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    Home » Entree

    Air Fryer Whole Fish (Black Sea Bass)

    September 13, 2022 by Chrissy Carroll Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Nervous to tackle cooking a whole fish? Not to worry! With this air fryer whole black sea bass recipe, you’ll realize just how easy it is to prep a beautiful fish in its entirety. This makes a great show-stopping meal for a date night, or just to treat yourself to a fun meal.

    Disclosure: This post is brought to you as part of the Massachusetts Seafood Ambassador program, sponsored by Eating with the Ecosystem. As always, all opinions are my own.

    A whole fish after being cooked in the air fryer basket.

    Ingredients

    Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe, along with selected ingredient notes:

    A black sea bass, lemon, rosemary, oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
    • Whole black sea bass – I used this because it was in-season in Massachusetts when I made this recipe, and I love grabbing local seafood whenever possible. But you can certainly use many smaller whole fish in the air fryer, so feel free to choose whatever you are able to find depending on your location and time of year. (Pro tip – if your seafood source offers it, ask for the fish to be gutted and scaled to save you time at home!)
    • Rosemary – This adds a subtle herbaceous note, but you can certainly omit this if you don’t have it on hand. Or feel free to substitute with other fresh herbs, like thyme or parsley.

    Instructions

    You’ll find the full recipe ingredients and amounts in the recipe card below, but here’s a helpful overview with photos.

    The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure your black sea bass is gutted. It’s usually sold this way at the supermarket, but if you’re fishing yourself or purchasing right off the boat, you may have to tackle it yourself. 

    Next, see if the fish is scaled. A lot of times, fish at the grocery store will be sold gutted but still have scales on.

    To remove the scales, hold the end of the fish tightly. Use the back of a chef’s knife (yes, the dull side) and slide it quickly and firmly along the skin. The scales will fly off, so if you’re able to do this in a clean deep sink, it can prevent a bit of messiness – but otherwise, just give your counter a good wipe down after. 

    Continue that motion on both sides of the fish until all the scales are removed. When you’re done, rinse the fish.

    If you want to score the skin at this point you can, but I find it’s not a huge deal to skip that step when cooking a small fish in the air fryer. (Laziness or efficiency? You tell me 😉 )

    Now it’s time to rub it with oil and season it!

    Black sea bass rubbed with oil and seasonings.

    Go ahead and put those lemon slices in the cavity, along with some rosemary.

    Lemon and rosemary stuffed inside the fish.

    Place the fish in the air fryer basket. You’ll need a larger air fryer for this recipe, not one of the small models.

    Uncooked black sea bass in the air fryer basket.

    Air fry at 400 degrees F for about 15 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through. Enjoy!

    I like to serve this with a bunch of sautéed veggies like green beans, asparagus, or spinach.

    Air fryer whole fish set on top of a plate of green beans.

    Recipe FAQ

    Here are some common questions that may arise as you prepare this recipe:

    Are there bones in black sea bass?

    Yes. There will be pin bones located throughout the fish. Once it’s cooked, though, these are quite noticeable, and you can easily pick them out or eat around them (just chew slowly to make sure).

    Which fish are easy to cook whole?

    In addition to black sea bass, scup (porgy) and bluefish are also great choices from the Northeast.

    Can you make whole black sea bass in the oven?

    Sure! If you want to cook it in the oven, season as directed then roast in a 425 degree F oven for 10-15 minutes, or until cooked through.

    More Seafood Recipes

    If you’re looking for more delicious dishes featuring Massachusetts seafood, try one of these options:

    • Monkfish curry
    • Scallops with cheesy grits and balsamic cherry tomatoes
    • Hake chowder
    • Grilled striped bass with mango salsa

    I hope you like this air fryer whole fish recipe as much as I did! If you get a chance to try it, feel free to leave a recipe rating or comment below.

    A whole fish cooked in the air fryer basket.

    Air Fryer Whole Fish

    Snacking in Sneakers
    This air fryer whole black sea bass is a simple, show-stopping main dish – and it's done in under 20 minutes.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2 servings
    Calories 165 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 lb whole black sea bass gutted and scaled
    • ½ tbsp olive oil
    • ¼ tsp salt
    • ¼ tsp pepper
    • ¼ tsp garlic powder
    • ½ lemon sliced
    • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary

    Instructions
     

    • Rub the black sea bass with the olive oil, then season with the salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
    • Stuff the inside of the fish with the lemon slices and rosemary.
    • Place the fish in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 400 for approximately 15 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through (flesh will be flaky white and internal temperature will reach 145 degrees F).
    • When done, remove the lemon and rosemary and enjoy!

    Notes

    The nutrition analysis below assumes a whole fish will yield about 40-50% edible filet.
    Nutrition analysis (approximate per serving): 165 calories, 9 g fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 350 mg sodium, 1 g carbohydrate, 0 g fiber, 0 g sugar, 20 g protein, Vitamin D: 0%, Calcium: 2%, Iron: 2%, Potassium: 7%

    Nutrition

    Calories: 165kcal
    Keyword air fryer black sea bass, air fryer whole fish
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Share: Have you ever experimented with whole fish cooking? What’s your favorite type of seafood? 

    Feel free to pin this post to save for later!

    An air fryer basket with a cooked whole fish, with a text overlay with the name of the recipe.
    • Author
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    Chrissy Carroll
    Chrissy Carroll
    Chrissy Carroll is a Registered Dietitian and USAT Level I Triathlon Coach. She specializes in sharing nutrition and fitness tips, as well as recipes, for runners, triathletes, and active women.Chrissy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition, a Masters Degree in Public Health, and is also an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer.
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    Chrissy Carroll
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    Chrissy Carroll is a Registered Dietitian and USAT Level I Triathlon Coach. She specializes in sharing nutrition and fitness tips, as well as recipes, for runners, triathletes, and active women.Chrissy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition, a Masters Degree in Public Health, and is also an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer.
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    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Chrissy Carroll
    Chrissy Carroll
    Chrissy Carroll is a Registered Dietitian and USAT Level I Triathlon Coach. She specializes in sharing nutrition and fitness tips, as well as recipes, for runners, triathletes, and active women.Chrissy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition, a Masters Degree in Public Health, and is also an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer.
    Chrissy Carroll
    Latest posts by Chrissy Carroll (see all)
    • Should Runners Lift Heavy Weights or Light Weights? - May 9, 2025
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