A simple and delicious recipe for cooking a whole tilapia in the air fryer. This method yields crispy skin and tender, flaky fish in under 30 minutes.
1 whole tilapia, cleaned and scaled (about 1 to 1.5 pounds)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 lemon, sliced
2 sprigs fresh thyme
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes.
Pat the whole tilapia dry with paper towels, both inside and out.
Rub the olive oil evenly over the entire fish, including the cavity.
In a small bowl, mix kosher salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Rub the spice mixture evenly over the outside and inside cavity of the tilapia.
Stuff the cavity of the tilapia with lemon slices and fresh thyme sprigs.
Lightly spray or brush the air fryer basket with oil to prevent sticking.
Place the whole tilapia in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Cook the tilapia at 400°F (200°C) for 18 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time.
Check for doneness by inserting a fork into the thickest part of the fish; the flesh should be opaque and flake easily.
Carefully remove the tilapia from the air fryer and transfer to a serving plate.
Serve immediately with additional lemon wedges if desired.