This air fryer walleye is coated in bread crumbs and parmesan cheese for a super crispy fried walleye. Walleye is a fresh water fish that can get quite spendy if you purchase it at the seafood market. So I suggest trying to catch as many walleye you can to make this. 😉
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Why You Will Like This Recipe
Walleye is a great fish to serve in the Summer here in the Midwest. This type of fish can be pan seared like my recipe for Pan Seared Lemon Pepper Walleye and then make some fresh 3 Ingredient Tartar Sauce to enjoy with it.
You can get walleye at a fish market or at the deli counter, or decide to catch it on your own. 😉
If you’re wondering what to serve with walleye try Air Fryer Cajun Tater Tots, Air Fryer Arby’s Frozen Curly Fries, or make some fresh cooked green beans on the side.
Ingredients Needed
- Walleye fillets, with no bones
- Parmesan cheese is a hard, granular cheese that originated in Italy. It is typically made from cow's milk and has a sharp, nutty flavor. Parmesan cheese is often grated and used as a topping for pasta dishes, salads, and other foods.
- Breadcrumbs (preferably Italian seasoned) - I pulverized some Ritz crackers in a zip lock bag to use as a crumb coating
- Garlic powder - is made from dehydrated garlic cloves and like the chili powder above it gets pulverized into a powder or flour consistency.
- Onion powder - Onion powder is dehydrated, ground onion that is commonly used as a seasoning. Some people do not like the taste of freshly chopped onion so onion powder is a great substitute if you have a picky eater like that in your house.
- Salt and black pepper - to taste
- Egg - The best type of eggs you can buy at the store are organic or free-range eggs, while others may prefer eggs from specific breeds of chickens
- Olive oil spray - this will help get the walleye nice and crispy in the air fryer!
How to Make Air Fryer Walleye
Step 1 Preheat air fryer: Start by preheating your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). While it’s heating, pat the fish dry with paper towels.
Step 2 Coat the Fish In another shallow bowl, whisk together the egg and water to create an egg wash. Dip each walleye into the egg wash, allowing any excess to drip off, and then press it into the Parmesan-breadcrumb mixture.
Step 3 Create the Breading Mixture: In a shallow bowl or dish, combine the grated Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to ensure all the seasonings are evenly distributed.
Make sure the fish is well-coated on all sides, pressing lightly to ensure the coating adheres.
Step 4 Air Fry the Walleye : Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil to prevent sticking. Place the coated walleye in the basket in a single layer, making sure they do not overlap. Lightly spray the tops of the walleye with olive oil as well. Air fry for 10 minutes, then flip the walleye and air fry for an additional 8-10 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C).
Tips for Air Fryer Walleye
Serve: Remove the walleye from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges on the side for an extra burst of flavor.
Enjoy your crispy, flavorful air fryer parmesan walleye with your favorite sides, such as a fresh salad, roasted vegetables, or pasta. This dish is sure to be a hit with family and friends!
What to serve with Walleye?
Some great sides for walleye include
- Air Fryer Baked Potatoes or Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
- A bag of cole slaw mix or a fresh salad
- Rice pilaf or quinoa
- Air Fryer Frozen Vegetables or Air Fryer Frozen Asparagus
- Tartar sauce or lemon wedges on the side
These options offer a good balance of flavors and textures to complement the mild, sweet taste of walleye, ensuring a delicious and well-rounded meal.
Recipe FAQS
Walleye should reach an internal temp of 145°F. It should be opaque and flake easily with a fork.
Dip the walleye in flour, then egg wash. Coat with your favorite bread crumbs.
8–12 minutes at 375°F, depending on the thickness of the fillet. Flip halfway through for even browning.
Yes! You can air fry frozen walleye fillets, though you may need to increase the cooking time by 2-3 minutes.
Best Walleye Tips
- Preheating ensures that the fries cook evenly and achieve the desired crispiness.
- Avoid Overcrowding: Cooking in smaller batches will help the fries cook more evenly and get crispier.
- Shaking the Basket: Shaking the b
- asket halfway through cooking helps ensure that all the fries cook evenly.
- Experiment with Seasonings: Feel free to experiment with different seasonings like garlic powder, paprika, or Cajun spice to add an extra kick to your fries.
- Always store leftovers in clean, food-grade containers. The type of container doesn’t really matter. Use zip lock, glass, plastic, whatever! Make sure to store any leftovers in an airtight container.
If you tried this Air Fryer Walleye or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries
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Air Fryer Walleye
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 15 min
- Yield: 2 1x
- Category: Easy
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Description
This air fryer walleye is coated in bread crumbs and parmesan cheese for a super crispy fried walleye.
Ingredients
- 2 walleye fillets, with no bones
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (preferably Italian seasoned)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon water
- Olive oil spray
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
- Lemon wedges (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare the walleye: Start by preheating your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). While it’s heating, pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. If the walleye are very thick, consider slicing them horizontally to create thinner fillets, which will cook more evenly.
- Coat the Fish In a shallow bowl, whisk together the egg and water to create an egg wash. Dip each walleye into the egg wash, allowing any excess to drip off, and then press it into the Parmesan-breadcrumb mixture. Make sure the walleye is well-coated on all sides, pressing lightly to ensure the coating adheres.
- Create the Breading Mixture: In a shallow bowl, combine the grated Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to ensure all the seasonings are evenly distribute. Coat the walleye in the bread crumb mixture until well coated.
- Air Fry the fish: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil to prevent sticking. Place the coated walleyes in the basket in a single layer, making sure they do not overlap. Lightly spray the tops of the chicken with olive oil as well.
- Air fry for 10 minutes, then flip the walleye and air fry for an additional 8-10 minutes, or until the walleye is golden brown and cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C).
Notes
- Serve: Remove the walleye from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges on the side for an extra burst of flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 409
- Sugar: 5g
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 62g
- Fiber: 19g
- Protein: 28g
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