Beer Battered Air Fryer Fish!

Name: Beer Battered Air Fryer Fish
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 pound fresh cod, (cut into 4 filets); 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon onion powder; ½ teaspoon smoked paprika; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper; 12 ounces your favorite beer, (I like to use a light wheat beer); pickled onions, (for serving); lemon wedges, (for serving); ¾ cup mayonnaise; ½ cup sweet relish; ½ lemon, (juiced); pinch of salt and pepper; 4 cups shredded green cabbage; ½ red onion, (thinly sliced); ⅓ cup chopped fresh cilantro; 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice; 3 tablespoons olive oil; kosher salt and pepper

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by Jessica February 22, 2023

We adore this air fryer beer battered fish. Super flaky and buttery fish is coated in a light and crispy beer batter, easily made in the air fryer in under 15 minutes without any deep frying. It’s so delicious served with our flavor slaw and tartar sauce!

The crispiest, crunchiest beer battered fish!!

Made in the AIR FRYER!

With it being Ash Wednesday, I figured it was a perfect time to share this delicious beer battered fish recipe. It’s so easy and you don’t even have to fry it in a pot of oil! Yes yes yes. We’re using the air fryer and we will get to that in a minute.

In the meantime, take a peek at this crispy crunchy battered fish that we love to eat with our favorite tartar sauce. And slaw! I make this slaw at least once a week.

I love this time of year. We have our weekly fish frys that we hit up – almost a new one each week. There is so much delicious seafood.

And we sure do love crispy fish in this house – whether it’s tacos or bowls or even grown up fish sticks.

Beer batter is so delicious: light, fluffy and so airy, such a wonderful breading on flaky and buttery fish.

I can’t even BELIEVE how delicious this air fryer version is. Like, I am stunned.

While I really enjoy my air fryer (I actually have a few, but this is the one I use most often), I don’t like to post specific recipes using the air fryer because I know not everyone has one.

There are a few cons for me when it comes to the air fryer. First, it’s a huge kitchen appliance and I just don’t have room for it on my counter. Or should I say – I don’t want to make room. Other appliances take priority for me, so I only bring the air fryer out for certain things.

Second, if I’m making something like potatoes or vegetables, the air fryer basket just isn’t big enough for our family of five. I end up having to make a few batches, which is pain and just one more thing to monitor and switch out. It’s much easier for me to throw everything on a big sheet pan and roast in the oven.

Now with that being said, I still really like my air fryer! Of all the newer appliances, it is definitely my favorite. There are many I can’t stand (I’m looking at you, Instant Pot) but the air fryer is one that I find is really worth it. Especially if you live alone or have a family of two or three. You will get so much use out of it.

Most of the recipes I make in my air fryer are breaded with a dip in egg and breadcrumbs. It’s tricky to do a “wet” batter in the air fryer because all of the batter just drops down to the bottom of the basket. There is no hot oil for the batter to cling to. This is why my apple fritters don’t work in the air fryer. And there are some things that just can’t be air fried.

Some of you might argue that beer battered fish falls into that category but I have made it happen. And it is SO delicious.

To make the beer battered fish work, you have to double dip. Dip the fish in the beer batter fish and then into flour so it coats the batter. Then the one thing you can’t skip is coating it in a spray of olive oil. This olive oil spray is my favorite version. Then it only takes around 10 or 15 minutes to finish.

The end result is so crispy and crunchy and flavorful!! The fish is still tender and flaky. The beer batter coating is a bit heartier and thicker than it would be if it was fried in oil. But it’s in a really good way. And when you dip it in that tartar sauce… oooooh delish.

I can’t get enough.

Now do I think this is better than traditionally beer battered and fried fish?!

Absolutely not. I LOVE a good beer battered fried fish and I have a few for you. They are the best of the best. This beer battered fish sandwich is incredible. I also often do beer battered fish tacos.

This air fryer version is perfect if you don’t want to heat up a pan of oil, if you don’t have oil, just hate frying in general and don’t want your entire house to smell like a dive bar. You know?!

Heck, I find myself boiling lemons and cinnamon for hours after frying fish, even though it is so darn delicious, just to get rid of the oil smell.

There is none of that with this. You get crispy crunchy “fried” fish that is buttery inside and an absolute dream.

P.S. Stay tuned tomorrow when I share a bunch of seafood recipes for Lent!

Air Fryer Beer Battered Fish