Name: Air Fryer Tilapia Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/4 cup flour; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 tablespoon milk; 1 egg; 2 cups Italian-style breadcrumbs; 4 tilapia filets

Description

This Air Fryer Tilapia recipe offers a quick and easy way to enjoy crispy, flavorful fish with minimal oil. Coated in a seasoned breadcrumb crust and cooked to golden perfection in the air fryer, this dish is a healthier alternative to traditional frying methods. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, it delivers tender, flaky tilapia with a satisfying crunch in just 20 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale

Coating 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 Ingredient

4 tilapia filets

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Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) and spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking and promote even crisping.
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, add the milk and egg. Whisk thoroughly to break up the egg and combine it evenly with the milk.
Set Up Breadcrumb Station: Pour the Italian-style breadcrumbs into a third shallow bowl. Arrange your bowls in the order of flour mixture, egg wash, then breadcrumbs to create an efficient breading station.
Bread the Tilapia: Dip each tilapia filet first into the flour mixture, coating both sides fully. Next, coat the filet in the egg wash. Finally, press it into the breadcrumbs, ensuring all surfaces are fully covered. Repeat the process with remaining filets.
Cook in Air Fryer: Place the breaded tilapia filets in a single layer in the prepared air fryer basket. Insert the basket into the preheated 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 for the best texture and flavor.

Notes

Ensure tilapia filets are of similar size for even cooking.
You can substitute Italian-style breadcrumbs with panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch.
Use cooking spray liberally on the air fryer basket to prevent sticking.
Serve with lemon wedges or tartar sauce for enhanced flavor.
Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket to maintain crispiness.