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Air Fryer Crispy Fish Sandwich with Tartar Sauce

A hand holding a perfectly assembled Air Fryer Crispy Fish Sandwich featuring a golden, breaded fillet and creamy tartar sauce.
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Make a restaurant-quality crispy fish sandwich using your air fryer. This recipe details how to bread and cook white fish fillets until perfectly crisp, served with a simple homemade tartar sauce.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb white fish fillets (cod, tilapia, or haddock), about 1/2 inch thick
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 tablespoon cooking spray (oil-based)
  • 4 sandwich buns (brioche or potato rolls recommended)
  • 4 leaves lettuce
  • 8 thin tomato slices
  • 12 pickle chips
  • For Tartar Sauce: 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • For Tartar Sauce: 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
  • For Tartar Sauce: 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • For Tartar Sauce: 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • For Tartar Sauce: 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. Prepare the tartar sauce: In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise, relish, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and parsley. Stir well until combined. Cover and refrigerate while you prepare the fish.
  2. Set up your breading station: Place the flour, salt, pepper, and paprika in a shallow dish. In a second shallow dish, place the beaten eggs. In a third shallow dish, place the panko breadcrumbs.
  3. Pat the fish fillets completely dry using paper towels. This helps the breading stick and crisp up.
  4. Dredge each fillet first in the flour mixture, shaking off excess. Dip the floured fillet into the egg wash, letting excess drip off. Finally, press the fillet firmly into the panko breadcrumbs, coating all sides evenly.
  5. Lightly spray the breaded fillets on both sides with cooking spray.
  6. Preheat your air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit (195 degrees Celsius) for 3 minutes.
  7. Place the breaded fish fillets in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd; work in batches if necessary.
  8. Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping the fillets halfway through the cooking time (around the 5-minute mark). The fish is done when the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit (63 degrees Celsius) and the crust is golden brown and crisp.
  9. Lightly toast the sandwich buns in the air fryer or a toaster oven for 1 minute, if desired.
  10. Assemble the sandwich: Spread a generous amount of tartar sauce on both halves of the bun. Place lettuce, tomato slices, and pickles on the bottom bun. Top with the crispy air-fried fish fillet, then place the top bun on. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Using panko breadcrumbs provides the best texture for air frying compared to standard breadcrumbs.
  • Ensure your fish fillets are uniform in thickness for even cooking.
  • If you prefer a tangier sauce, substitute sweet relish with dill relish in the tartar sauce.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://spoonswirl.com/air-fryer-crispy-fish-sandwich-with-tartar-sauce/