Tilapia filets are covered with a creamy parmesan sauce and topped with spiced crispy breadcrumbs. Parmesan Crusted Tilapia is a super easy healthy meal that your whole family will enjoy!
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I love fish, but I'm not going to lie, sometimes it can be a little overwhelming to make at home. How do you know when it's done? How do you keep it from sticking to the pan? Am I overcooking it? Am I undercooking it? What exactly is "opaque". What does "flakes easily" actually mean?
This parmesan crusted tilapia (air fryer) recipe is designed to put your mind at ease. You don't even have to thaw the fish before you cook it. It couldn't be easier to make, and it comes out perfectly every time.
Cooking fish with an air fryer takes almost all of the guesswork out of it.
This recipe is one of my favorites, and it works with almost any type of fish. I love it on a mild whitefish like tilapia, but it's just as good on a stronger fish like salmon. The best part is that every picky eaters will love this recipe.
It's mild flavor and golden brown crispy parmesan crust are sure to please everyone! This is an easy dinner recipe that you'll want to keep on hand because once you master air fryer fish, you wont ever want to make it any other way.
Other Recipes You'll Love
As a side dish, try serving this delicious recipe with Lemon Pepper French Fries for a delicious dinner. Or you could serve it with Potato Wedges with Chipotle Southwest sauce. Or if white fish fillets aren't your thing, try this Air Fryer Salmon with Teriyaki Sauce
Ingredient List
- Tilapia Filets
- Mayonnaise
- Parmesan Cheese
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Butter
- Panko bread crumbs
- Fresh parsley
- Salt and pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Paprika
PRO TIP: The FDA recommends cooking fish to an internal temperature of 145 F.
How to Make Parmesan Tilapia
- In a shallow bowl, mix together mayonnaise, parmesan cheese and Worcestershire sauce.
- In a separate bowl, melt butter, then add the bread crumbs and spices. Stir to combine.
- Dry both sides of the fish with paper towels, and then spread the parmesan mixture over the fish.
- Top the fish with the seasoned breadcrumb mixture.
- Place the fish in the air fryer basket, and cook for 7-10 minutes.
- Being careful not to break apart the delicate fish, use a wide spatula to remove it from the air fryer.
If you're using frozen fish, let it sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes or so before topping with the parmesan mixture. It will coat the fish better if there is a tiny bit of give to it than if it's frozen solid. If you're using fresh fish, you can skip this step.
This is one of my favorite air fryer recipes, and I love to serve with tartar sauce and fresh lemon juice.
Full instructions in the recipe card below.
PRO TIP: cooking time will depend on several factors - if you're cooking fresh fish or frozen fish, how thick the fillets are, and how hot your air fryer runs. The best way to determine doneness is to check the temperature of the fish using a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the fish.
Substitutions, Alterations and Additions
I prefer tilapia here, but you can use any type of mild white fish you prefer - cod, grouper, snapper, or haddock are all good options.
Your cook time will vary though depending on the type of fish, so I do recommend investing in a good thermometer - there is no better way to determine when any type of meat or fish is done.
How Does an Air Fryer Work?
Despite the name, Air Fryers don't actually fry food. Instead, they work like a convection oven. You place the food in a basket with holes in it, and the air fryer blows hot air all around food, creating a crispy exterior on all sides.
Pros:
- They heat up very quickly.
- They use less oil than traditional frying. Cooking spray or a little olive oil is all you need.
- Not having to turn your oven on when it's hot out.
Cons:
- Doesn't hold very much food. In order to get even cooking, you need to place everything in a single layer with enough space around it for airflow. This limits the amount you can cook at one time.
- Takes up space.
- It's easy to burn food.
Equipment
This is the air fryer I use - it's perfect for making food for two people, but if you have a larger family you'll either need a larger air fryer, or need to cook in batches.
FAQ's
Yes! The air fryer cooks frozen fish fillets incredibly well. You'll need to add an extra minute or two to the cook time, though so make sure you're keeping an eye on it to make sure the topping doesn't get too brown. If it starts to, you can place a small piece of aluminum foil over the fish to keep the panko breadcrumbs from browning too much.
Store leftovers in an airtight container for a day (two at most) in the fridge. To reheat, place the fish in the air fryer at 350 for about 5 minutes or until heated through.
I usually cook fish at 400 in the air fryer. I've found that to give me the best results.
Use Pork Rind Bread Crumbs for a delicious low-carb option.
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Easy Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Tilapia Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tilapia fillets
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
- ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic poweder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- In a shallow bowl, mix together mayonnaise, parmesan cheese and Worcestershire sauce.
- In a separate bowl, melt butter, then add the bread crumbs, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Dry both sides of the fish with paper towels, and then spread the parmesan mixture over the fish. Top the fish with the seasoned breadcrumb mixture.
- Pre-heat air fryer to 400 F. Place the fish carefully in the air fryer basket, and cook for 7-10 minutes or until fish registers 140F on an instant read thermometer.
- Carefully remove the fish from the air fryer basket and serve with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.
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