Enjoy a crispy, tender, and flaky air fryer cod that cooks in just 8 minutes! This recipe is perfect for a healthy, satisfying, and delicious dinner.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick and easy: Faster than fried cod or baked haddock, this recipe is ready in minutes.
Perfect texture: A crispy outside with a soft, flaky inside—just like air fryer mahi mahi and air fryer tilapia.
Healthy: Made with minimal oil, this dish is naturally low-carb, keto-friendly, high in protein, and low in fat.
Easy cleanup: Using an air fryer means less mess, especially with air fryer liners.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Cod fillets (cod loin): Fresh fillets from a fishmonger are best, but frozen cod works too—just pat dry any excess ice.
Olive oil: Helps the fish cook evenly.
Lemon juice: Fresh is ideal, but bottled works too. Save extra lemon slices for serving.
Spices: A blend of salt, pepper, dried thyme, oregano, paprika, chili powder, and garlic powder adds flavor.

How to Make Air Fryer Cod

Step 1: Prepare the Cod

Pat dry the cod fillets with a paper towel.
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice.
In another bowl, mix the spices.

Step 2: Season the Fish

Brush the cod fillets with the lemon-oil mixture.
Season the fish on all sides with the spice mix.

Step 3: Air Fry the Cod

Lightly grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
Add the seasoned cod and air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 8 minutes or until golden brown.

Step 4: Serve

Garnish with fresh lemon slices and enjoy.

Expert Tips for Perfect Cod

Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 145°F (as per FDA guidelines). If you don’t have one, check that the fish is white, opaque, and flakes easily with a fork.
Choose cod fillets of the same thickness for even cooking.
No need to thaw frozen cod—just add an extra 2-3 minutes to the cooking time.

Variations to Try

Seasoning options: Swap out the spices for Old Bay Seasoning or taco seasoning.
Make it extra crispy: Coat the fillets with panko bread crumbs before air frying.
Dipping sauces: Serve with tartar sauce, hot honey sauce, or lemon herb butter for extra flavor.

Storage and Reheating

To store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
To freeze: Once cooled, transfer the fish to a shallow container and freeze for up to two months.
To reheat: Warm the fish in the air fryer or a skillet. Leftovers work great for fish tacos or in grain bowls.

Crispy Air Fryer Cod

This air fryer cod is perfectly crispy on the outside, tender and flaky on the inside, and ready in just 10 minutes! A healthy and flavorful dinner option.

Prep Time: 1 minute | Cook Time: 8 minutes | Total Time: 9 minutes | Servings: 4

Ingredients

4 cod fillets (4–6 ounces each, fresh or frozen)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
Pat cod fillets dry with a paper towel.
Mix lemon juice and olive oil in one bowl; combine all spices in another.
Brush fillets with olive oil mixture and coat with seasoning.
Lightly spray the air fryer basket, place cod inside, and cook for 8 minutes until golden brown.

Nutrition Information (Per Serving)