These 20 minute white fish fillets cook up quickly in the air fryer (much faster than the
oven!). Serve with sautéed spinach and tomatoes for a delicious dinner.
Why we love this recipe
Why do you need to make these 20 minute air fryer white fish fillets? It’s a nutrient-packed meal that comes together in just 20 minutes! Cooking food in an air fryer cuts time and calories in half! Food that would otherwise be fried in a bunch of oil can be cooked in an air fryer with just a fraction of the oil! It’s a delicious dish you can feel great about eating!
When I worked in the restaurant industry after culinary school, we made a dish very similar to this one, but the fish was sauteed in lots of olive oil. I love that the air fryer makes cooking fish so much healthier!
Looking for more quick and easy air fryer recipes? Click here!
What kind of fish is Whitefish?
Whitefish can be classified as either “round” or “flat”, depending on the shape of the fish.
Any of these mild white fish varieties would be a great choice for this dish! Examples of white, round fish include:
- Cod
- Haddock
- Chilean Sea bass
- Sole, John Dory
- Halibut
- Flounder
What is an air fryer?
If you’re not familiar with what an Air Fryer is, this new kitchen appliance uses circulating hot air to cook food similar to a small convection oven. Compared to using a deep-fryer, the air fryer reduces the amount of fat and calories in your food. It has cut my cooking time in half and made foods that would normally be loaded in calories so much healthier!
When you use parchment paper to cook whitefish in the air fryer, there’s no sticking and super easy cleanup. It makes cooking delicate fish so much easier to release without sticking or tearing the fish. You can find air fryer parchment sheets that are perforated, which allows air to circulate through and provide more even cooking. They are super easy to use. There are many different sizes, so make sure you buy the one that fits your air fryer basket!
If you don’t have the parchment sheets specific to an air fryer, just regular parchment is fine! The air fried whitefish will come out perfect every time, and in under 15 minutes!
Why cook whitefish in the air fryer?
What’s not to love about cooking fish in an air fryer? With air fryer fish recipes, you cut your cooking time in half, and clean up is a breeze with parchment paper! The air-fried whitefish comes out fantastic and always perfect within minutes. I simply seasoned the filets with salt, pepper, and paprika for an easy meal. I’m skipping out on the breadcrumbs because I want to keep this dish as simple and healthy as possible!
How to cook fish in the air fryer
Start by pre-heating your Air Fryer to 360°F for 5 minutes.Rinse and pat dry the whitefish filets.
Spray with coconut oil spray and season with salt, pepper, and paprika on both sides.
Lightly spray the parchment paper with coconut oil. Season the white fish filets and lay them on top of the paper.
Place the White fish fillets in air fryer
Air Fry at 360°F for about 6-12 minutes, depending on thickness. You should be able to easily flake the whitefish with a fork. Thicker filets will take longer to cook.
Tips for making the best air fryer whitefish:
- Fresh is best! Get your fish from a local market, butcher, or online! Frozen is great, but if you want really great air fryer white fish, fresh is the way to go!
- Eat the same day! Air fried fish is best eaten right after cooking. Reheating fish can be tricky, so enjoy it right after cooking!
- Add a side! Add it to sauteed spinach and mushrooms for a healthy weeknight dinner!
- A little acid goes a long way! A simple squeeze of lemon on fish is always a good idea. It adds a beautiful freshness to your dish!
What if I don’t have an air fryer?
If you don’t have an air fryer, cook on convection in your oven at 375 for 15 minutes.
What should I serve with air fryer fish?
Make this a complete meal with these delicious sides:
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with goat cheese
Asparagus with tomatoes and basil
How long can you keep cooked fish in the fridge?
Air fried fish can be stored in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days. Store it in an air tight container.
Air Fried Whitefish with Spinach and Tomatoes
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
2 x 6 oz whitefish filets
Paprika
Salt and pepper
For the sauce:
3 tbl butter
2 tbl balsamic vinegar
Pinch of salt
8 oz spinach
mushrooms (oyster)
grape tomatoes
Instructions
Preheat the Air Fryer to 360°F for 5 minutes.
Rinse and pat try the whitefish filets. Spray with coconut oil spray and season with salt, pepper, and paprika on both sides.
Place parchment paper or air fryer baking paper inside of the base of the air fryer basket. Lightly spray the paper with coconut oil
Place the fish on top of the paper
Air Fry at 360°F for about 6-12 minutes, depending on thickness. You should be able to easily flake the whitefish with a fork. Thicker filets will take longer to cook.
Make the brown butter by melting butter over medium heat. Use a pan with a light-colored bottom so you can keep track of the color. Swirl the pan occasionally to be sure the butter is cooking evenly.
As the butter melts, it will begin to foam. The color will change from lemony-yellow to golden-tan to, finally, a toasty-brown. Once you smell a nutty aroma, take the pan off the heat and transfer the browned butter into a heat-proof bowl to cool. Add balsamic vinegar and stir to combine.
In a medium saute pan over medium heat, add 1 tbl butter and melt. Add mushrooms and tomatoes until tomatoes begin to burst and mushrooms soften. Add spinach and cover with a lid until it wilts. Add half the brown butter balsamic sauce to the spinach and mushrooms.
When plating, place spinach on the bottom and fish over top. Top with additional brown butter balsamic sauce. Serve!
2 Comments
I love this for a weeknight dinner! So quick and tasty!
Ok, transparency here. I made this against my will BUT I am transformed. Thank you WCDF for giving our family a solution to whitefish that isn’t boring! So easy, and the spices can be tweaked to your liking.