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Crispy and tender tilapia fillets seasoned with lemon, garlic, and smoked paprika, air fried to perfection with minimal oil for a light, nutritious weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 tilapia fillets (4–6 ounces each), thawed if frozen and patted dry
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (or sweet paprika)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (or Italian seasoning blend)
  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, adjusted to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 lemon, zested and cut into wedges
  • Optional: pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes
  • Optional garnish: freshly chopped parsley or dill

Instructions

  1. Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and heat for 3–5 minutes.
  2. Pat tilapia fillets completely dry with paper towels.
  3. Zest one lemon.
  4. In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, kosher salt, black pepper, lemon zest, and optional cayenne pepper.
  5. Lightly brush both sides of each fillet with olive oil.
  6. Sprinkle seasoning mix evenly over both sides of fillets, pressing gently to adhere.
  7. Lightly spray air fryer basket or line with perforated air-fryer-safe parchment liner.
  8. Arrange fillets in a single layer in the basket with space between each; do not overcrowd.
  9. Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 7–10 minutes, checking thin fillets starting at 7 minutes and thicker ones up to 10 minutes.
  10. Check doneness: fish should be opaque, flake easily, and reach 145°F (63°C); if not done, air fry for another 1–2 minutes.
  11. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over cooked fillets and sprinkle with chopped parsley or dill before serving.

Notes

Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure crispiness., Pat fillets dry thoroughly to avoid sogginess., Use a preheated air fryer for best results., Adjust seasoning boldly as tilapia has a mild flavor., Flipping fillets mid-cooking is generally not required but can be done if your air fryer has uneven heating., Thicker fillets can be placed on basket edges where heat is higher., Leftover tilapia can be refrigerated up to 2 days or frozen up to 2 months., Reheat leftovers gently in air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3–4 minutes to maintain crispness.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://lanamixingbowl.com/healthy-air-fryer-tilapia-fillets-light-crispy-and-ready-in-minutes/