Ready in just 15 minutes, this Air Fryer Trout recipe is quick, easy, and cooks beautifully every time. All you need are trout fillets, olive oil, and a few simple seasonings. This recipe is perfect for light lunches and easy dinners!

If you like this Air Fryer Trout recipe, you’ll definitely want to check out my oven-baked Garlic Butter Rainbow Trout recipe next!

An air fryer trout fillet on a white plate with a salad.
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My family and I LOVE fresh seafood, so I try to add it to our dinner rotation a couple of times a week. I  make Air Fryer Salmon and Air Fryer Shrimp pretty often, so I thought I’d switch things up and go with trout fillets this time. The Air Fryer is perfect for cooking fish because it makes the exterior nice and crisp, while the interior stays moist and flaky. Plus, it saves me time and dishes, so it’s a winner in my book!

This recipe is one of my favorite trout recipes just because it’s flavorful and easy to make. Also it’s a great option if you have specific dietary needs. Not only is it low-carb and gluten-free, it’s also Keto, Paleo, and Whole30 friendly! The ingredients are simple and versatile, so feel free to customize it to fit your family’s preferences.

How To Make Air Fryer Trout

Ingredients

  • Rainbow trout fillets — I recommend buying good quality, fresh trout if it’s available. You can also use frozen filets and thaw them in the fridge before you cook them. Feel free to use rainbow or steelhead trout, just make sure the fillets are relatively the same size, so they cook evenly.  
  • Olive oil — A drizzle of olive oil will help the seasonings stick to the trout. You can also use avocado oil.  
  • Seasonings — I season the fillets with a blend of paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder, along with salt and black pepper to taste.
  • Fresh parsley — A garnish of fresh parsley before serving adds a nice color and flavor.
Pre-measured ingredients in small bowls.

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer to 400°F if your model requires you to do so.

Prepare the trout fillets:

  • Clean the trout fillets and pat them completely dry with paper towels.
  • Drizzle olive oil over the fillets and rub each one with the seasoning mix of paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
Left: uncooked trout fillets. Right: seasoned fillets.

Air fry the trout:

  • Then, place the trout fillets in the air fryer basket or try. This is optional, but if you prefer, you can spray or brush olive oil on the air fryer basket to prevent the fish from sticking. Be sure to arrange them in a single layer with the skin side down, leaving some space between each fillet.
  • Air fry the trout for 8-10 minutes, or until it’s cooked through and flaky inside with crispy skin.
Left: trout fillets in the air fryer. Right: fillets once they've cooked.

Garnish and serve:

  • Carefully remove the trout fillets from the air fryer.
  • Garnish them with fresh herbs like fresh parsley. Squeeze some lemon juice and enjoy!
An air fryer trout fillet flaked apart on a plate with a salad.

Olivia's Recipe Tips

  • Be sure to pat the trout fillets dry with a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture. This will help the olive oil and seasonings adhere better and make the skin nice and crispy.
  • I recommend buying fillets that are similar in size so they cook evenly. If they vary in size, you’ll need to remove the smaller fillets first, so they don’t overcook.
  • I like to pre-mix the seasoning, so each trout fillet gets an even coating of spices.
  • Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket – the hot air needs to circulate each fillet. You can cook them in two batches if they don’t all fit comfortably.
  • The trout is perfectly cooked when it’s fork-tender, which means that it will easily flake apart with a fork. You can also use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature for 145°F.
  • For easy cleanup, use parchment paper. If using parchment, there’s no need to spray the air fryer basket with oil.

What To Serve with Air Fryer Trout

Recipe Variations

Air Fryer Trout

No ratings yet
Author: Olivia Ribas
Servings4 people
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Ready in just 15 minutes, this Air Fryer Trout recipe is quick, easy, and cooks beautifully every time. All you need are trout fillets, olive oil, and a few simple seasonings. This recipe is perfect for light lunches and easy dinners!

Equipment

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Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF.
  • Clean and pat dry the trout fillets with paper towels.
  • Pour olive oil over the trout fillets, Then, rub each fillet with paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and black pepper.
  • Arrange them in a single layer with the skin side down in the air fryer basket or tray, leaving space between each fillet.
  • Air fry the trout for 8-10 minutes or until cooked, flaky inside with crispy skin.
  • Take them out of the air fryer and garnish with parsley.

Notes

  • Pat the trout fillets completely dry with a paper towel before seasoning.
  • Buy fillets that are similar in size, so they cook evenly.
  • Be careful not to overcrowd the air fryer basket.
  • Pre-mix the seasoning, so each fillet gets an even coating of spices.
  • The trout is done when it easily flakes apart with a fork, or when it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.
  • To Store: Keep the leftovers in an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days.
  • To Freeze: Freeze for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag.
  • To Reheat: Reheat however you prefer! You can use the air fryer, microwave, oven, or stovetop.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4, Calories: 182kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 16g, Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 47mg, Sodium: 115mg, Potassium: 315mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Olivia Ribas

Welcome

Hi, I'm Olivia


I’m so happy you’re here!! For the last 11 years, I’ve been sharing easy, quick, and family-friendly recipes like chicken, salmon, ground meat and pork chops (total reader favorites!), perfect for stress-free weeknight dinners made with fresh, seasonal ingredients.

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4 Comments

  1. Gail Grainger says:

    Didn’t give a recommended temperature for the air fryer. This is the main reason I looked for a recipe

    1. Olivia Ribas says:

      On the recipe card below the post you can find all the info you need. Thanks

  2. Harold Mindlin says:

    Delicious recipe and very easy to make

    1. Olivia Ribas says:

      Absolutely it is ;- )