Coconut Lime Air Fryer Halibut

This Coconut Lime Air Fryer Halibut is a fun and easy way to add more fish into your weekly rotation. Consider this your go-to recipe when you want an elevated dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes!

Originally posted on April 20, 2020. Updated May 2, 2025.

 

Why you should make this Coconut Lime Air Fryer Halibut

If you’re looking for an easy weeknight meal that feels a little fancy without all the effort, this Coconut Lime Air Fryer Halibut recipe is the way to go. Air fryer recipes require a little bit of prep and a short cooking time, while really delivering on big flavors.

Halibut is a white fish with a mild taste, making it a great option to pair with flavours like the bright lime and cozy coconut combo.

The air fryer makes the halibut perfectly flaky and tender, so you get a delicious dinner on the table fast—no need to keep a constant eye on the stove. The ease of this recipe makes it even more enjoyable to make, allowing you to spend your extra time working on side dishes or doing things outside of the kitchen.

It’s a simple, fresh option that’s perfect for busy nights when you still want something homemade and satisfying.

Ingredients needed

It’s a pretty simple list! Here’s what you need to make this Coconut Lime Air Fryer Halibut: 

• Fresh halibut fillets
• Panko bread crumbs
• Grated unsweetened coconut
• Egg
• Lime zest
• Garlic powder
• Salt and black pepper

 

Substitutions

If you don’t have some of the suggested ingredients or you would like to make some adjustments, here are a few of my recommended substitutions:

• Other white fish
  • If you don’t have access to halibut, any other light, white fish will work for this recipe. For example, cod, haddock, and tilapia would all be good substitutions.
• Regular breadcrumbs
  • Instead of Panko breadcrumbs, the same amount of regular breadcrumbs will also work. 
• Crackers
  • If you don’t have any breadcrumbs, you can finely crush up crackers and use these in place of breadcrumbs. Ritz or saltine crackers work the best!
• Lemon zest
  • Lemon zest provides a very similar citrus flavour so can be used instead of lime zest.

How to cook halibut in the air fryer

Cooking fish in the air fryer is incredibly easy! Here’s how to make this recipe:

1. If your air fryer takes a while to heat up, start by preheating it to 400°F and prepare the air fryer basket with a light brushing of olive oil or cooking spray. Set this aside while we prepare the fish.
2. In a wide and shallow bowl, whisk the egg. Set this to the side.
3. In another wide and shallow bowl, mix together the Panko bread crumbs, grated coconut, lime zest, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Make sure this mixture is spread out evenly in the bowl.
4. Using one hand, place a halibut filet into the bowl with the whisked egg and drench it, making sure it’s fully covered. Then place the same filet in the bowl with the dry mixture. Use your other hand to flip the filet on all sides or use a spoon to scoop the mixture onto the fish. Make sure the fish is fully covered in the coconut lime crust. Place it on a separate plate. Repeat this until all filets are coated.
5. Place the breaded fillets in the air fryer basket and then into the air fryer to bake for 8-10 minutes or until the fish flakes easily or the internal temperature of the fish reaches at least 145°F (63°C).
6. Once it is cooked, allow it to cool for 3-5 minutes and then serve with your choice of side(s). Enjoy!

 

Using frozen halibut

If you are using frozen halibut for this recipe, just make sure to properly thaw it out before coating it. The most recommended way to thaw out fish is to store it overnight on a plate in the refrigerator.

Alternatively, you could place the fish in an airtight bag or container and place this in a large bowl or sink filled with cold water. Rotate the fish every 10-15 minutes. This thawing method can take between 30-60 minutes, depending on the size of your fish.

How to serve air fryer halibut

There are countless ways to serve this Coconut Lime Air Fryer Halibut and it’s all up to your own preferences.

• I love to keep the meal simple and serve it with some rice and air fried vegetables like broccoli and bell peppers.
• Place it on a bed of leafy greens like arugula or as the protein source of a large salad.
• Pair it with some sauteed green beans and creamy garlic mashed potatoes.
• Don’t forget to add a spritz of lime or lemon juice on top of the air fryer fish to highlight the bright flavours.

 

Leftovers

If you have a few filets of this air fried halibut leftover, there are a few ways to enjoy it. You can reheat it in the microwave and pair it with your desired sides. However, the crispy texture of the crust doesn’t hold up well in the microwave so this may not be the most ideal method.

You could also briefly pan fry the fish so the outside gets crispy again while heating up the whole fish. 

Alternatively, one of my favourite things to do with leftover fish is to make a variation of tuna salad. Simply mash up the leftover halibut, add some mayonnaise until it reaches your desired texture and then scoop it up with crackers or smear it on bread for a sandwich. It’s a quick and easy way to add variety to your meals without having to cook anything extra!

Nutrition

My goal is to encourage a more joyful, intuitive relationship with food, focusing on flavor and satisfaction rather than numbers. Because of this, I don’t normally calculate the calories of my recipes. Caloric amounts can also be inaccurate due to variations in ingredients and portions. However, I do like to highlight the beneficial nutrients that my recipes provide.

Per ~½ lb (8oz) of coconut lime crusted halibut, there are roughly:

• 55 grams of protein
• 2 grams of fibre
• A significant source of vitamin D
• A variety of B vitamins, including vitamin B12
• Minerals such as magnesium, selenium, zinc and more!

This nutrition information will vary, depending on the amount of topping that the fish is coated in.

 

Dietary considerations

As a dietitian, I aim to create recipes that can suit a variety of dietary considerations. This recipe is naturally dairy free and nut free.

• To make it gluten free, opt for gluten free bread crumbs instead.
• To make it oil free, omit the olive oil used to coat the air fryer basket and place some parchment paper down instead. You may not even need parchment paper if your basket is non-stick.

More fish recipes

• Salmon and Sweet Potato Cakes
• Pecan Crusted Tilapia
• Sweet Sesame Salmon Bites
• Lemon Dill and Dijon Salmon

 

I hope you love this Coconut Lime Air Fryer Halibut! If you make this recipe, I would love to see your comment and rating below. It also makes my day seeing your creations of my recipes on Instagram- don’t forget to tag @allnutrition.rd!