Make restaurant-quality, tender, flaky air fryer cod in just 15 minutes with just a handful of ingredients. A delicious, nutritious, versatile, low-effort, low-carb protein for busy weeknights!
2Tbspbutterunsalted works best, but salted will be fine
1/4tspsmoked paprika
1/2tspcumin powderoptional, or use your favorite spices/spice blend: garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, or seasoning blends like Old Bay, Cajun, and taco seasoning
Use paper towels to pat the cod fillets dry. If it's one large cod piece, first cut it down into even-sized fillets. It's also best to allow them to come to room temperature for 15 minutes, though not vital.
Season the fish. I love using a mini sieve/tea strainer to evenly disperse the spices (paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper) over the fish, but you can use your fingers, too.
Divide the butter into four small pieces, place one on top of each fillet, and place a lemon slice directly over that.
Spray the air fryer basket with a little cooking oil to avoid sticking, then place the fillets in the basket in a single layer, leaving space in between.It's important not to overcrowd the air fryer basket; otherwise, the fish may cook unevenly.
Air fry the cod for 10 minutes at 400ºF/200ºC for medium-thick fillets (about an inch thick). Increase or decrease that by 1-2 minutes based on their size. It’s best to first check on them at 8 minutes, and there's no need to flip them over at any point.How to know when it's cooked? The most accurate way to ensure the cod is safely cooked is to use a thermometer and ensure the internal temperature is between 140-145ºF/60-62.7ºC. If you don't have a thermometer, press a finger or fork at an angle into a fillet. It should feel firm and, if pressed harder, easily separate into tender white flakes.
Season with salt and pepper (optional) and enjoy!
Video
Notes
This method will also work with most other types of white fish when using similar-sized fillets. I.e., haddock, flounder, sole, tilapia, snapper, bass, etc.
Optionally, you could also garnish the fish with fresh herbs, like parsley or dill.
How to air fry frozen cod? To cook frozen cod in an air fryer takes just a few minutes extra, as you essentially use the air fryer to help thaw the fish. However, this version won’t be quite as tasty or moist.
Remove any excess ice from the fillets and pat them dry.
Place the fish in the air fryer basket for 4-6 minutes at 350ºF/175ºC, until thawed.
Then, remove it from the air fryer, increase the heat to 400ºF/200ºC, and continue with the recipe as if using fresh fish.
If you prefer to thaw the fish first, check the blog post for how to do that.How to store? Allow leftovers to cool and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.Enjoy the leftovers chilled or reheat them in the air fryer at 350ºF/175ºC for just a few minutes (3-5). Add a splash of water to the basket to introduce steam for juicy fish.Check the blog post for more top tips and serving recommendations!