Air Fryer Trout

Looking for a healthy and easy dinner option? Try this Air Fryer Trout!  The trout fillets are tender and flaky on the inside and are ready in just 10 minutes! This simple dinner dish is a healthier way of cooking fish compared to traditional frying methods.

You may know by now that I am obsessed with my air fryer! From caramelised bananas to chicken skewers & crispy pork belly, there are so many air fryer recipes you can make, I've even made a tuna melt in it!

Today we are going to make this air fryer trout recipe in just 10 minutes!

Cooking trout in the air fryer is an easy & tasty way to cook it. The air fryer seals in the moisture, leaving the inside flaky & moist. I love cooking sea bass in the air fryer too!

If you are a lover of salmon fillets, try this trout instead for a healthy, light dinner as trout has a similar taste and texture that is equally as delicious! Also salmon lovers, check out these salmon & sweet potato fishcakes too!

Aside from fish (which we can't really substitute in this recipe as it is the main ingredient!), this air fryer rainbow trout is free from all of the other top allergens, so you can safely enjoy it if you are following a dairy-free, gluten-free or nut-free diet.

🥘 Ingredients You Will Need & Substitutions

✋ Double check all packaging for allergens ✋

• Trout: Rainbow trout or steelhead trout fillets are both good options. These are available in most major supermarkets or from your fishmonger. You can substitute the trout for salmon with similar results.
• Spices: A mixture of garlic powder, oregano, salt & pepper are blended together to make the dry rub seasoning for the trout. Swap the oregano for parsley or coriander for a different herby flavour.
• Lemon: Fresh lemon is sliced and placed on top of the trout fillets before cooking for an extra zing. You can also squeeze a dash of lemon juice over the fillets if you prefer.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

🤔 How Long Does Trout Take To Cook In The Air Fryer?

I have cooked my trout in my trusted Instant Pot Vortex Plus Clear Cook Air Fryer so the timings in this recipe are based on cooking the trout in this particular brand of air fryer.

I preheated the air fryer to 200˚C / 400˚ F and then once preheated I cooked the trout fillets for 8 minutes.

A couple of different things can affect the timings of cooking your trout, which I have outlined below.

• Brand Of Air Fryer - Different brands of air fryers may cook at a different rate than others so timings may vary a little. I would advise you to check your fish every couple of minutes after the first 5 minutes to see if it is ready.
• Temperature: If you don’t preheat the air fryer you will need to add on a few more minutes of cooking time. If you decide to cook the trout fillets at a lower temperature than 200˚C they will take longer.
• Thickness Of Trout Fillet: Thicker fillets may take a little bit longer and thinner fillets will not take as long.

✏️ How To Make - Step-By-Step Instructions

⬇️ Here you will find an overview of how to make the recipe. For full information on ingredients and quantities please see the recipe card at the bottom of the page ⬇️

Step 1: To prepare your fish fillets, start by preheating your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).

This will ensure that the air fryer is hot enough to properly cook the fish.

Step 2: Next, in a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, oregano, salt, and black pepper.

Cut the lemon into thin slices.

Step 3: Pat dry the trout fillets with a kitchen towel.

Removing the excess moisture will help the skin to crisp up a little. 

Step 4: Using a pastry brush, brush the trout fillets with the olive oil.

This will help the spices to stick to the fillets.

Step 5: With your hands, rub the spice mixture all over the trout fillets, making sure that the spice blend is evenly coated on both sides.

Place two slices of lemon on top of each fillet.

Step 6: If using, line the air fryer basket with baking parchment or an air fryer liner, and place the trout fillets in the basket, skin side down.

This will help the skin to get crispy while the flesh cooks evenly.

Step 7: Cook the trout fillets for 8-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 63˚C / 145˚F or the flesh is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.

You can use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the fish.

The exact cooking time will depend on the thickness of the fillets and the power of your air fryer.

Step 8: Once the trout fillets are fully cooked, serve them warm from the air fryer. Enjoy!

🤔 Can I Cook Frozen Trout In The Air Fryer?

Absolutely! The great thing about the air fryer is that lots of things can be cooked in it straight from frozen. 

While it's better to thaw the trout first for more even cooking, you can cook it from frozen if you're short on time.

Follow the recipe instructions and increase the cooking time to 10-12 minutes.

To be sure it's done, I recommend using a meat thermometer to check that the fish hits an internal temperature of 145˚F.

🥡 How To Store

I'd suggest enjoying the trout straight from the air fryer while it's still warm and fresh for the best results.

If you have leftovers, you can store the cooked fillets in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheating the fish may dry it out although it is perfectly safe to do so.

Either reheat in the microwave until piping hot or in the air fryer on the re-heat function for a few minutes.

The fish can be stored in the freezer in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.

Defrost in the fridge overnight and reheat as above.

🍴 Serving Suggestions

Air fryer trout tastes fabulous with some rice and roasted Mediterranean vegetables like courgette (zucchini), red onion and cherry tomatoes.

Or why not try it alongside these baby hasselback potatoes with garlic & rosemary or air fryer smashed potatoes & roasted carrots and green beans?

For a cold option, simply flake the trout with a fork and mix it with some mayo—perfect for a tasty sandwich filling!

💬 Recipe FAQs