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.
Some of my favorite dinner recipes of his are his Parmesan Crusted Baked Walleye and Honey Mustard Fried Walleye. 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.
David Zersen says
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.
Mika Kinney says
Thanks for the note - we will be sure to note this if your air fryer doesn't have temperature control.