Air Fryer Calamari is tender, crunchy, with a perfectly seasoned homemade breading and the most delicious homemade Lemon Dill dipping sauce. And is ready in under 30 minutes!
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Don't let the idea of making your own calamari at home freak you out, with this Air Fryer Calamari recipe, it's never been so easy to enjoy some crispy calamari at home! I can't get over how much I love dipping the fried squid rings in the lemon dill sauce. It's become one of my favorite appetizers. I love the lemon dill flavor in my Crab Cakes with Lemon Dill Sauce, so I knew it would be a hit here.
Why This Delicious Appetizer Works
Fried Calamari can feel intimidating, but with these step by step photos and easy-to-follow recipe. Each bite of the golden brown exterior and firm yet tender internal ring is so delicious!
Using the Air Fryer is healthier than tossing everything in the deep fryer. Less oil, less fat, and less calories than deep frying. This is an easy appetizer and delicious with my Filet Mignon, or my Pan Seared Rib Eye!
Ingredients
- Calamari rings: these come in a few sizes. If you have larger rings, you'll need to adjust the cooking time by adding an additional minute or two.
- Mayonnaise: used to make the dipping sauce
- Lemon juice: freshly squeezed is a must. No bottled "juice" allowed.
- Herbs and spices: fresh chopped dill, finely minced garlic cloves for the sauce, salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.
- Egg and water
- All-purpose flour
- Bread crumbs: plain and panko breadcrumbs
- Non stick spray
How To Make Air Fryer Calamari
- Step 1: Whisk the egg and water together in a shallow bowl. Add flour to the egg mixture and whisk until a thick batter forms. Set aside in the fridge until ready to use.
- Step 2: In a separate bowl, combine both kinds of breadcrumbs and spices.
- Step 3: Drop a few raw calamari rings in the egg and flour mixture to coat.
- Step 4: Transfer the wet rings to the breading mixture and toss to coat evenly. Before you add to the breading mixture, remove any excess batter.
- Step 5: Place coated and covered breaded rings on a rimmed, lined baking sheet.
- Step 6: Add breaded calamari to the Air Fryer basket. Do not crowd. Spritz with nonstick cooking spray.
- Step 7: While Air Fryer preheats, make the dipping sauce by whisking mayo, garlic, lemon juice, and dill together in a third small bowl.
- Step 8: Fry and flip halfway through. Pay attention to the cook time so you don't burn the rings. Serve with sauce and fresh lemon wedges and enjoy.
Recipe Tips
- Be sure to arrange the breaded calamari in a single layer in the Air Fryer basket, not crowding the basket of the Air Fryer so the hot air can circulate and cook the rings evenly.
- Leftover calamari goes in an airtight container and should be kept in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- The cooking time needed will vary from Air Fryer to Air Fryer. It will also depend on the size of your rings.
- If you like heat, add some red pepper flakes to the sauce, or some cayenne pepper in the sauce or your breading.
- Pat the rings dry with a paper towel before going through the breading process.
Recipe Faq's
If you have tough or chewy Air Fryer calamari, that usually happens when it's overcooked or undercooked. It's important to keep an eye on them in the Air Fryer so you don't overcook them.
Depending on where you shop, you may find it at the seafood counter or frozen in the seafood section in your grocery store
. You may also find it sold in a tube, or already cut into rings.
Yes once the calamari is breaded place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and spritz them with cooking spray. Place in the freezer for several hours then place them in a freezer bag and freeze for 3-6 months.
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Air Fryer Calamari
Equipment
Ingredients
- 10 ounces calamari rings
- Non stick cooking spray
Lemon Dill Sauce
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped dill
For The Wet Batter
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup all purpose flour
For the Breading
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
- lemon wedges
Instructions
- Thaw the calamari according to the package instructions. Once thawed pat dry with paper towels.
- In a small bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, garlic, lemon juice and dill until combined. Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- In a shallow bowl whisk the egg and water together, then add in the flour and mix until a thick batter forms.
- In another shallow bowl add the bread crumbs, panko, salt, paprika, onion and garlic powder and Italian seasoning until combined.
- Place some calamari rings into the wet batter and toss until coated. Allow excess to drip off and place the calamari into the breading mixture and toss until coated and place on a baking sheet. Repeat until all of the calamari is coated.
- Preheat the air fryer on 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
- Place a layer of calamari rings into the basket, give the tops of the rings a quick spray. Fry for 4 minutes then flip the rings and give another quick sprits with spray and fry another 1-2 minutes. Remove to a platter and repeat until done.
- Serve with lemon dill sauce and extra lemon wedges.
Fantastic!
Made this exactly as stated and it turned out great
So happy you loved them Laura!
You're welcome 🙂
Glad it was a hit!
So happy he enjoyed it Jane 🙂
This was a delicious recipe! Everyone in my family loved it!
My husband enjoyed this Air Fryer Calamari.
Making these calamari using the air fryer was such a game changer! Loved it, thanks!
Packed full of flavour and worked perfectly. Thank you