You can make tasty fish that is crunchy on the outside and flaky on the inside in an air fryer. You can use fresh, defrosted, or cooking frozen fish fillets. Grab your Ninja Foodi or other brand and get to air frying!.
When I got my hot air machine, I couldn’t wait to make air fryer tilapia. Do you like fish for dinner? It came out better than I thought. Even my youngest said she loved it. One of our favorite low fat air fryer recipes you too can enjoy. (affiliate links present).
Tilapia is a versatile and popular fish prized for its mild flavor and meaty texture. The Ninja Foodi Grill offers a convenient way to cook tender, flaky tilapia fillets at home with grill marks and smoky flavor. Grilling tilapia in the Ninja Foodi is easy once you know a few handy tips.
Benefits of Grilling Tilapia in the Ninja Foodi Grill
Cooking tilapia on the Ninja Foodi Grill offers several advantages:
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Quick and easy – Tilapia fillets cook fast in the Ninja Foodi about 3-4 minutes per side. Meal is done start to finish in under 30 minutes.
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Consistent results – The Ninja Foodi Grill heats evenly to precisely grill fish without burning or drying out Takes the guesswork out of grilling
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Perfect grill marks – High heat sears pretty grill marks on the fish while locking in moisture and flavor. Gets that outdoor grilled taste.
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Retains nutrients – Grilling is a healthy cooking method that maintains more vitamins and minerals compared to frying. Keeps tilapia light.
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Little mess – Contains splatters inside the unit. Easier cleanup than outdoor grilling.
Tilapia Buying Tips
When purchasing tilapia fillets for grilling in the Ninja Foodi, keep these tips in mind:
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Fillets, not whole – Look for individually portioned fillets about 4-6 ounces each, uniform in size for even cooking.
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Fresh, not frozen – Choose fresh tilapia fillets over frozen whenever possible for best texture and flavor.
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Color – Tilapia fillets should look clean white. Avoid any with gray, brown or yellow discoloration.
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Smell – Fresh tilapia has a mild, neutral scent. Pass on fillets with an overly fishy odor.
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Packaging – Make sure fillets are packaged properly and kept cold. Avoid damaged or open packages.
Ninja Foodi Grill Settings for Tilapia
One of the handiest features of the Ninja Foodi Grill is how easy it is to control the temperature and grill function settings. For tilapia fillets, use these recommended cook settings:
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Temperature – Set grill to 400-450°F which is hot enough to get grill marks without overcooking the fish.
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Grill mode – Select the grill function which uses direct high heat under the cooking grate.
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Flip midway – Cook fillets for 3-4 minutes then flip over and cook another 3-4 minutes.
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No preheat needed – Can place fillets on cold grill grate and set temperature as it heats up.
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Check doneness – Fish should flake easily with a fork when fully cooked. Juices will be opaque.
Seasoning and Prepping Tilapia for the Grill
Proper preparation is key for achieving the best grilled flavor:
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Pat dry – Gently pat tilapia fillets with paper towels to remove excess moisture before seasoning.
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Brush lightly with oil – Use olive oil, avocado oil or oil spray to prevent sticking. Don’t overdo it.
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Season simply – Rub fillets lightly with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and/or Cajun seasoning.
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Avoid heavy marinades – Quick cooking tilapia doesn’t need long marinating. Lemon-herb drizzle is fine.
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Skewer option – Thread fillets onto metal skewers for easier flipping if desired.
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Preheat grill – Let Ninja Foodi preheat fully before adding fish for consistent browning.
Step-By-Step Grilling Directions
Follow these simple steps for grilling tender, flaky tilapia fillets in the Ninja Foodi Grill:
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Pat tilapia fillets dry with paper towel. Brush both sides lightly with oil.
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Season fillets evenly on both sides with desired seasonings. Go light, tilapia is delicate.
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If using skewers, carefully thread fillets onto metal skewers.
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Preheat Ninja Foodi Grill on Grill setting to 400-450°F.
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Place fillets directly on preheated grill grate. Close lid.
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Grill for 3-4 minutes until underside has grill marks. Flip fillets.
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Grill other side 3-4 minutes until fish flakes easily and is opaque.
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Remove fillets immediately and serve. Avoid overcooking.
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Clean grill grate while still hot for easy cleanup.
Handy Serving Suggestions
Grilled tilapia fillets pair deliciously with various flavors. Serve with:
- Fresh lemon or lime wedges
- Rice pilaf or quinoa
- Sautéed zucchini and tomatoes
- Mango salsa
- Grilled corn on the cob
- Coleslaw or potato salad
- Tacos with cabbage and avocado
Tilapia cooked in the Ninja Foodi Grill stays tender and moist with delicious grill flavor in minutes. Follow the tips in this guide for choosing, prepping and grilling tilapia fillets to crispy, flaky perfection. Enjoy this versatile fish any night of the week!
Air Fryer Tilapia Frozen
Any kind of white fish will work, like air fryer catfish, but mine were frozen and then defrosted. To make it this way, lightly bread it.
- Tilapia fillets
- Italian breadcrumbs
- Old Bay seasoning – I use this stuff for everything
- Egg
Air Fryer Tilapia No Breading
If you wanted it to be in our category for air fryer fish recipes without breading, you could do that too. If you don’t want to use breadcrumbs, you can spray it with olive oil and season it with salt and pepper instead. Timing would not really vary, the only big difference would be the size and thickness of your fillets.
You can use any air fryer brand really. I make Cosori air fryer recipes all the time. You can see that basket above. What I like about that one is the basket is square, the only way to go.
My AirWave works just as well too though. Honestly I bought that one because it was white and matched my kitchen decor the best. No matter what you do, I just want to share what I’m using so you can use it as a guide or if you want to make a change.
How to make grilled Cajun Tilapia in Ninja Foodi Grill
FAQ
How to grill fish in a Ninja Foodi?
What temperature is tilapia done at?
How to cook tilapia in a ninja foodi Grill?
Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F. Place fish fillets in an air fryer and cook them for 4 minutes per side. Hot dogs and dipping sauces are perfect. To cook tilapia in a Ninja Foodi Grill, preheat the grill on high for 10 minutes.
Is it safe to eat talapia fish?
Tilapia fish is a low-calorie source of protein. In addition, tilapia fish contains vitamins and minerals such as folic acid and phosphorus. However, tilapia fish contains omega 6, which is relatively high, higher than omega 3. Ideally, omega 3 and 6 have a ratio close to 1:1. Excessive consumption of foods high in omega 6 is at risk of increasing inflammation. In addition, it is also essential to know the process of cultivating tilapia fish to avoid harmful bacteria such as Salmonella or other harmful substances that may arise during cultivation.
How do you cook on a ninja foodi Grill?
Get a baking dish and place a sturdy wire rack inside of the baking dish. Place the grill insert in the ninja foodi, and then turn the ninja foodi grill on preheat, and select 500 degrees. If you have a foodi, try our ninja foodi steak and potatoes;
What temperature should a ninja foodi Grill be?
For most fish, it is recommended to set the Ninja Foodi Grill to a temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius). This high temperature helps to sear the fish quickly, giving it a delicious crispy exterior while keeping the inside tender and juicy. How long should I cook fish in the Ninja Foodi Grill?