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 healthy 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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
How To Store Leftovers
To Store: Transfer the leftovers to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for 3-4 days. I also like to portion the leftovers out for lunches throughout the week, similar to these salmon vegetable meal prep bowls.
To Freeze: You can store cooked trout in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow it to cool completely, then place it in a freezer-safe storage container or Ziploc bag. Then, thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating.
To Reheat: I love to use my air fryer to quickly reheat leftovers. It only takes a couple of minutes, and it’s perfect every time. You can also reheat leftover trout in the microwave, oven, or stovetop until it’s heated through.
What To Serve with Air Fryer Trout
- Air fryer veggies: Since your air fryer is already preheated, toss in some nutritious vegetables for a quick side. These crispy potato wedges are my favorite, but you also can’t go wrong with air fryer green beans, or asparagus.
- Crunchy coleslaw: Air fryer trout is fantastic with my easy coleslaw recipe or this fresh broccoli kale slaw salad.
- Fluffy rice: I like to serve air fryer trout on a bed of fluffy rice or quinoa. For an equally delicious low-carb option, be sure to check out my cauliflower rice recipe.
- Tasty tacos: These easy fish tacos are one of my favorite things to make with air fryer trout! They’re so tasty, and even better with homemade peach salsa or guacamole.
Recipe Variations
- Flavorful sauce or glaze: For even more flavor, try this recipe with a tasty sauce or glaze. For inspiration, see my Dijon mustard salmon or 4-ingredient pomegranate glazed salmon.
- Swap the seasonings: Feel free to customize the seasonings however you prefer! This recipe would also be SO good with my homemade BBQ seasoning or Cajun seasoning.
- Oven-baked trout: You can still enjoy this recipe even if you don’t have an air fryer! My guide on how to cook salmon in the oven has step-by-step instructions, and also works great for trout!
Recommended Tools
- Air Fryer: This recipe is quick and hands-off thanks to the air fryer!
- Paper towels: I highly recommend patting the trout dry with a paper towel before seasoning it. If you want a crispy texture, this step makes all the difference.
- Spatula: I use a Slotted Fish Spatula to transfer the trout fillets in and out of the air fryer.
Frequently Asked Questions
It certainly is! Trout are freshwater fish high in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin B12. They also have a low mercury content, so it’s a safe option if you want to add more fish to your diet.
I highly recommend using a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature for 145°F. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can use a fork to check if the fillet flakes apart easily. If it’s fork tender, then it’s fully cooked and ready to enjoy.
Nope, there’s no need to flip the trout fillets in the air fryer. However, I do recommend placing them skin-side down, which will help get it nice and crispy.
More Delicious Air Fryer Mains
Air Fryer Trout
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Ingredients
- 4 fillets trout
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and black pepper to taste
- chopped fresh parsley to garnish
Equipment
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.
Tips
- 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 Information
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
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