This air fryer fish is crispy, fast, and foolproof.
I love a good fish fry.
The fresh fish and shrimp are caught locally in the Gulf coast, coated in a cornmeal crust (because that’s how we do it in the South!) and then deep fried until golden and crunchy on the outside and tender and flaky on the inside.
While deep-fried fish is definitely something to be enjoyed on special occasions, it’s not exactly weeknight dinner-friendly for those watching what they eat.
So instead, I took the basic recipe for that deep-fried fish and turned it into this easy air fryer fish recipe!
Why You’ll Love This Fish
You’ll get all of the flavor and crunchiness you love but without a TON of oil.
The cornmeal adds a nice grit that gets crunchy when fried, and the flour helps it to bind to the fish.
Speaking of binding; mayonnaise is our secret binding agent in this recipe. Others either don’t use a binder at all, or some simply use a drizzle of oil which results in the coating sliding right off of the fish.
But that’s not so with this recipe! Because of the egg-based sauce, the cornmeal crust sticks beautifully to the fish and won’t fall off after air frying.
Ingredients
For the exact measurements and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card below.
- Cajun seasoning. This gives the flavor a nice kick. You can also use blackened seasoning for a little more spice, or even old bay seasoning for a milder flavor.
- Fish. Mild white fish is best for this recipe. You want no more than about ¼- to ½-inch thick fillets or the cooking times will vary. Read below for more information on selecting fish.
- Cornmeal. Find a medium to fine grit to achieve the right texture. Also, look for a certified gluten-free kind if you are avoiding gluten.
- Flour. Regular all purpose or a gluten-free 1-to-1 blend will both work. Mixing flour and cornmeal creates a crunchy exterior while also binding easily to the fish.
- Mayonnaise. The secret ingredient that works incredibly well to help the coating stick to the fish!
Step-by-step Instructions
Please see the recipe card below for the full instructions, ingredient amounts, and a printable recipe.
Dredge and coat the fish.
Combine mayonnaise and lemon juice in a separate bowl. Toss the fish in the mayonnaise mixture until they are completely covered. Pat the filets dry before doing this so it will stick better.
Measure the cornmeal, flour, Cajun seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper into a medium-sized bowl and mix. One at a time, dip each filet into the cornmeal and flour mixture. Make sure the coating covers all of the sides, and then shake off the excess.
Air fry the fish.
Arrange the coated filets into the basket in a single layer. If the fish overlaps it won’t get crispy where the fish is touching. Work in batches to ensure there is plenty of room in the basket. Cook at 400°F for 8-10 minutes, flipping the fillets after 5 minutes. You’ll know it is done cooking when it flakes easily with a fork. Repeat with remaining fillets.
Serve with sauce.
Serve this simply with lemon wedges, or one of these easy homemade sauces:
Best Fish to Air Fry
This recipe coats the fish in a crispy cornmeal crust. You want to use a firm, mildly flavored white fish. The types of fish that fit these characteristics include:
- Cod – Depending on where you live, either Atlantic or Pacific cod will be more readily available. While not technically cod, often Haddock and Whiting fish are sold as cod.
- Sole – This flatfish has a more firm texture than cod, with a mild and slightly sweet taste. Some compare it to a cross between tilapia and cod.
- Halibut – Another flatfish, halibut has dense, firm, flesh with a light and clean taste.
- Mahi-Mahi – Also known as Dorado or Dolphin (not to be confused with Flipper!), Mahi-Mahi’s firm texture and sweet taste resembles Swordfish, although a bit milder.
- Catfish – While firm, this is less flaky than the other varieties. It also has the fishiest flavor, but a soak in milk before cooking can help take some of that taste away.
You can also air fry salmon, or another red fish, without the cornmeal coating if you’d prefer!
FAQs
If it is not coated yet, it needs to be thawed before frying. Otherwise, it will release a lot of moisture into the coating and will come out soggy instead of crispy.
Yes! It’s a great way to cook any protein, especially to recreate the fried fish texture.
While air frying is a great way to get an oil-free crispy crust on breaded food, it is not necessary to bread food before air frying.
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Air Fryer Fish Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds white fish fillets about ¼- to ½-inch thick
- ½ cup cornmeal medium grind
- ½ cup all purpose flour or gluten-free 1-to-1
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning or Old Bay
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Dredge the Fish: Add mayonnaise and lemon juice to a large bowl and whisk until combined. Place fish filets into the mayonnaise mixture and toss until completely covered.1 ½ pounds white fish fillets, ¼ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Coat the Fish: Mix together cornmeal, flour, Cajun seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a medium-sized shallow bowl. Dip each filet into the cornmeal mixture and coat all sides.½ cup cornmeal, ½ cup all purpose flour, 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Cook in Air Fryer: Place the coated fish filets into a 6-quart Air Fryer basket in a single layer. Cook at 400 °F for 8-10 minutes.* Flip filets over after 5 minutes. Repeat with remaining filets. You’ll know the fish is done cooking when it flakes easily with a fork.
- Serve Air Fryer Fish with Tartar Sauce, Remoulade, or Secret Sauce.
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Notes
- Fish: This recipe works well with cod, sole, halibut, or any other firm and mild-tasting white fish.
- Timing: You’ll need to cook the fish longer for thick filets, and shorter for thinner filets.
- Mayo: Using mayonnaise as a binder adds flavor, and gets the coating to stick better.
- Seasoning: Substitute the Cajun seasoning for a blackened seasoning.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Air Fryer Recipes
Create the best flavors and crispy textures with this handy appliance! Here are a few more dishes to try next:
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
30 mins
Air Fryer Onion Rings
45 mins
Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
20 mins
Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes
25 mins
Loved the spices in this, think i would substitute panko for cornmeal, as I thought the cornmeal made it a little gritty.
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Deb! Let me know how it turns out. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!
This recipe would have been better had the coating actually stayed on, when I tried to turn them over all of it fell off.
I’m sorry that happened. The fish needs to be dry before coating, or the breading might fall off.
This was absolutely DELICIOUS!!!! I willl definately make it again.
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Jan! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!