Air Fryer Salmon Recipe

Air Fryer Salmon is a heartbreaker. Utterly tender and flaky inside, with a blush of crispness on top, it is so darn delicious it will make it basically impossible for you to ever order salmon in a restaurant again.

A firm believer that you don’t need to arm yourself with an array of fancy gadgets to cook a fantastic meal, I generally loathe purchasing new kitchen appliances.

Thus, it is no small announcement when I tell you that salmon cooked in the air fryer (this is the model I eventually bought) is something to brag about.

You cooked a seriously tasty piece of fish that is hands-down better than 97% of the salmon I’ve ordered out.

You can cook salmon in the air fryer with any of your favorite seasonings, using the time and temperature in this recipe.

air fryer salmon recipe

Instructions
  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
  2. Rub each fillet with olive oil and season with garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Place the salmon in the air fryer and air fry for 7-9 minutes, depending on this thickness of the salmon. …
  3. Open basket and check for desired doneness with a fork.

Air Fryer Salmon

air fryer salmon recipe

This quick air fryer salmon recipe makes perfectly crisp, moist fillets. Pair with vegetables or potatoes for an easy, healthy meal!

Prep: 10min

Total: 18min

Yield: 2

Serving Size: 1 (of 2)

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 (of 2), calories 313 kcal, Carbohydrate 10 g, Protein 34 g, Fat 15 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 94 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 9 g

Ingredients:

  • 2 salmon fillets (about 6 ounces each)
  • Pinch kosher salt
  • Pinch black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar or honey
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Pinch ground ginger (optional)

Instruction:

  1. With paper towels, pat the salmon dry. Sprinkle lightly on both sides with salt and pepper.
  2. For easy cleanup, line the air fryer basket with aluminum foil. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F according to the manufacturer’s instructions (for my air fryer, that is 3 minutes).
  3. In a small bowl or larger liquid measuring cup, mix together the brown sugar, Dijon, oil, soy sauce, garlic powder, and ginger (if using). Spoon all over the top of the salmon.
  4. Slide out the air fryer basket and set it on a heatproof surface. Place the fillets in the basket so that they are not touching.
  5. Cook the salmon in the air fryer for 6 to 11 minutes, depending upon their thickness and your model (fillets around 1 inch will need 8 to 9 minutes). Do not overcook or the salmon will be dry. Salmon is done when it registers 145 degrees F on an instant read thermometer (I remove mine a few degrees early, let it rest, then the carryover cooking finishes the job). Check it a few times towards the end to make sure it doesn’t overcook.
  6. Transfer to a serving plate. Enjoy hot, with a sprinkle of additional salt and pepper as desired.

Air Fryer Salmon

air fryer salmon recipe

Melt-in-your-mouth brown sugar garlic air fryer salmon is juicy, tender and full of flavor. Salmon is so good, especially when it’s cooked right, and the air fryer makes it perfect every time! It’s an easy, hands-off way to make a scrumptious meal.

Prep: 5min

Total: 15min

Yield: 4

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 190 kcal, Carbohydrate 7 g, Protein 23 g, Fat 7 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 62 mg, Sodium 61 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 6 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound salmon
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Instruction:

  1. Salt and pepper the salmon. In a small bowl add the brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, Italian seasoning and garlic powder. Rub on the salmon.
  2. In the basket of your air fryer add the salmon skin side down. Turn the air fryer to 400 degrees and cook for 10 minutes. If adding asparagus add to the basket after 5 minutes.

Air Fryer Salmon (in 15-Minutes!)

air fryer salmon recipe

This air fryer salmon recipe is the secret to a moist and crispy filet that tastes like a million bucks – in under 15 minutes! Perfect for an easy and healthy weeknight dinner recipe for the family.

Prep: 5min

Total: 20min

Yield: 4

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 250 kcal, Carbohydrate 1 g, Protein 34 g, Fat 11 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 94 mg, Sodium 449 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1 g, unSaturated Fat 8 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 4 (6-ounce) salmon filets
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • olive oil spray

Instruction:

  1. Prep the salmon. Set the air fryer to 400℉ (200℃). Pat your salmon filets dry with a paper towel.
  2. Add the mustard. On each salmon filet, spread one teaspoon of mustard evenly in a thin layer.
  3. Add the seasonings. Sprinkle each of the individual spices straight onto the salmon filet. It doesn’t have to be an exact measurement. I start with salt and pepper, then coat generously with garlic powder and paprika. Finish with a quick spray of olive oil on top to keep the salmon filet moist.
  4. Air fry. Add two salmon filets to the air fryer and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until flaky with a fork. Then repeat with the remaining two salmon filets.

Perfect Air Fryer Salmon Recipe

FAQ

How long should you cook salmon in an air fryer?

Cook the salmon in the air fryer for 6 to 11 minutes, depending upon their thickness and your model (fillets around 1 inch will need 8 to 9 minutes). Do not overcook or the salmon will be dry.

What temperature should I set my air fryer for salmon?

Place seasoned salmon in the air fryer basket and cook at 380 degrees Fahrenheit with a cook time of 10-12 minutes. Check for doneness using a fork. Salmon should flake easily, and the internal temperature in the thickest part of the salmon should be 145 degrees F.

Do you have to flip salmon in the air fryer?

Cook skin-side down: salmon does not need to be flipped in the air fryer. Therefore, make sure to cook it skin-side down. Drizzle with olive oil: one of our secrets to perfect salmon in the air fryer is drizzling it with olive oil before cooking. It will make the outside crispy and blackened-like, so don’t skip it!

How do I keep salmon from drying in my air fryer?

According to CookingLight, preheating your air fryer for several minutes is an incredibly important step when cooking salmon in the appliance. Preheating of course allows the cooking surface to heat up, causing the outside of the salmon to sear while the inside cooks — resulting in crispy skin and still-moist meat.

About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

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