Air Fryer Sea Bass With Lemon Herb Butter

Air fryer sea bass gets lightly browned at the edges while staying tender enough for a spoonful of lemon herb butter. For two fresh, roughly 3/4-inch-thick fillets, preheat to 390°F (199°C) for 3 minutes, then cook for about 8–10 minutes. There’s no need to flip or shake the fish; check the thickest part with a food thermometer before serving.

Ingredients

• 2 sea bass fillets, about 6 ounces each and 3/4 inch thick, thawed if previously frozen
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons softened unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh dill
• 1 lemon, for 1/2 teaspoon zest, 1 teaspoon juice, and serving wedges

The butter goes on after air frying, so the herbs stay fresh-tasting and the fish has a chance to brown. Have a small bowl ready to mix it while the fillets cook.

How To Make It

1. Preheat the air fryer to 390°F (199°C) for 3 minutes with its standard basket and perforated crisper plate in place. No separate pan or liner is needed.
2. Pat the fillets dry with paper towels. Brush both sides with the olive oil, then season with the salt and pepper.
3. Arrange the fish in one layer on the crisper plate, skin-side down if it has skin. Leave space between the fillets and around their edges for hot air to circulate. Cook for 8–10 minutes without flipping, beginning to check at 8 minutes. Thicker pieces may need longer.
4. While the fish cooks, mix the softened butter with the parsley, dill, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Measure the temperature in the thickest part of each fillet; continue cooking as needed until it reaches 145°F (63°C). Lift the fish out gently with a thin spatula, add the lemon herb butter, and serve with lemon wedges.

Tips

Choose fillets of similar thickness so they finish close together. If your basket is too small to hold both without crowding, cook them in batches rather than stacking them. A thin tail end can finish before the center, so aim the thermometer at the thickest portion, away from the basket.

Skip solid liners that block the perforations. Never put loose parchment in an empty air fryer during preheating; the fan can lift it toward the heating element. If fish sticks, let it sit briefly before sliding a thin spatula underneath. Serve the butter-topped sea bass right away with a simple vegetable or rice.