How to Cook Fish Fillets from Frozen in the Air Fryer

Learn how to cook fish fillets from frozen in the air fryer! Make three easy meals at home using frozen fish fillets. Classic fish and chips, delicious fish sandwich and tasty fish tacos.

If you like this recipe, check out How to Cook Frozen Grands Biscuits in the Air Fryer next!

As I’ve mentioned before, a lot of frozen food packaging doesn’t yet include cooking times and temps for the air fryer. I’m most excited to bring you this recipe to show how versatile a package of frozen breaded fish fillets can be. You can make restaurant-quality meals with minimal effort in your kitchen. Your air fryer is the best way for cooking fish!

I could not tell the difference between air fried at home or deep fried from a restaurant in my fish sandwich. In just a few minutes with store-bought ingredients, you can be serving yourself and your family fish and chips, fish sandwiches or fish tacos. This is such an easy solution for answering the age-old question, “What’s for dinner?”

Benefits of air fryer frozen fish fillets

Go way beyond air fryer fish sticks and boxed macaroni and cheese with your air fryer! Frozen breaded white fish fillets have a lot of benefits to consider:

Fast – There is no prep involved. Just open a bag or box and you’re on your way to creating meals you’d pay a lot more for at a sit down restaurant.

Kid-Friendly – Breaded fish is a great bridge for getting kids (or any picky eater) to expand their protein choices beyond chicken nuggets. White fish like halibut and tilapia helps keep your immune system and bones strong. And even processed fish is very low in cholesterol.

Fool-Proof – These meals are perfect for kids learning how to cook or any novice chef. There’s a really high pay-off in being able to create popular meals with little to no prior experience in the kitchen.

This recipe is for how to cook fish fillets from frozen in the air fryer

For purposes of testing, I used Gorton’s brand Beer Battered Fish Fillets and Fish Sandwich Fillets. Both are made from wild-caught Alaskan Pollock. My recipe and instructions are not sponsored in any way by Gorton’s. This is just the easiest brand for me to find at my local Kroger.

Of course, different brands of air fryers vary, and different brands of breaded fish fillets vary. But I think my instructions should work well for most any types of fish you can find.  Other common brands are – Trader Joe’s, Sea Pak, Van de Kamp’s, and Mrs. Paul’s.

The most important thing is food safety. Fish should be cooked to a minimum of 145 degrees F to eat. Once your frozen fish reaches this temperature, you can proceed with creating your meal.

How to make Air Fryer Frozen Fish

How long do you cook frozen fish fillets in the air fryer?

First things first, what is the basic time and temperature? Cooked from frozen, fish fillets that are beer battered or made for sandwiches cook in your air fryer at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes. Please, no thawing first! Always cook your fish directly from the freezer.

I tested this recipe multiple times, with different quantities and types of fish fillets. I flipped them over halfway through cooking time. There is no need to preheat your air fryer. If you really want to mimic a deep-fried experience, use a silicone pastry brush to lightly coat your fish fillets with vegetable or olive oil before cooking. This is optional, and not necessary, however.

By the way, if I’m using oil in my air fryer, I always apply it with a brush. I do not recommend using cooking spray in your air fryer. It will damage the non-stick coating over time.

How do you cook frozen fish and chips in an air fryer?

This was so simple! Place frozen french fries in a single layer in your air fryer basket first. Cook them at 400 degrees F for 4-5 minutes. Then add your fish fillets, in a single layer. Cook the fish and chips (french fries) together for an additional 10 minutes at 400 degrees F. Serve them with lemon wedges, tartar sauce and/or malt vinegar and ketchup.

How do you make a fish sandwich?

Cook the fish in a single layer at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes in the basket of your air fryer. Then build your sandwich. I made a simple slaw by mixing together bagged coleslaw with tartar sauce and lemon juice. I layered my fish sandwich with slaw, American cheese, lettuce, tomato and more tartar sauce. Use your imagination and taste buds to be your guide in creating your own perfect fish sandwich!

How do you make fish tacos?

Cook the fish in a single layer at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes in the basket of your air fryer. Build your tacos. I used flour tortillas, pre-made guacamole, lettuce, salsa, shredded cheese, sour cream and fresh lime wedges. Just a squeeze of fresh lime juice helps to elevate these simple tacos so much!

Kitchen tips and tools

• I use a Philips XXL Air Fryer to test all of my recipes on Foodtastic Mom
• I always use this brand of digital meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the fish before serving – this thermometer is fool-proof and inexpensive
• These meals are meant to be simple – use your favorite brands of store-bought ingredients for toppings – my photographs and combinations are meant to be starting points

Serving suggestions

Beyond the three meal ideas I’ve provided for you, here’s some more side dishes and a dessert to serve with air fried frozen fish fillets to make them a complete meal –

• Oven Baked Macaroni and Cheese
• Honey Hush Cornbread
• Rice and Bean Salad
• Strawberry Spoon Cake

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More recipes for cooking frozen foods in the air fryer

• Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
• Garlic Parmesan French Fries
• Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs

Even more easy air fryer recipes

• Air Fryer Apples
• Southwest Egg Rolls
• Air Fryer Chicken Chimichangas