded fish fillets.
Want to cook salmon? Try my Air Fryer Salmon recipe where I show you how to get wonderfully crispy skin.
How Do You Bread Frozen Fish?
The standard process of dredging the fish in eggs and breadcrumbs doesn’t work with frozen fillets since the hard surface doesn’t give the breading anything to stick to.
Instead, start by coating the fish with a thin layer of olive oil — you can brush it on or use an olive oil mister. The oil will begin to freeze when it hits the frozen fish, becoming sticky and acting like a glue for your breadcrumbs.
Next spoon one tablespoon of seasoned panko breadcrumbs over the top of each filet, covering as much of the fish as you can. Press gently to help the breading stick.
How To Air Fry Frozen Fish
Carefully transfer the fish to the basket of your air fryer and cook for 12-14 minutes, or until the fish is piping hot and cooked through and the breading is golden brown. I like to serve mine with a side of tartar sauce.
I can fit 2-3 fish filets into my air fryer at a time. If you need to make multiple batches, keep the cooked fish warm in a 250°F oven.
I hope you love these air fryer frozen fish fillets, it’s such an easy recipe to help get dinner on the table.
More Seafood Recipes
You can browse my entire collection of amazing seafood recipes, but here’s some great ones to get you started.
- Baked Fish Fillets from Frozen
- Pan-Fried Fish Fillets
- Easy Tilapia Fish Tacos
- Air Fryer Scallops Recipe
- Air Fryer Breaded Shrimp from Frozen
Podcast Episode About Making Frozen Fish In The Air Fryer
Listen to me explain briefly about how to make this fish, along with some other great tips, by clicking the play button below:
Listen to more Recipe of the Day episodes here.
Print
Air Fryer Fish from Frozen Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Total Time: 19 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings
- Category: Entrée
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
DESCRIPTION
These crispy air fryer fish filets go from the freezer to your plate in under 15 minutes! Add some tartar sauce and your favorite side dish and dinner is ready in practically no time.
Ingredients
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2 Tbsp. panko breadcrumbs
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1/4 tsp. Kosher salt
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1/8 tsp. Garlic powder
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Olive oil spray
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2 frozen tilapia filets
Instructions
- Heat your air fryer to 370°F.
- In a small bowl, mix together the panko bread crumbs, salt, and garlic powder.
- Spritz or brush each fish filet with olive oil.
- Spoon 1 tablespoon of breadcrumbs onto each fish filet, spreading it evenly to coat the entire top of the filet. Press gently to help the breading adhere to the fish.
- Place the fish breaded side up in your air fryer.
- Air fry for 12-14 minutes, or until piping hot and golden brown. The exact cooking time will depend on the thickness of your fish fillets.
Love this recipe? I’d appreciate it if you could scroll down and add a *5 star rating* to help others know they’ll love it as well!
This post originally appeared in December 2020 and was revised and republished in October 2023.
Quick, easy and yummy! Good base recipe for any fish in the air fryer, when you are not yet comfortable with ‘winging it’.
Thank you, Carol. Happy it worked well for you.
was the best, followed recipe to the end.
So happy you enjoyed, Bradley!
Thank you for this recipe. Your site has taught me some valuable techniques.
I’m so happy to hear that, Keith! Thanks for taking time to comment.
I love the recipe Iafe it yesterday and I’ll be making it everyday for lunch until my bag of frozen tilapia is gone.I like you don’t have to defrost the fish it takes 1/2 in thet time i csn actually be eating lunch it’s so quick easy and delicious thanks for the recipe
You’re welcome, Susan! So glad it’s an easy and tasty lunch for you.
Excellent! My air fryer doesn’t allow a temp of 370 so I used temp of 375 for 12 minutes and it worked perfectly. Instead of garlic powder I sprinkled with Old Bay season. I was delicious!
Yum! That sounds so good, Carole!
Used haddock filets. Have 2 basket air fryer. Cooked 4 fillets wasn’t as crispy as I had wanted however will cook for 2 minutes longer next time. This recipe is 5 star. Easy, quick and delicious. My family enjoyed it. Served with garden vegetable rice and asparagus.
Thank you for the feedback, Donna, and I’m happy you all enjoyed. Sounds like a wonderful meal.
This was Delis and quick, thank you for the recipe.
You’re welcome, Polly! Thanks for taking the time to comment.
I made this tonight and it turned out wonderful. So easy too! This will definitely be on my weeknight rotation.
Thank you so much, Carla! I really appreciate it. :)