This air fryer salmon recipe is quick to make, tender, moist, and super flavorful. Ready in just 15 minutes, this is seriously the best way to cook salmon in the air fryer. It’s the ultimate way to cook salmon in the air fryer, giving you a hassle-free option for delicious weeknight dinners.
Air Fryer Salmon – Simple, fast, and irresistible. This salmon recipe is one of the most often cooked recipes in our house. It’s the most succulent salmon, super flaky but crisp on the outside.
While I do love pan seared salmon, honey mustard salmon, or baked salmon, this air fryer salmon is honestly just as easy to make and probably my favorite way to cook salmon.
It’s versatile and can be served with many healthy side dishes during the week.
Why Are You Going To Love This Air Fryer Salmon
- Effortless and Quick: In just 15 minutes, you can have a mouthwatering salmon dish ready to enjoy. The air fryer makes the cooking process a breeze, saving you time and effort in the kitchen.
- Ideal for Meal Prep: If you’re a fan of meal prepping, this recipe is a game-changer. Prepare a batch of air fryer salmon ahead of time and enjoy it throughout the week. It’s a convenient and healthy option for busy schedules.
- Versatile Pairings: This salmon is incredibly versatile and pairs perfectly with a variety of side dishes. Whether you prefer roasted vegetables, quinoa, or a fresh salad, you can create a complete and satisfying weeknight meal with this delicious salmon as the centerpiece.
- Irresistibly Delicious: Prepare to indulge in a delightful culinary experience. This air fryer salmon turns out perfectly cooked, with a succulent and flaky texture. The added bonus is the crispy exterior that adds a satisfying crunch to each bite.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Salmon is incredibly healthy, packed with protein, and quick to make with only a few basic ingredients to create a flavorful and nutritious meal. It’s a win-win for both your taste buds and your well-being!
- Salmon fillets – Fresh salmon fillets are used in this recipe, but frozen salmon fillets are also delicious! Choose salmon pieces that are brightly colored and firm to the touch. You can also use fish like cod, haddock, or halibut.
- Honey – My keto friends, use this keto honey replacement.
- Dijon Mustard – any type of mustard will also work if you don’t like Dijon mustard.
- Olive Oil – any vegetable oil is great and helps the seasonings stick to the fish while keeping it super moist.
- Soy Sauce – for a gluten-free version, use gluten-free Tamari or Coconut Aminos instead of soy sauce.
- Garlic Powder – you can replace the garlic powder with freshly minced garlic for a more intense flavor.
How To Cook Salmon In Air Fryer
This is truly an incredibly easy salmon recipe with only 4 main steps to follow:
Prepare the Salmon: Begin by thoroughly wiping the salmon fillets with a paper towel to eliminate excess moisture.
Prepare the Sauce: In a bowl, combine all the sauce ingredients and mix well until fully blended.
Coat the Salmon with Sauce: Brush the sauce generously over the salmon fillets, ensuring they are fully coated.
Air Fry the Salmon: Arrange the salmon fillets in the air fryer basket with the skin side down. Cook at 400°F/ 204°C for approximately 8-10 minutes, adjusting the cooking time based on the thickness of your salmon fillets. To ensure doneness, the internal temperature of the salmon should reach 145°F (63°C).
Enjoy your perfectly air-fried salmon that boasts a deliciously glazed exterior and tender, flaky texture.
Tips For Making The Perfect Air Fryer Salmon
- To ensure all your salmon fillets cook evenly, try to use ones that are the same size. This way, they’ll all be done at the same time, and you won’t have any overcooked or undercooked pieces.
- Make sure to leave a little room between the salmon fillets in the air fryer basket. This allows the hot air to circulate around each piece, giving you that deliciously crispy texture all over.
- For extra juiciness, cook your salmon with the skin on. It acts like a protective shield, keeping the moisture locked in and ensuring a tasty result. You can always remove the skin later if you prefer.
- Check for flakiness to determine if your salmon is ready. When the fish easily flakes apart with a fork, it’s done! Be careful not to overcook it, as that can make it dry. Better to have it slightly underdone, as it will continue cooking a bit after you take it out of the air fryer.
Storing Ideas
- Fridge: Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
- Freezer: Sure, you can also store the leftovers in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. Then, defrost it entirely in the refrigerator before reheating.
What to Serve with This Air Fryer Salmon?
This recipe is great on its own, but many side dishes go well with salmon. Here are some low-carb side dish ideas to get you started:
- Cauliflower Rice Recipe
- Crispy Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- Creamy Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
- Authentic Pico de Gallo
- Quick Oven Roasted Vegetables
Equipment Needed To Make This Recipe
- Air Fryer: This is the main tool for cooking the salmon. Ensure you have a functioning air fryer that can accommodate the size of the salmon fillets.
- Instant Read Meat Thermometer: This handy tool will help you check the internal temperature of the salmon to ensure it reaches the recommended 145°F (63°C) for safe consumption. It’s important for both flavor and food safety.
- Paper Towels: Keep some paper towels handy to pat dry the salmon fillets before cooking. Removing excess moisture helps achieve better browning and crispiness.
- Measuring Cups: Use measuring cups to measure the ingredients for the recipe accurately. This ensures the right balance of flavors and consistent results.
Frequently Asked Questions
How To Choose The Perfect Salmon
You need to choose a quality and fresh salmon fillet to get an exceptional result. It must have an intense color and a firm, non-sticky texture. It smells slightly smell salty, a little sweet without a strong fishy smell.
What is the optimal internal temperature of salmon?
To ensure that the salmon is thoroughly cooked, it should reach an internal temperature of around 145F. Use an instant read thermometer to save you from overcooking meat.
How To Know If Salmon Is Done
Whether you cook salmon in the air fryer or the oven, you must avoid overcooking it. To know if the salmon is done, I inspect it with a fork to see if it flakes easily. It’s also semi-translucent on the inside. Cook it until the interior is somewhat opaque, but not for too long! It should not become overly dry.
Is it necessary to flip the salmon in the air fryer?
No, you don’t have to flip the salmon while it’s cooking in the air fryer. That is completely unnecessary! I also don’t want the fish to break apart! So, generally, I never turn fish when cooking in the air fryer.
Can I Use Frozen Salmon For This Recipe?
Sure, frozen salmon fillets can be used for this recipe. However, if you’re using frozen salmon, it’ll take longer to cook. When I cook frozen salmon, I set the timer for 15 minutes. Then, check for doneness using a meat thermometer and serve as usual.
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Pork Chops and Crispy Garlic Broccoli
- Air Fryer Cauliflower
- Juicy Air Fryer Whole Chicken
- Easy Air Fryer Asparagus
Air Fryer Salmon
Description
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets about 6 oz each
- 2 tbsp honey or keto honey replacement
- 1 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. Spray the basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Pat dry the salmon fillet using paper towels.
- In a small bowl, combine together honey, mustard, olive oil, soy sauce, and garlic powder.
- Brush the salmon with the mixture on both sides/
- Place the salmon skin side down in the basket in a single layer.
- Air Fry the salmon for 8 to 10 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fillets. Salmon is done cooking when it reads 145 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.
- Serve immediately with your favorite side dishes.
How do we calculate the nutrition info?
These nutrition facts listed are determined using nutrition information from the USDA Food Database. Our nutrition facts are accurate, but if you are using different products, please make your calculations. Net carb count is calculated by subtracting both fiber and sugar alcohols because they don’t raise blood sugar.
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