By Made with our staple parmesan crust, this air fryer walleye recipe is the ultimate way to make a super crispy walleye fillet! This recipe comes together in less than 10 minutes thanks to a nifty air fryer. So, if you want to join hundreds of other readers who have made and loved our walleye recipes, you need to try this quicker version of our famous walleye recipe!
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Dan is an avid fisherman and lover of freshwater fish. He's been on plenty of trips to catch wild salmon, trout, walleye, and more. This has led to some super delicious walleye recipes that have been developed and tweaked over the years.
If you're looking for more ways to cook this fish, check out our Parmesan Crusted Baked Walleye and Pan-Fried Walleye recipes. And with how much people have loved these walleye recipes, we knew we needed to create a faster version! Enter this air fryer parmesan walleye that's ready in 10 minutes flat!
Jump to:
Why this air fryer walleye will make you do the happy food dance
- Ready in 10 minutes thanks to the air fryer that cooks the filets perfectly in 6 minutes.
- Super flaky and crispy because the air fryer sends hot air all around but doesn't dry out the fish. We also dredge it in eggs which helps retain that moisture.
- Not oily like typical fried fish because it requires no oil, olive oil, or other! This leads to a healthier and lighter breaded walleye fillet.
recipe ingredients
You'll need the following ingredients to make walleye in the air fryer.
notes
- The fish: You will need 2 walleye filets. I prefer to get ones without skin but if it has skin, simply cut it off.
- The crispy stuff: To make the crispy exterior we need shredded parmesan and panko bread crumbs. I prefer to use freshly shredded parmesan but pre-shredded will work too. You'll also need an egg to help the breading stick.
- Spice it up: To flavor the breading we use onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Simple is best! We also include lemon in the list because we love serving with a squeeze of juice from lemon wedges on the fish before serving.
substitutions & variations
All substitutions are a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted. See recipe card for quantities.
- Walleye → any white fish: Any kind of fish that's a mild white fish like cod, halibut, and mahi mahi would work. None of these have a very "fishy" taste making them an ideal vessel for flavor.
- Egg → mayo: You can use mayonnaise in a pinch but it doesn't result in as crispy of an exterior.
- Mix up the spices: You can add red pepper flakes, use steak seasoning, lemon pepper, or even cajun seasoning with this crispy air fryer fish!
- Make it dairy-free: You can omit the parmesan and replace it with additional breadcrumbs. Or, you can use a vegan parmesan but it does brown much quicker.
- Make it gluten-free: You can use gluten-free breadcrumbs as needed.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
how to make walleye in the air fryer (with photo & video!)
Be sure to scroll to the recipe card for the full crispy fish recipe!
- Set up your breading stations with the egg in one bowl and the breadcrumbs and the other dry ingredients in another.
- Prepare your fish by removing the skin, patting it dry, and cutting it in half.
- Dip the fish in the egg wash, then the breading, then place on the air fryer basket.
- Air fryer for 6 minutes, check the internal temperature, and then enjoy with tartar sauce!
quick recipe video
expert tips
- Cutting off the skin is easier the sharper the knife you have. Also, it is best with a nonserrated knife. If you use a serrated knife it's tough to slice back and forth because of how slippery and thin the fish is. If you need a fillet knife you can get one on Amazon here!
- When using frozen, let the walleye thaw completely before cooking. Otherwise, the batter won't stick and moisture will be released when cooked. This will create steam that will make the breading soggy and not crisp.
- Pat the fish dry, like really dry! This breading does not stick if you don't so it's super important to pat the fish dry with paper towels. I should note that walleye is a pretty tender fish so maybe don't push too hard while patting it dry.
- Don't crowd the fish. Because air fryers work by shooting hot air all around, we need to lease space (about an inch) around the sides of each piece of fish.
What's the difference between a convection oven and an air fryer?
Most air fryers are smaller meaning they heat up quicker and hotter while convection ovens are usually larger and take longer to heat up. However, there are toaster ovens that are also convection ovens and air fryers in one. If you're using this, you can use the baking setting or air fryer setting, just add 1-2 minutes of time if using the baking time.
common questions
do you have to remove the skin on the walleye before cooking?
Yes, unlike other air fryer walleye recipes, ours breads the fish on both sides. This makes it crispy all the way around so we need to remove the skin to eat it all.
What internal temperature should the fish be at when cooked?
The walleye should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees.
Can I make beer-battered walleye in the air fryer?
Certainly, you can use your favorite beer batter breading and just cook for 6 minutes in the air fryer.
How should I serve air-fried walleye?
You can serve it with your favorite tartar sauce or hot sauce or it can be enjoyed as part of a simple dinner with rice or potatoes and a vegetable. Another fun way to enjoy this flaky fish is as part of fish tacos.
Should I adjust the cooking time for different thicknesses?
No, walleye will almost never be so drastically different in thickness that you will need to adjust the cook time. If for some reason the thickness of your fillets is much, much thicker you can add another minute to the time.
troubleshooting & testing notes
What happens when you don't remove the skin?
It's super hard to eat because even though it's soft enough, it's not particularly tasty. So not only is the bottom soggy but it's not very appetizing.
Can I make an air fryer walleye without breading?
Yes, you can and if you don't want the breading you also can leave the skin on. To make it without breading, pat the fillets dry and dust them with the spice mixture. Air fryer as directed.
how to store it
fridge
Any leftovers can be kept in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
frozen
You can freeze the fish after it's cooked. Just store wrapped in plastic wrap or in a ziplock bag and then put it inside an air tight container.
reheating
To reheat, pop the filets back in the air fryer for 2 minutes or in the oven at 350 degrees for 5 minutes until crispy and heated through. From frozen, let the fish thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Recipe
The Ultimate Crispy Air Fryer Walleye Recipe
Equipment
- air fryer
- 2 shallow bowls
Ingredients
- 1 lb walleye (2 fillets)
- ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup parmesan (finely grated)
- 1 egg
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 lemon (for squeezing juice on after)
Before you start!
If you make this recipe, please take a moment to leave us a review. We love to hear from you!
Instructions
- Thaw the 1 lb walleye as needed. Cut the skin off your walleye fillets if needed and slice them in half. Pat the fillets dry with a paper towel on both sides so that they're dry (this is super important!).
- Crack 1 egg into a shallow bowl and whisk it. Then, grate ¼ cup parmesan into a separate bowl and stir in the ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.
- Dip one fillet into the egg wash to completely coat it with egg. Then, dip it into the bowl with the dry ingredients to coat it with the dry ingredients. Next, place the fillet in the air fryer basket. Repeat with other fillets. Space each piece out evenly about 1" or more apart. Work in batches as needed.
- Air fryer at 400 degrees for 6 minutes. Remove and top with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice!
Video
Notes
- Cutting the skin off of fish is easier the sharper the knife you have. Also, it is best with a nonserrated knife. If you use a serrated knife it's tough to slice back and forth because of how slippery the fish is.
- Patting fish filets dry before cooking will help keep the breading from getting soggy. If the fish is too wet on the outside, the breading that coats the fish will absorb that water and become soggy.
- Don't crowd the fish. Because air fryers work by shooting hot air all around, we need to lease space (about an inch) around the sides of each piece of fish.
Looking for more information?
Additional substitution information can be found above in the substitution section of this post.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and for informational purposes only.
It's a good recipe, but many air fryers like our do not have a temperature control, and six minutes is simply not enough to get the fish done, much less
crispy. I had it in the air fryer for 12 minutes and it was fine.
Thanks for the note - we will be sure to note this if your air fryer doesn't have temperature control.
We made this for dinner tonight with fresh Walleye my Husband caught last night. OH MY! This was delicious! I am not a big fish eater, but I really liked this and so did my Husband who usually likes his fish fried! This is definitely a keeper!
Ya! So glad you enjoyed it and even better to enjoy it with fresh walleye!
Excellent recipe. Full of great flavor.
Thank you for the kind words Terri!
Awesome!
Tried this air fried Walleye recipe! it was quick and excellent tasting! truly impressed. We will definitely be having Walleye cooked this way often! Thanks for putting this out there!
Ya! so happy to hear that!
Delicious fish! It came out of our convection oven so crisp ‘ tasty on the outside and finished to perfection on the inside. Our filets were large, so we baked on convection setting for 15 minutes at 400 degrees. Excellent recipe!
That sounds like perfection!
Loved this simple recipe and cooking technique.
The walleye was perfect. Crunchy and crisp outside and moist and tender inside.
It's tough to find a crispy breading. Excellent and easy recipe!
This was soooo good! The crust turned out super crispy and was super flavorful! I will always choose my air fryer over my oven so I was happy to find this recipe
That's great to hear!
I used this recipe but I changed the fish to Mahi Mahi. Changed cook time to 400 degrees for 10 minutes with internal temp of 137 degrees. This was my first time cooking fish in the airfryer. I will never cook fish in the conventional oven again. This was amazing.
Ooo love this!!
Tasty, easy and clean way to prepare fish. I appreciate the detailed instructions.
That's wonderful to hear!
I made this with halibut, and on the grill on a grill mat. Absolutely outstanding! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
We haven't tried this on the grill yet so I'm happy to hear it worked out for you!
I have made this many, many times and keep coming back to it. However, I have always made it with Mahi! Delicious!
That's amazing, I've never made it with Mahi so I'm glad to hear that works!
So delicious - thank you for this great recipe. I will definitely keep it in my rotation. Yummy and healthy - win-win!!
You're very welcome, thank you for the kind words!
Thanks I found the recipe worked well and had lots of flavor.
Great to hear!
This was excellent and loved the flavor! I had never made Walleye before so I didn't know what to do at first. This recipe made it so easy and it tasted SO good! Thank you!
Fantastic! It's a great fish isn't it?!
This recipe definitely put an smile on my face, and also my Husband's! Easy and delicious. Thank you so much Mika.
Thanks for trusting use with what you feed your family!
Easy and delicious. Had everything on hand except Parmesan cheese.
Thanks for making it! Glad you enjoyed!
What a terrific recipe and this will probably be the only way I cook walleye ever again. A few little changes were made, fresh walleye, kept the fillets in one piece, no onion powder or garlic powder and I used my convection oven instead of an air fryer. These fillets were big so I cooked for about 8 minutes in the 400 degree convection oven on the top rack. The panko coating was enough for 4 fillets and using the oven allowed me to cook in one go. They rewarmed the next day, heating in a skillet with a little oil with no decrease in flavor or crispiness. My husband raves about this recipe to everyone who likes walleye and coming from the Ohio area, that's a lot of people.
That is high praise!! Thanks!
I put the dry ingredients in a zip lock bag. I add olive oil to the breadcrumbs and massage the oil uniformly through the bread crumbs and then add the spices and shake the bag. I find the breading browns better and is more crisp.Last I put the egg-dipped walleye pieces in the bag and shake to apply the breading.
That sounds like a great way to do it!