These Air Fryer Swordfish Steaks are a fast and easy seafood dinner option. Flavor the swordfish with a simple marinade, then pop into the air fryer for about 10 minutes!
An air fryer is a great time saving kitchen appliance to have! It cooks food quickly, and browns them well. Air fryer recipes like Air Fryer Tater Tots, Air Fryer Quesadillas, and Air Fryer Tortilla Chips get extra crispy in a short amount of time.
Swordfish has a firm and meaty texture, making it great to serve as thick steaks. Since this fish has a firm texture, it holds up well to high temperatures like on the grill (like in these Grilled Swordfish Tacos) or in an airfryer.
Check out all the Seafood Recipes for some delicious dinner ideas!
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Why this recipe works
- Air frying swordfish is fast and easy.
- The simple marinade adds extra flavor to the fish.
- Made with minimal simple ingredients.
- Gluten free
- Dairy free
Expert Tips for Air Fryer Swordfish
- If you’re in a rush, marinate the swordfish steaks for at least 15 minutes.
- To get a more browned crust on the swordfish steaks, blot them with a paper towel after removing them from the marinade.
- Lightly coat the air fryer basket with a neutral oil like avocado oil to prevent sticking.
- Put the swordfish fillets in a single layer in the air fryer basket for even cooking.
- While you technically can air fry frozen fish, it can lead to uneven cooking. I prefer to defrost the fish first before cooking it.
How Long to Cook Swordfish in an Air Fryer?
The time to fully cook swordfish in the air fryer will depend on the thickness of the swordfish steaks. Thicker steaks will take longer to cook. On average an 8 ounce swordfish fillet will take about 10 minutes to cook in the airfryer at 400°F.
To perfectly cook your swordfish, it is best to use an instant read kitchen thermometer. According to the FDA, swordfish should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F (Source). Insert your meat thermometer into the thickest part of the fish to test for doneness.
Ingredients
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
- Lemons - Fresh lemon juice helps to flavor and tenderize the swordfish. Plus the lemon slices adds a nice garnish and can be used to add more lemon juice to each individual serving.
- Apple cider vinegar - This also helps flavor and tenderize the swordfish in the marinade. You can substitute for red or white wine vinegar.
- Lemon pepper seasoning - An easy way to add flavor is by using a premade seasoning. If you want even more pepper flavoring, you can add additional black pepper.
- Swordfish steaks - You can use fresh or frozen swordfish steaks.
How to Cook Swordfish in an Air Fryer
Step One: Marinate
Combine ingredients for the marinade. Add swordfish and coat well. Marinate for 15 minutes to an hour in the refrigerator.
Step Two: Preheat
Preheat airfryer to 400°F. Lightly oil the airfryer basket, add swordfish, and top with lemon slices.
Step Three: Flip
After five minutes, flip the swordfish steaks and brush with reserved marinade.
Step Four: Finish
Finish cooking until the fish has reached 145°F.
Serve with browned lemon slices, fresh chopped parsley, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Equipment
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Serving Suggestions
Serve this easy dinner with a simple side like a fresh salad, green beans, or sweet potatoes. Here are some more side dish ideas.
- Simple Spinach and Arugula Salad
- Gluten Free Sweet Potato Fries
- Couscous Salad
- Gluten Free Mashed Potatoes
- Balsamic Roasted Carrots
Variations
You can change up the seasoning and marinade for this recipe
- Use lime juice instead of lemon, and use salt and pepper instead of the lemon pepper seasoning. Serve the swordfish with Spicy Mango Salsa.
- Marinate swordfish with Spicy Chimichurri for a spicy pop of flavor.
- Did you know vinaigrettes also double as great marinades? Try Lemon Herb Vinaigrette, Dijon Dill Dressing, or Grapefruit Vinaigrette as a way to infuse different flavors into the swordfish meat!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long to marinate swordfish?
Marinate your swordfish for a minimum of 15 minutes, but no more than 1 hour. If you leave the marinade on the fish longer than an hour, the acids in the marinade will start to “cook” the fish, like in ceviche!
What temperature should you cook swordfish to?
According to the FDA, swordfish should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F (Source).
What is the dark part of swordfish?
Swordfish is considered a white fish, but you may see some dark spots on fillets. This is totally normal. The darker areas may have a stronger taste.
Should I use frozen or fresh swordfish?
You can use either fresh or frozen swordfish for this recipe. I recommend defrosting frozen fish before cooking it in the air fryer.
If you try this recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below so I know what you think! Follow Elise Tries to Cook on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and Subscribe via email to receive the latest recipes!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Swordfish Steak Recipe
Equipment
- Instant read thermometer
- Zip top or silicone bag
Ingredients
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 teaspoon coarse Kosher salt
- 2 8- ounce swordfish steaks
- 1 lemon sliced
- More chopped parsley
Instructions
- In a gallon zip top bag, combine the lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, 1 tablespoon parsley, garlic, lemon pepper season, salt, and pepper.
- Place the swordfish steaks in the bag, and close the bag. Toss the fish to coat with the marinade, and then place in the refrigerator for about 1 hour, turning every 10-15 minutes.
- Once the fish has marinated, preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Set the air fryer to 10 minutes. Lightly oil the inside of the air fryer with a high heat, neutral oil.
- Remove the fish from the marinade, reserving the marinade. Place the fish in the air fryer, and top with lemon slices. Close the lid or drawer, depending on the model of air fryer you have, and let cook for 5 minutes.
- After five minutes, open the air fryer, push the lemon slices to the side leaving them in the air fryer, and flip the swordfish steaks.
- Brush each steak with about a tablespoon of marinade. Close the air fryer to finish cooking the swordfish for the remaining 5 minutes.
- Once the fish has reached 145°F, remove it from the air fryer. Serve with browned lemon slices and fresh chopped parsley, if desired.
Notes
- If you like more pepper, add about ½ teaspoon of cracked black pepper to the marinade. I found that the pepper in the lemon pepper seasoning was enough.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 1-2 days. This dish is best served fresh.
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