The air fryer is all-the-rage for a reason. In under 15 minutes, my Crispy Air Fryer Cod has a perfect outer crust, a juicy and tender inside, and a fraction of the calories of traditionally fried fish.

Not familiar with an Air Fryer? In short, this popular appliance can use under a tablespoon of oil or a couple sprays of cooking spray to create super crispy meat, potatoes, vegetables, and just about anything! It is great for cutting down on calories and cholesterol, while also mimicking the texture of your favorite fried foods.
Perhaps the most amazing thing about my recipe for Crispy Air Fryer Cod is that it requires no breading. Celiacs and gluten-free dieters rejoice!
Since my husband Tim and my son Jacob are seafood addicts, we like to have fish at least once a week in my house. Investing in an air fryer has allowed me to quickly put perfectly cooked fish on my dinner table on busy weeknights.
How to Air Fry Cod
Tips for Cooking Air Fryer Fish
- Season your fish generously with salt and pepper. Since you won’t be actually “frying” your fish, you will need to make sure that it is well-seasoned. In traditional frying, a lot of flavor comes from the immense amount of oil used to cook it. Since you are skipping the fat, don’t skip the flavor!
- In order to make sure your fish comes out moist, put a pat of butter on top of each filet.
- If you can, air fry the cod with its skin on. Air frying fish with the skin on locks the flavors and moisture inside the fish. Don’t like skin? Don’t worry! When your fish air fries, the skin will stick to the bottom of the air fryer and you can easily pull off the skinless filet. If you are a fan of the skin, use a spatula to remove the filet.
- If the bottom of your fish filet loses its crisp, flip it over and cook it for 1 more minute. Be careful not to cook it for too much longer! You don’t want it to lose its crispiness and juiciness.
- Really craving fish and chips? Garnish your Crispy Air Fryer Cod with some fresh lemon wedges and tartar sauce and use my recipe for 15-Minute Air Fryer French Fries.

How Long do I Cook Fish in the Air Fryer?
Typically, fish cooked in the air fryer takes about 10 minutes at 400 °F. However, this depends on the thickness of each filet. I know I often preach the importance of investing in a meat thermometer, and you guessed it, I will preach it here again! Due to the variation of filet sizes, you will want to check that the internal temperature has reached 145 °F to ensure doneness.
At the moment, I use the Thermapen for the thermometer. As a less expensive alternative, you can find other thermometer options on Amazon.
Frying Frozen Fish Sticks in the Air Fryer
Here’s a little bonus tip for all the fish stick lovers out there. Air fryers are awesome for cooking your favorite frozen fish sticks in a fraction of the time. Preheat the air fryer to 360 °F and cook the sticks for only 8 minutes! We have been doing this in our home for a while and we absolutely LOVE the outcome.
Gourmia 5 Qt Air Fryer
There are some pretty expensive air fryers on the market. But, if I am being completely honest, I love my Gourmia 5 Qt Air Fryer. It’s only $59.99 and it never leaves you disappointed. Originally, I purchased it to see what the hype was about without breaking bank. To my delight, I haven’t had to upgrade, despite using it several times a week for quick and healthy dinners. If you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on your first (and only!) air fryer, I definitely recommend it!

Serving Air Fryer Cod
Air fryer cod is perfect served with a simple grain like rice or bulgar. Take it to the next level by creating a taco bowl (Chipotle lovers, this is for you!). On top of heaping pile of rice, add your air fryer cod, a dollop of guacamole, pickled onions and jalapeños and a sprinkling of cheddar cheese.

Recipe
Instructions
- Prepare ingredients for the air fryer cod fillets. Season fillets with your favorite seasoning.
- Brush the air fryer basket with oil. Place fillets in the basket. Top it off with butter and lemon slices.
- Cook cod in the air fryer at 400 °F for 10-13 minutes, depending on the size of fillets. The internal temperature should reach 145 °F.
Do you wash the cauliflower before you cut it..I am a beginner..I appreciate your comment and I love your recipes..have not try yet any.
Usually, I do wash it, especially when we pick it up at a farmers market. 🙂
How long would I cook frozen Cod filets? And at what temperature. Thank you
Hi Vicki, I would suggest thawing the fillets first, it would give you more even cooking.
It looks like you are using a lot of butter to then say this is healthier than frying.
Hi Barbara, a lot of butter runs off and it still creates a crispy texture and lots of flavor.
How can I reduce the amount of sodium when air frying the Cod??
Hey Tara, reduce salt.
Recipe looks great. Just wondering about the nutrition score. I guess it is due to the butter. Is there a way to lessen the fat and still have it turn out?
Hey Sharon, Yes, butter adds a bit more calories and fat. You can reduce it and as the cod cooks, it runs off the sides so you are not consuming as much better anyway.
Thanks for this. I am not sure what kind of seasoning to put on cod. Salt, black pepper, paprika?
Hey Florence, we use seasoning salt from Trader Joes but you can do salt, pepper and paprika. Enjoy
I just did Old Bay seasoning and it was delicious!
Oh, that's a great idea. I love Old Bay on seafood, this will be amazing!
I have frozen cod filets, can they be done from frozen or thaw first? Thank you.
If you are using larger filets, I would suggest to thaw the fish. It will create more even cooking.
This was WAYYYY too yummy!!! I just got my air fryer a few days ago and this was only my 2nd recipe in it. Thank you so much for the bomb recipe!
Carla, this is so good to hear. Thank you for sharing!
Hi thanks for welcoming me too the group I'm making Cod fish in my Air Fryer tonight for dinner do you have too flip you fish in the Air Fryer as well
Hey Sandra, of course, and welcome to the family. I don't flip cod during air frying. It cooks well without flipping it. 🙂
Would this work as well with Tilapia?
Hi Yelena, yes it would.
I just finished air frying fish (cod) and chips (French fries) and they came out excellent
Hey Dennis, I am so happy you loved the recipe! Comments like this make my day!
If I have half a pound of cod should I do half the cooking time?
Cooking time would only change if the piece is really thin. I would recommend using a thermometer.
Making my cod right now. Super excited!
Hey Thoma, I am so glad. I hope you love it!
Do I need to pre-heat to 400 degrees before putting the fish in the air fryer?
Hey Linda, I would recommend preheating but depending on the day, oftentimes I don't get a chance to preheat it.
Hi, great share. I bought philips air fryer. Can I make those all recipes using my philips air fryer?
Hey Charlie, I think you can. Most air fryers are very similar unless you have an air fryer oven. Enoy!
If there is an air fryer oven how do I cook?
Hey Lana, it should be pretty similar but I haven't tested this recipe in air fryer oven. Thanks
Can you use lemon juice instead of lemons?
Juice will run off the sides but you can do a little drizzle on it.
Thank you !!!!
Love your recepies, very good and easy while learning this new way of cooking. What does BUSHING your basket mean please
Lol, Mark! You got me in a weak spot. I meant to say brushing 😉
I just got a Gotham steel air fryer fir Christmas and am totally intimidated by it , guess I’ll just have to start simple . Thanks fir accepting me into the group , saw some good recipes but nit sure what to try first . Just wondering if this is a good air fryer
I think you will love it. Just read the instructions that come with the air fryer. It is pretty simple to use.
What would cooking times from frozen be?
It's hard to say because it would depend on thickness. I would recommend using a thermometer to check the doneness of the cod, it should be at least 145F.
Wow I thought fish would be a healthy choice because if my high blood pressure. Guess I can't eat cod either, sodium is unreal.
I was shocked by the sodium in a serving too! It looks like the nutrition info is for the entire recipe/not broken down into servings.
1 pound of cod alone is about 400 calories. A teaspoon of salt is about 2320 mg of sodium, and a teaspoon of seasoning salt is about 1520mg. That's not counting if salted butter is used!
I added up all the ingredients (for my own diet needs) - the total was 830ish calories...so if this were 4 servings, each serving would be about 210 calories with 960 mg of sodium + any sodium in butter you choose. I didn't measure for fat, potassium etc like the recipe creator!
Carrie, thank you for sharing this. We use a program that calculates it and its not always 100% correct. I appreciate your sharing your information.
Sodium is in salt, if you don't season your food with salt you can do the same with this recipe. 1 tsp of salt has 2300 mg of sodium.
Is that really the sodium content???
The nutrition label is never exactly correct but it’s about 1500-2000mg.
Just tell them to use nothing labeled salt Use fresh herbs Use hot or sweet Im going to use fines herbes and then im going to place canned pineapple rings on them and let them brown a bit
It might be that the over salters actually dont have any idea that salt is not always a must