Tilapia Crispy Air Fryer (Printable)

Golden breaded tilapia with seasoned crispy coating, air-fried until perfectly crunchy and flaky.

# What You Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 tilapia fillets (5–6 oz each), patted dry

→ Breading

02 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
03 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1 tsp garlic powder
05 - 1 tsp paprika
06 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
07 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ Coating

08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 2 tbsp milk

→ Optional Garnish

10 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
11 - 1 lemon, cut into wedges

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 3–5 minutes.
02 - In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk.
03 - In another shallow bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, and salt.
04 - Dip each tilapia fillet into the egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off, then coat thoroughly in the breadcrumb mixture.
05 - Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil. Arrange the breaded fillets in a single layer, working in batches if necessary.
06 - Air fry for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway, until the crust is golden and the fish flakes easily with a fork.
07 - Serve immediately, garnished with chopped parsley and lemon wedges.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The crunch rivals any restaurant version without all the oil
  • It comes together in under 25 minutes on busy weeknights
02 -
  • Dont skip patting the fish dry or the coating will not adhere properly
  • Working in batches is better than overcrowding, which makes fish soggy
03 -
  • Use panko instead of regular breadcrumbs for the best texture
  • Let the coated fish sit for 5 minutes before air frying if you have time

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