Prep: 10 These Crispy Air Fryer Fish Tacos are truly the best healthy 30-minute weeknight dinner! Lightly breaded cod quickly cooked in the air fryer and added to warm tortillas with cheese, cabbage lime slaw, fresh cilantro, and a drizzle of your favorite hot sauce. Every bite of these delicious tacos is full of crunchy, creamy, flavorful goodness!
Air Fryer Fish Tacos Recipe
All you need is 30 minutes and an air fryer (opens in a new tab) to make this yummy Air Fryer Fish Tacos Recipe! I love how easy it is to put together, it’s perfect for the kiddos, and can easily be made gluten-free with a few simple swaps. These flavorful tacos are SO good and I seriously crave them all the time!
You’ll Also: 25+ BEST Healthy Taco Recipes
Can You Make Fish Tacos in an Air Fryer?
Absolutely! This is a great way to save time and get that crispy breaded fish texture in your tacos without actually having to fry them. Here are some tips for making the best air fryer fish tacos:
- Use a mild white fish, such as cod, tilapia, or halibut.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. This will prevent the fish from cooking evenly.
- If you’re using frozen fish, thaw it completely before air frying.
- Baste the fish with oil or cooking spray before air frying to help it crisp up.
- Serve the fish tacos immediately for the best flavor and texture!
Ingredients for Crispy Fish Tacos
Air Fryer Fish
- Cod Filets (cut into strips, about 2-3 filets)
- Lime Juice
- Avocado Oil (opens in a new tab)
- Cornmeal (opens in a new tab) (or whole wheat bread crumbs)
- Ancho Chili Powder (opens in a new tab)
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Salt
- Oil Spray
Cilantro Lime Cabbage Slaw
- Light Sour Cream (or plain whole milk Greek yogurt)
- Lime Juice
- Ancho Chili Powder
- Cumin
- Salt/Pepper
- Chopped Red Cabbage
- Chopped Fresh Cilantro
Tacos
- Whole Wheat Flour (opens in a new tab) (or corn tortillas)
- Shredded Cheese
- Drizzle Hot Sauce (opens in a new tab) (optional)
- Extra Fresh Cilantro
How to Make Air Fryer Fish Tacos
- Slice the cod into fish strips and marinade in lime juice and oil for a few minutes.
- Dip each piece of fish in a seasoned cornmeal mixture.
- Place in the air fryer basket and cook at 390 degrees F for about 8-10 minutes (depending on how thick the fish strips are).
- Meanwhile, mix together the cabbage slaw and heat up the tortillas.
- Layer each warm tortilla with air fryer crispy fish, cabbage slaw, cheese, cilantro, and a drizzle of hot sauce!
Tips for Breading the Cod
- Be sure to let any excess marinade drip off of each piece of cod before breading! This keeps the breading from getting soggy.
- I like to lightly dip each side of the fish strip in the breading, just enough to get a light coating on there. This helps to keep the breading from overpowering the fish and tasting too dry!
- Use a spray oil (this is a great one) to add a light coating of oil over the breaded fish while it’s in the air fryer basket.
- I have found that it’s best not to flip the fish strips halfway through cooking in the air fryer, since sometimes the breading can pull off.
How to Store Leftover Cod Fish Tacos
While fish tacos are best served fresh, you can always store the leftovers for later! Keep the tortillas in a ziplock bag, store the cabbage slaw in an airtight bowl, and place the air fryer fish in an airtight container. (opens in a new tab)
When ready to enjoy, lightly heat up the tortillas in a skillet. Drizzle or spray a little bit of oil over the fish strips and place them in the air fryer basket, reheat at 325 degrees F for about 5-6 minutes (or until hot). Build the tacos with warm tortillas, reheated fish, and cold cabbage slaw!
More Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love
- Giant Air Fryer Cookies
- Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
- Crispy Air Fryer Zucchini
- Air Fryer Crispy Brussels Sprouts & Bacon
More Healthy Taco Recipes
- Baja Shrimp Tacos Recipe
- The BEST Chicken Fajita Tacos
- Sriracha Lime Shrimp Tacos Recipe
- Instant Pot Carne Asada Tacos
- Baked Mahi Mahi Tacos
Did you make these crispy fish tacos? Rate them below and follow along on Instagram (opens in a new tab) for more healthy recipes!
Cod Fish Tacos
Equipment
Ingredients
Air Fryer Fish
- 1 pound cod filets (cut into strips, about 2-3 filets)
- 2 Tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon avocado oil (opens in a new tab)
- 1/4 cup cornmeal (or whole wheat bread crumbs)
- 1/2 teaspoon ancho chili powder (opens in a new tab)
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 salt
- oil spray
Cilantro Lime Cabbage Slaw
- 1/2 cup light sour cream (or plain whole milk Greek yogurt)
- 2 Tablespoons lime juice
- 1/4 teaspoon ancho chili powder (opens in a new tab)
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1-2 cup chopped red cabbage
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Tacos
- 6 medium whole wheat flour or corn tortillas
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- drizzle hot sauce (optional)
- extra fresh cilantro
Instructions
Bread & Prepare Cod
- Cut the fish filets into strips and place them in a glass dish.
- Coat each piece of fish in lime juice and avocado oil. Set aside.
- Mix the cornmeal, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and salt together in a shallow dish.
- Spray the air fryer basket with oil and preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F.
- One at a time, remove the fish strips from the marinade (allowing any extra juice to drip off) and dip them in the cornmeal mixture, lightly coating each side.
Air Fry Fish
- Place 5-6 pieces of fish in the air fryer basket and cook for about 8-10 minutes.TIP: I found it best not to flip them halfway in my air fryer, since the breading can come off.
- Repeat for another batch.
Mix Cabbage Slaw
- While the fish pieces are cooking, mix the sour cream, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl.
- Add in the chopped cabbage and cilantro, then mix.
Prepare Tacos
- Heat the tortillas on the stovetop.
- Add crispy fish, cabbage slaw, cheese, more fresh cilantro, and a drizzle of hot sauce to each taco. Enjoy!
Watch Me Make This
Nutrition
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