This air fryer cod recipe makes a delicious family dinner in under 25 minutes. Cod is a great fish to make because it doesn’t have a fishy flavor like other types of fish. It absorbs the Cajun seasonings and cooks up with a slight crispiness on the outside from air-frying, while staying moist and juicy inside.
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❤️ Sandi’s Recipe Summary
The Quick Bite: This cod recipe without breading is easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. It cooks quickly, and because cod has a mild flavor. You get the ease of pan-frying fish without all the calories or mess of frying fish in oil.
Weeknights are busy, and I am always trying to find easy dinner recipes that bring the whole family together. Cod works well for our family because it is a mild-flavored white fish. I find that many picky eaters will eat cod because it doesn’t taste fishy like some types of fish.
This air-fried cod recipe cooks in your air fryer, straight on the rack without foil, so the air fryer cooks all sides of the cod filets evenly. If your kids love this cod recipe, they may also love this kid-friendly gluten free cod fettuccine alfredo dinner recipe.
No matter what size air fryer you have, you can make this recipe. If you are trying to decide what air fryer is best for you, I have a great list of the best air fryers for gluten free cooking. I include a pros and cons list for each model.
I used this exact recipe but changed out the flour to panko and used the ling cod I caught in Alaska and it came out perfect. Thank you!”
patrick, blog comment
Ingredient Notes:
For the full list of ingredients and amounts, please go to the recipe card below.
- Cod – Use fillets that are deboned. (Most cod you buy in the grocery store should be boneless.) You can use fresh or frozen and thawed cod for this recipe.
- Flour – You can use any flour or gluten-free blend for this recipe.
- Seasonings – Smoked paprika, garlic powder, and Cajun seasonings. (Always double-check ingredients if you are gluten free.) I used Zatarain’s Cajun Seasoning, but you can also use Old Bay Seasoning.
- Cooking Oil – Use an oil that is tolerant of high-heat cooking. I tested avocado oil and sprayed it on my fish before cooking it. If you are wondering which oils are best, check out my easy Air Fryer Oil guide. Using the right oil is critical to avoid off-flavors in your air-fried foods.
How To Thaw Frozen Fish
If your cod is frozen, you will need to defrost it before dipping it into the seasoning mix. Frozen cod has a thin layer of ice that will melt during cooking. When this happens, your seasonings will also melt off with the ice, leaving unseasoned fish. Here are two easy ways to thaw your cod:
- Place the frozen cod in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. This is the easiest method, but also the slowest method. If you are looking for a faster method, you should use the second option.
- Remove the frozen cod from the outer packaging, but leave it in the inner wrapping. Place the fish in a bowl of warm water and let it soak for 15-20 minutes. You can refresh the water with warmer water, but do not use boiling hot water.
How To Make Air Fryer Cod (Step-By-Step):
Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 360ºF. Combine garlic powder, paprika, cajun seasonings (I used Zaitarins brand), sea salt, and ground black pepper in a large bowl. I like to use a whisk to blend the fish-coating mix.
Step 2: Remove the cod from the packaging. Pat the fish dry with a paper towel. This will help the coating stick better. Double-check the cod filets to make sure there are no bones.
Tips for Seasoning The Cod
- Dip the fish into the coating and ensure you get the flour seasoning mixture on both sides.
- Don’t overcrowd the fish while coating it in the seasoning mix. Dip one fillet at a time into the coating mixture. Be sure every bit of the fish is coated.
Which gluten-free flour is best for frying?
You can use several different gluten-free flour blends in this recipe if you are gluten-free. I used King Arthur GF Measure for Measure.
You can also use flours like Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Flour, in the red bag. It contains bean flours, which are great for savory dishes.
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Step 3: Spray the bottom of the empty cod basket with oil. Place the fish in a single layer in the oiled air fryer basket. Be sure the cod fillets are not touching each other. You want the hot air to circulate around all areas of the fish.
Step 4: Spray the top of the cod in the air fryer with a light coating of oil. This light spray of oil helps crisp up the outside of the fish and seal in the flavor!
Step 4: Cook the cod in the air fryer at 360º F for 6 minutes on each side. When you flip the cod, be very careful not to remove the coating. For thinner filets, cook for 5 minutes on each side.
Check the internal temperature with a digital thermometer to see if the cod is cooking. You will know it is finished when it reaches 145º F. Note that cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your cod!
Baking instructions:
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can still make this air fryer cod recipe. Prepare the cod as directed for the air fryer, then spray it with oil. Bake at 375º F for 20 minutes, depending on the thickness of your cod.
Tips For Success
1. If your cod is frozen, thaw it. See above for two ways to thaw cod easily.
2. If you are gluten-free, it is important to use an air fryer that is dedicated to gluten-free cooking. Flour and gluten can get into the cooking fan, and it can not be cleaned out.
Sides To Serve With Cod:
Cod goes with any side dish, but these are my kids’ favorites:
Storage and Reheating Instructions:
Store your air-fried cod in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The cooked fish will keep fresh for up to 3 days. You can also freeze this cod by placing it in a freezer-safe container or a zipper bag.
To reheat the cod, you can microwave it for 45 seconds. I prefer to reheat my cod in the air fryer or oven to keep it crisp. To reheat using the air fryer, cook for 3 to 4 minutes at 340º F. To reheat in the oven, place the cod on a sheet pan and bake at 350º F for 10 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions:
The whole point of the air fryer is to circulate hot air around your fish to get it crisp. If you put foil down, the underside of the cod filet will not crisp.
You can cook sole, halibut, catfish, shrimp, or any fish.
If you love cooking with an air fryer, check out my easy gluten free air fryer recipes!
If you want to try another delicious cod recipe, try this Miso Glazed Cod. You can bake, grill, or make it in your air fryer!
Reader Rave
Delicious and so easy!!! Loved it with the Bay Seasoning. Yum.” Brandi M., Pinterest comment
More Seafood Recipes To Try:
These were picked with the pickiest eaters in mind! I hope you enjoy one of these recipes:
- You will also love my crispy Gluten Free Cod Fish Sticks.
- This crispy Air Fryer Catfish is another popular recipe to try.
- If you love air-fried seafood, you will love this Air Fryer Scallops in a Dill Garlic Butter.
Love This Recipe?
If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. Please include which flour blend you used. This will help others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!
Air Fryer Cod
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds raw cod
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 teaspoons cajun seasoning or old bay more to taste
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon light oil for spraying * see notes
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Spray oil on the air fryer basket and preheat it to 360 degrees F.
- Mix 2 teaspoons cajun seasoning or old bay, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt in a bowl with 1/4 cup flour and whisk to blend.
- If your fish is frozen, see the Notes Section below for thawing directions.
- Remove the 1 1/2 pounds raw cod from the package and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Dip each piece of fish into the flour spice mixture and then turn it over and press down to coat all of the fish.
- Place the fish in the air fryer basket. Spray with oil. Make sure there is space around each piece of fish so air can circulate around the fish.
- Cook at 360º F for 6-8 minutes on each side. Note cooking time will vary depending on how thick your pieces of cod are! For thinner filets cook 5 minutes on each side.
- Enjoy hot with lemon.
Video
Notes
- You can use other types of fish in this air fryer fish recipe.
- Do not use olive oil because it doesn’t do well at high heat. Try avocado or canola oil.
- This cod will keep up to 4 days in an airtight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
- Place the frozen cod in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. This is the easiest method, but also the slowest. If you are looking for a faster method, you will want to do the second option.
- Remove the frozen cod from the outer packaging, but leave the cod in the inner wrapping. Place the fish in a bowl of warm water. Let the fish soak for 15-20 minutes. You can refresh the water with warmer water. Do not use boiling hot water.
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SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, my rule of thumb is to add more flour if your dough or batter is wet and add more liquid if the dough or batter is too dry!
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
I truly hope you enjoy this recipe. I have been testing and creating gluten-free recipes for over 15 years. Creating gluten-free recipes that do not taste gluten-free is my goal for every recipe. Sometimes I only have to test a new recipe a couple of times, and others it takes multiple times. I do this so you get reliable, delicious results every time!
Thank you, thank you. I WILL NEVER BAKE COD IN THE OVEN AGAIN!
Your airfryer recipe is amazing.
The cod was so juicy and delicate. Yum….yum!
I am so glad you loved the recipe!!
This air fryer cod is fabulous!!! I did not have cod available and so I used Orange Roughy. It was amazing!!!!! I will be making this at least weekly from now on. LOVE IT!
I am so glad you loved the recipe. I will have to try it with orange roughy now :-).
I noticed that you have a serving, which I calculate as 4 ounces, as having just 2g of protein. Shouldn’t that be 20g of protein?
Hi Rebecca, That is interesting. The calculations are part of a program attached to the recipe card. I don’t put numbers in so I wonder if it had a snafu. I ran it again and it says 21g now.
The flavor is good, however if you don’t put oil or butter on the fish you won’t get very appetizing results.
I am glad you liked the recipe. I do show a photo spraying the fish with oil, and it specifies in the recipe and notes (which oil to use in the notes.)
Simple, enjoyed with Bob Evans mashed potatoes.
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Rick. Thank you so much for coming back to let me know :-).
Hi! Do you need to use a blend of flours or Dan I use just the gf all purpose flour. I have brown rice flour and sweet rice flour, can those be used in her blend instead of plantain flour?
You can easily use just the gf all purpose flour or brown rice flour.
Can you use regular flour rahter than gluten free?
Hi Tonya, you can use regular flour if you are not gluten free. Enjoy 🙂
This was so so so good. I just got an air fryer for my birthday. I’ve been looking for creative ways to cook with it. I never would have thought you could get a texture like that without oil! That said, does anybody have any tips for getting the fishy smell out of the appliance once you’re done? I don’t want to use a harsh cleaner or anything like that.
I am so glad you enjoyed it Brianna. Happy Birthday!
I’m guessing this recipe is for thawed fish but mine are frozen so I just wondered if it works from frozen?
Hi Tonja, it should cook well with frozen fish but the coating may not stick as well. I advise soaking the fish in lukewarm water for 10 minutes then pat it dry first.
Would coconut flour work? We enjoy coconut flavor on cod
Hi Jenny, I haven’t tried coconut flour. I do know when I bake with coconut flour it doesn’t get crisp like gluten free flour and I worry it would get mushy on your cod. Can you use tapioca starch, which is also paleo like coconut flour?
Hi Kerri, I use avocado oil most of the time so you should be fine :-). Enjoy.