This air fryer frozen cod is the tasty and healthy weeknight dinner idea you will love! Super easy to make, it comes together in less than 30 minutes and can be paired with sides of your choice.
Sometimes we need a quick dinner don't we? After a busy work day I head to the freezer and grab my air fryer (well not actually grab, it's kinda heavy after all . . .) and cook up a simple but delicious dinner of air fryer frozen cod fillets along with potatoes and vegetables. It's healthy, easy and comes together so quickly.
Looking for more easy dinner ideas? I think you'll love my air fryer boneless skinless chicken thighs and air fried turkey burgers too. And don't forget my air fryer pears for dessert!
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⭐ Why this recipe is so good
Uses frozen fish fillets. Perfect for a weekday dinner, simply head to the freezer to make your easy meal!
Dairy free and gluten free. This is an air fryer frozen cod without breading so is suitable for both dietary requirements.
Quick and easy. All you need is the cod fillets themselves, olive oil and some herbs for flavor. Then air fry in around 20 minutes.
🐟 Ingredients
All the ingredients and their quantities are set out in the recipe card below.
- Frozen cod - this recipe is for plain unflavored frozen cod fillets.
- Olive oil spray - we use this to oil the air fryer basket to prevent sticking, and also to help prevent the cod from drying out.
- Dried parsley - to add some flavor! I suggest using dried herbs as fresh would likely burn.
📖 Swaps and variations
Swap dried parsley for another herb. Other herbs such as thyme or dill would also be flavorful.
🔪 Step by step instructions
Making this air fryer frozen cod is very simple, with just a few steps:
Step 1
After preheating the air fryer, lightly spray the basket with olive oil spray. Place the frozen cod fillets with space between them in an even layer.
Spray the fillets lightly with olive oil spray and sprinkle on the herbs.
Step 2
Air fry the cod fillets for 10 minutes, flip with tongs, then air fry for a further 8 minutes or until they are cooked through. The cod should be white and flaky throughout. Use a meat thermometer to check for an internal temperature of 145F.
💭 Recipe tips and notes
- The herbs are optional, so leave out if you prefer.
- Use cod fillets that are roughly the same size for an even cook time.
- Be sure to spray the air fryer basket and cod fillets with a little olive oil. This helps prevent the fish from sticking to the basket, and also from drying out.
- Don't be tempted to air fry at a higher temperature for less time! I've tried this on a few recipe tests, and it made the cod very dry on the edges.
- Check for an internal temperature of 145F at the deepest part of the fish with a meat thermometer.
📋 Frequently asked questions
It takes 15-20 minutes to cook frozen cod in an air fryer. The cook time will vary slightly depending upon the thickness of your cod fillets and how hot your air fryer tends to run.
No, take the cod straight from the freezer to the air fryer and be sure to cook until the fish is white and flaky throughout, with an internal temperature of 145F / 63C using a meat thermometer.
Yes, it's a gluten free and dairy free recipe.
Fish is debated on a low histamine diet. The SIGHI list scores frozen fish as 0, so low histamine on their scale but does note the presence of other amines. In their advice on cooking fish, the Swiss Interest Group Histamine Intolerance state that 'fish should never defrost slowly in the fridge or at room temperature. Do not refreeze food that has defrosted'. Take the fish straight from the freezer to the air fryer to cook, serve immediately and do not store. It should be noted that consuming fish on a low histamine diet is debated, so it is best to consult with a dietician to determine whether it is suitable for you. Have a read of my low histamine meal prep post for more on using the freezer to plan ahead!
🍽 How to serve cod
Cooking up this air fried frozen cod makes for a versatile weeknight dinner. Some ideas:
- Pair with healthy vegetable sides such as my air fryer broccoli and cauliflower or my air fryer bok choy.
- Serve with a potato side dish, whether my potato cauliflower mash or roasted potatoes and zucchini. Or enjoy my celeriac and sweet potato mash!
- Choose from rice, quinoa or couscous as a side.
🥣 More tasty fish recipes
Find so many tasty ideas on my fish recipes page, including my most popular almond crusted cod and my baked cod with panko. Some recent recipes to enjoy:
I'm always in the kitchen, so come join me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to be the first to hear of new recipes! And I love to hear from you - so please do leave a star rating ⭐⭐⭐ and comment if you've tried the recipe!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Frozen Cod
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 frozen cod fillets
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer at 355C / 180C for 3 minutes.
- Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray. Place the frozen cod fillets in the air fryer basket with space between them in an even layer. Spray the top of the fish with a little olive oil and sprinkle on the dried parsley.
- Air fry the frozen fish fillets at 370F / 190C for 10 minutes. Flip the cod, using tongs and spray lightly with a little more olive oil. Air fry for a further 8 minutes at 370F / 190C.
- Check for an internal temperature of 145F / 63C at the deepest part of the cod with a meat thermometer. Air fry for longer, if required.
Notes
- The herbs are optional, so leave out if you prefer.
- Use cod fillets that are roughly the same size for an even cook time.
- Be sure to spray the air fryer basket and cod fillets with a little olive oil. This helps prevent the fish from sticking to the basket, and also from drying out.
- Don't be tempted to air fry at a higher temperature for a shorter period of time! I've tried this on a few recipe tests, and it made the cod very dry on the edges.
- To be sure it is cooked through, check for an internal temperature of 145F at the deepest part of the fish with a meat thermometer. The fish should be white and easily flaked with a fork throughout.
- Nutritional information is auto-generated and should be considered to be an estimate.
- frozen fish scores 0, but is debated. Consult with a dietician for advice for your personal circumstances.
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