Air Fryer Halibut (Easy 10-Minute Recipe)

Make this easy Air Fryer Halibut recipe for dinner tonight! The moist and flaky fish is perfectly seasoned and served with tender-crisp green beans, leaving you with a simple yet delicious 10-minute meal.

While salmon is usually my fish of choice, I can’t resist quick, easy, and ultra-moist Air Fryer Halibut. It’s an incredibly convenient weeknight dinner with delicious flavors!

This dish is quickly becoming one of my weekly favorites because the process is almost entirely hands-free. The air fryer takes the guesswork out of cooking the fish, ensuring it turns out moist, flaky, and full of flavor, all in under 20 minutes! It’s a great option, especially if you’re new to cooking fish—I promise it’s practically impossible to mess up.

For a simple side, I air fried green beans with the halibut but you can always swap these for another fresh veggie you love. Whether you choose asparagus, brussels sprouts, broccoli, bell peppers, or snap peas, the air fryer always gives them the perfect tender-crisp texture.

Looking for more quick and easy weeknight seafood recipes? Check out my Sheet Pan Salmon, Shrimp Piccata, and Fish Taco Bowls.

What is halibut?

Halibut is a meaty, white-fleshed flatfish commonly found in the North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans. Its meat is thick and firm, which makes it perfect for air frying. It turns out moist and flaky every time! 

Ingredients

• Halibut filets – When you’re shopping, look for fresh, wild-caught halibut filets. If you can’t find halibut, you can cook another firm white fish in its place, like cod or haddock.
• Olive oil spray 
• Halibut dry rub – I seasoned the halibut filets with a homemade fish dry rub made with garlic powder, paprika (sweet or smoked), onion powder, salt, and black pepper. It’s aromatic and savory, which enhances the halibut’s naturally delicate flavor perfectly. For a more smoky-spicy flavor profile, try my Salmon Dry Rub instead.
• Green beans – An optional but highly recommended vibrant side to cook alongside the halibut in the air fryer. 
• Lemon wedges – A squeeze of fresh lemon on top of the fish and green beans adds a tangy brightness to the finished dish. 

How to cook halibut in the air fryer

Start by whisking the garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until well combined. 

Pat your halibut filets dry with paper towels before seasoning them with the fish dry rub. Be generous! If using, toss the trimmed green beans with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper. 

Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray, then add the halibut filets and green beans in a single layer.

Air fry the halibut and green beans until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.

Serve with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and enjoy! 

Tips and tricks

• Make sure to pat the halibut filets dry with paper towels before adding the seasonings. This helps the dry rub stick to the fish while promoting a crisp, golden crust on the outside.
• Want to switch up the seasonings? Use Cajun, Italian, blackening, lemon pepper, or shrimp seasoning blends on the fish instead!
• If the halibut is done cooking before the green beans are tender, just take it out of the air fryer and let the beans cook for another few minutes.
• You’ll know the fish is cooked through when the meat turns from white to opaque, it flakes easily when scraped with a fork, and has an internal temperature of 145ºF.
• Feel free to swap the green beans for other fresh vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, or snap peas. 

FAQs 

At what temperature should you air fry halibut?

I found 400°F to be the sweet spot when air frying halibut. This temperature allows the fish to cook evenly and develop a crispy exterior while keeping the middle moist and flaky.

How long does it take to cook halibut in an air fryer?

The cooking time will depend on your air fryer and the thickness of the filets. My filets took between 6 and 7 minutes to cook through, but thicker filets may need closer to 10 minutes. 

Can you cook frozen halibut in the air fryer?

You can use frozen halibut for this recipe but I recommend thawing the fish in the fridge overnight before cooking. If you’re short on time, allow the fish to thaw slightly so it’s not a solid block, then pat it dry with paper towels before seasoning and cooking. Increase the cooking time slightly to ensure the halibut cooks through evenly.

Storing

Once cool, place the leftover halibut and green beans in separate airtight containers and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

To reheat, microwave the leftovers in 20-second intervals, or place them back in the air fryer for a few minutes or until warmed through.

Wine pairings for halibut 

Serving suggestions

Air fryer halibut with green beans makes a light and nutritious meal on its own, but you can always round it out with another side dish or two. Use any of these 35 side dish recipes or stick to these ideas instead:

Want to take your halibut to the next level? Garnish the fish with one of these 10+ Sauces to Serve with Halibut.

You can also add the air fryer halibut to all kinds of other dishes. Use it as a topping on salads, tacos, or grain bowls; use it in fish cakes; or add it to pasta dishes for extra protein and flavor.

More air fryer meat and seafood recipes 

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