You’ll Love these Air Fryer Fish Tacos made with blackened catfish. It is a tasty, wholesome twist on a classic fish taco.
If you have never cooked catfish in an air fryer, you’ll love this air fryer catfish recipe. It’s such an easy recipe!
Flour tortillas filled with spicy blackened catfish made with Cajun seasoning and topped with Cilantro Lime Slaw, Chipotle Aioli, and Fresh Salsa, these yummy fish tacos are bursting with flavor. It is one of the best easy Air Fryer Recipes!
Unlike my Grilled Mahi Mahi, or Blackened Fish Tacos, which are made with tilapia cooked in a skillet, these Air Fryer Blackened Fish Tacos are made with fresh catfish in an air fryer!
This Air Fryer Fish Tacos Recipe is the best combination of Cajun food and Mexican Food! If you loved my Blackened Mahi Mahi Fish Sandwiches, then you’ll love this recipe.
The air fryer catfish fillets with the cajun seasoning provide the flavor for these air fryer tacos. They are then cooked in the air fryer for a crispy and flavorful finish. The fish pieces are paired with a delicious slaw of cabbage, jalapeno, cilantro, mayonnaise, and lime, making for a perfect combination of flavors and textures.
Table of Contents
These air fryer fish tacos are a quick and easy weeknight dinner option that the whole family will enjoy.
The blackened catfish adds a nice kick of spice to the tacos, while the slaw and aioli provide a cooling and refreshing balance. Give these tacos a try for your next Taco Tuesday, and you won’t be disappointed!
These air fryer fish tacos are a quick and easy weeknight dinner option that the whole family will enjoy.
The blackened catfish adds a nice kick of spice to the tacos, while the slaw and aioli provide a cooling and refreshing balance. Give these tacos a try for your next Taco Tuesday, and you won’t be disappointed!
These tacos are made with Cajun seasoned catfish, cooked in the air fryer for a crispy and flavorful finish. The fish is then cut into pieces and paired with a delicious slaw of cabbage, jalapeno, cilantro, mayonnaise, and lime, making for a perfect combination of flavors and textures.
Why You’ll Love It
- Fast – The air fryer recipe has a short cooking time, only 17 minutes, so you can quickly have these Air Fryer Fish Tacos on the table.
- Flavorful – This Fish Taco recipe is flavorful and delicious with the Cajun blackened seasoning, cilantro lime slaw, and chipotle aioli!
- Easy – This is a simple recipe with ingredients easily found at your local grocery store.
What You’ll Need
Ingredients
Below, I discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions if you don’t have a specific ingredient. However, if you are looking for the specific measurements of each ingredient, scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card, which includes all the ingredients and the specific amounts of each one.
- Catfish – I used fresh, farm-raised catfish to avoid the fishy flavor of wild catfish. However, you can use any fish fillets, such as cod, tilapia fillets, or mahi mahi.
- Butter – I used butter for the flavor. However, you could use olive oil or your favorite oil instead.
- Cajun blackening seasoning – This is a zesty, spicy seasoning with black pepper, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and more to give it that Cajun flavor.
- Tortillas – I used flour tortillas. However, corn tortillas could be used as well.
- Cilantro Lime Slaw – I made a homemade recipe. However, you could use a coleslaw mix as a base.
- Chipotle Aioli – You can use store-bought or easily make your own using the recipe below.
- Fresh Salsa – I made fresh salsa roja (red salsa). However, you could use Pico De Gallo Salsa, Pineapple Salsa, Watermelon Salsa, or Mango Habanero Salsa.
- Lime wedges – I used lime wedges. However, you could use lemon wedges as well.
Directions
- Brush the catfish well with the melted butter, then coat the fish with the seasoning, making sure to press it on.
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and lay the catfish filets in the basket, making sure not to overcrowd them.
- Set the air fryer to 400° and fry each side for 3 minutes.
- While the fish cooks, make the slaw by combining the mayonnaise, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, and salt, stirring well. Place the coleslaw, cilantro, and jalapeno together in a bowl, then pour the mayonnaise dressing over the coleslaw and toss to coat.
- Heat the tortillas in a pan until lightly blackened, then tear the fish apart and place them in the tortillas.
- Add some slaw, aioli, and fresh salsa. Then serve with a lime wedge.
Recipe Tips
- Flexibility – These tacos are completely customizable. Top with sliced red onion or hot sauce.
- Best Flavor – For the best-tasting fish, you’ll need the best fish. For catfish, unlike other types of fish, this means buying farm-raised catfish instead of wild catfish. Wild catfish will often eat mud, and this can create a muddy taste or fishy taste. However, farm-raised catfish are raised in cleaner environments and do not have a muddy taste.
- Chipotles in Adobo Sauce – A tip I recommend after buying this is to pour the contents of the can into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. This turns it into a sauce you can store more easily and use in sauces and other recipes.
- Garnish – Besides the garnishes mentioned above, you could also garnish the tacos with chopped fresh cilantro or diced jalapenos.
- Easy Cleaning – Line the air fryer basket with aluminum foil to make before cooking the catfish. This makes for easy cleanup, and the fish still cooks up nicely.
Fish Taco Toppings
Top with a fresh slaw like Cilantro Lime Summer Slaw, or fruit salsa like Pineapple Salsa or Watermelon Salsa.
Variations
What To Serve With Tacos
- Salsa – Besides red salsa, and the salsas mentioned above, you could serve it with Salsa Verde (Green Salsa).
- Sour Cream
- Tartar Sauce
- Tortilla Chips
- French Fries
FAQs
Fish should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. One indication that it is cooked is that the fish flakes easily when you use a fork.
I like to store all the fish taco components separately rather than freezing them all assembled. Place the fish in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Yes, you can store the fish in a freezer-safe, airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Set the temperature of your air fryer to 375 degrees F. Place the fish tacos in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring that no tacos are touching each other. Set the time for 3 minutes, and let it cook for 3 minutes or until heated through.
More Air Fryer Recipes
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Recipe
Air Fryer Fish Tacos with Blackened Catfish
Ingredients
Air Fryer Blackened Catfish Tacos
- 1 pound catfish
- 1/4 cup butter melted
- 1/4 cup Cajun Blackening seasoning
- 8 flour tortillas 8-inch
- 1 recipe Cilantro Lime Slaw
- 1 recipe Chipotle aioli recipe below
- Fresh Salsa for serving, optional
- Lime wedges for serving, optional
Chipotle Aioli
- 1/4 mayonnaise
- 1/2 teaspoon finely minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon adobo sauce from canned chipotles
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Brush the catfish well with the melted butter, then coat the fish with the seasoning, making sure to press it on.
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and lay the catfish filets in the basket, making sure not to overcrowd.
- Set the air fryer to 400° and fry each side for 3 minutes.
- Make the slaw by combining the mayonnaise, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, garlic powder, chili powder and salt, stirring well. Place the coleslaw, cilantro and jalapeno together in a bowl, then pour the mayonnaise dressing over the coleslaw and toss to coat.
- Heat the tortillas in a pan until lightly blackened, then tear the fish apart and place in the tortillas. Add some slaw, aioli and fresh salsa. Then serve with a lime wedge.
Notes
-
- Flexibility – These tacos are completely customizable. Top with sliced red onion or hot sauce.
- Best Flavor – For the best-tasting fish, you’ll need the best fish. For catfish, unlike other types of fish, this means buying farm-raised catfish instead of wild catfish. Wild catfish will often eat mud, and this can create a muddy taste or fishy taste. However, farm-raised catfish are raised in cleaner environments and do not have a muddy taste.
- Chipotles in Adobo Sauce – A tip I recommend after buying this is to pour the contents of the can into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. This turns it into a sauce you can store more easily and use in sauces and other recipes.
- Garnish – Besides the garnishes mentioned above, you could also garnish the tacos with chopped fresh cilantro or diced jalapenos.
- How Do I Store Fish Tacos? I like to store all the fish taco components separately rather than freezing them all assembled. Place the fish in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Can I Freeze Fish Tacos? Yes, you can store the fish in a freezer-safe, airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- How To Reheat Fish Tacos In The Air Fryer? Set the temperature of your air fryer to 375 degrees F. Place the fish tacos in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring that no tacos are touching each other. Set the time for 3 minutes, and let it cook for 3 minutes or until heated through.
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