Air fryer snapper and cauliflower make a fast, easy seafood dinner with tender, flaky fish, buttery edges, and the classic seaside flavor of Old Bay. The savory seasoning pairs perfectly with mild snapper, and the entire high-protein meal is ready in about 30 minutes with minimal cleanup.
Quick Look: Air Fryer Fish & Veggies
- What it is: A complete air fryer dinner featuring tender, buttery snapper seasoned with Old Bay and crisp, golden cauliflower.
- Why you'll love it: It delivers classic seaside flavor in a wholesome, protein-packed meal that's simple to prepare and ready in about 30 minutes.
- Serves: 2
- Calories: 326 calories per serving.
- Healthy dinner: High in protein with fish and cauliflower.
- Flavor: Buttery, savory, and mildly spiced
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Air Fryer Snapper Recipe
Cooking fish in an air fryer is quicker than traditional frying and requires very little oil.
Here's a simple fish and roasted cauliflower recipe made with just a few ingredients and minimal cleanup.
In the oven, it takes about 25 minutes to cook and another 10 minutes to preheat.
The air fryer preheats in about 3 minutes. Cook the cauliflower for 8-10 minutes, followed by the snapper for 7-8 minutes. Including prep, the entire meal is ready in about 30 minutes.
Fish Substitutions: You can substitute any thin white fish. Here are some tasty fish you should try:
You can replace snapper with another mild white fish, such as hogfish, grouper, cod, flounder, trout, tripletail, or mahi-mahi.
Choose fillets of similar thickness and adjust the cooking time as needed; thicker fillets will take longer.
What You'll Need
See the recipe card below for exact quantities and instructions.
- Snapper fillets, fresh or thawed from frozen
- Cauliflower florets
- Olive oil or avocado oil
- Old Bay seasoning, or homemade Cajun blackened seasoning
- Butter
- Sea salt and black pepper
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Top Tips
- Avoid Overcrowding: Keep the food in a single layer and avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. If the basket is crowded, the food inside will steam instead of crisp. The crispy bits are the best part!
- Seasoning: Season the snapper with Old Bay Seasoning. Dot the fish with unsalted butter before closing the air fryer door to keep it moist while cooking.
- Low-Sodium Recommendation: If you're on a low-sodium diet, use Mrs. Dash Original Seasoning on both sides. Just skip the Old Bay!
- Timing: My air fryer cooks thin fish in 7-8 minutes at 390°F. You don't need to flip the fish while it cooks. If you have a thicker piece of fish, cook it for a few extra minutes.
How To Make Air Fryer Snapper with Cauliflower
Step 1: Cut the cauliflower into bite-size florets.
Step 2: Toss the cauliflower with olive oil and Old Bay.
Step 3: Air fry the cauliflower at 390°F for 8-10 minutes. Remove from the air fryer and set aside.
Step 4: Pat the snapper dry and remove any pin bones. Season with Old Bay, then dot with butter.
Step 5: Arrange the snapper in a single layer. Air fry at 390°F for 7-8 minutes without flipping.
Step 6: Serve hot with the roasted cauliflower and lemon wedges. Taste and season with salt and black pepper.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the snapper and cauliflower hot with lemon wedges.
Although this is a one-pot meal, you can round out the meal with one of these easy sides:
Storage
To save leftovers, place the cauliflower and fish in an airtight container. It will stay fresh for two days in the refrigerator.
If you tried this Air Fryer Snapper recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments.
Air Fryer Snapper with Cauliflower FAQ
No. Cook the snapper without flipping it. The circulating hot air cooks both sides, and turning delicate fillets can make them fall apart.
Air fry bite-size cauliflower florets at 390°F for 8 to 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
Plan on about 6 ounces of snapper per person. Depending on the size, that may be one medium fillet or two small fillets.
Snapper is done when it is opaque, flakes easily with a fork, and reaches 145°F in the thickest part.
Air Fryer Snapper with Old Bay and Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 12 ounces snapper fillets, fresh or thawed from frozen
- 3 cups cauliflower florets, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning, divided
- 1 tablespoon cold butter, cubed
- sea salt and black pepper
- 2 lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
FOR THE CAULIFLOWER
- Cut the cauliflower into bite-size pieces.
- Add the cauliflower to a large bowl with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon Old Bay. Toss the cauliflower until evenly coated.
- Arrange the cauliflower in a single layer on the crisper tray. Air fry at 390°F for 8 to 10 minutes, shaking halfway through, until browned and tender.
- Transfer the cauliflower to a plate and keep warm.
FOR THE FISH
- Pat the snapper dry and remove any pin bones if present. Season with the remaining 1 teaspoon of Old Bay, then dot with the cubed butter.
- Arrange the snapper in a single layer. Air fry at 390°F for 7 to 8 minutes without flipping, until the fish flakes easily and reaches 145°F internally.
- Serve the snapper and cauliflower hot with lemon wedges. Taste and season with salt and black pepper.
