Juicy, flaky, and deliciously flavored salmon fillets cooked in the air fryer! This easy Keto-friendly seafood recipe is the perfect choice anytime you want a fabulous, low carb dinner.
Easy Air Fryer Salmon
Do you ever have those busy weeknights where you want to get something healthy on the dinner table, but you also need to it taste amazing AND you don’t want to spend a ton of time on it? ME TOO. That’s where this air fryer salmon recipe comes in!
Topped with butter, garlic, and herbs, Air Fryer Salmon takes just minutes to make, and it’s a healthy way to make a delicious and nutritious dinner. Packed with protein, Omega-3s, and potassium, you can make this simple dinner idea and feel good about eating it!
What You’ll Need
You only need a few ingredients to make this simple salmon recipe. Here’s a quick overview. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for full amounts.
- Salmon fillets – You can use fresh or frozen, but you’ll need to thaw the salmon first.
- Butter – Melted
- Garlic
- Lemon Juice
- Brown Sugar – Light or dark brown, either works.
- Fresh Parsley
- Italian Seasoning
- Salt and Pepper – To taste
Can I Use Frozen Salmon Fillets?
Yes, you can cook frozen salmon in the air fryer but you will need to adjust the cooking time and method. To make this recipe with frozen salmon fillets, first preheat your air fryer to 360F. Place the salmon fillets on a piece of aluminum foil and then cook them in the air fryer for about 5-6 minutes until they are thawed. Then proceed with the rest of the recipe as directed. Remove the foil, add the butter and other ingredients, raise the temperature to 390F, and cook the salmon for 7-8 minutes until done.
How to Make Air Fryer Salmon
An easy, quick, and flavorful seafood dinner is just 10 minutes away. This garlicky, lemony, and buttery salmon requires minimal ingredients, and cleanup is a snap thanks to the Air Fryer! I hope you have one. If not, get one, asap. 🥘
- First, melt some butter and stir in garlic, lemon juice, brown sugar, and seasonings.
- Next, brush completely thawed salmon fillets with the butter mixture; then add salt and pepper.
- Transfer salmon fillets to the air fryer basket.
- Set temperature at 390˚F and cook for 7 to 8 minutes, or to desired doneness.
That’s it!
At What Temperature is Salmon Done?
Salmon is cooked when internal temperature registers at 145˚F. You might be sick of me saying this, but PLEASE get in the habit of using an Instant Read Thermometer – it’s a lifesaver, AND, most importantly, a food-saver. 🤗
Should I Flip the Salmon?
You do not need to flip the salmon in the air fryer because the heat will circulate around the fillets. This is part of what makes air fryer cooking so easy!
Tips for Success
This is a pretty simple recipe, but it never hurts to have a couple tricks up your sleeve for the best salmon ever:
- If you want a crispier salmon, you can always pop it under the oven broiler for a couple of minutes, or until just browned and crispy on the edges. I find that the air fryer browns it perfectly for us. You can see it in the pictures – our salmon recipe results in juicy and tender salmon on the inside with lightly crisped edges on the outside.
- Cut the salmon pieces into even sizes, so that they cook evenly. You may not need to do this if your salmon fillets are already roughly the same size.
- Don’t overcrowd your basket. With only 2 salmon fillets you should easily be able to cook everything at once, but if you double this recipe be mindful of not overcrowding the basket. You need hot air to circulate around the fillets to cook the salmon properly and get that crisp, gently browned exterior we’re after.
- Doubling the recipe. If you want to double the recipe, cook in batches. I can fit 3 (4-ounce) fillets in my air fryer without overcrowding them and leaving enough space between each fillet. Also, with a fuller basket, I add 1 to 2 minutes of cooking time to make sure the salmon is cooked through.
- Using frozen salmon. You CAN use frozen fillets, but set the cooking temp to 400˚F and cook the fillets for about 15 minutes.
Are Air Fryers Worth It?
In my opinion, Air Fryers are an awesome appliance to have. The food cooks in half the time, the food is juicier, healthier, and so far, everything that I’ve cooked in the air fryer has turned out pretty darn good.
The ONLY drawback is that you can’t stack up food. Meaning, if you need to cook 4 salmon fillets, you’ll have to do it in two batches. The Air Fryer cooks your food by circulating hot air around it, and in order for the food to be cooked, all the surface of said food needs to be exposed to the hot air.
Even so, I still use my air fryer two to three times a week and it is one of the most common appliances I use now.
If you’re wondering about the kind of Air Fryer to get, first consider how many people you usually cook for. I have this 5.8-quart Air Fryer, and it’s perfect for the 4 of us. If cooking for 2 to 3 people, get this 4.2-quart Air Fryer.
What Goes with Fried Salmon?
There are so many delicious sides you can serve with salmon! I recommend serving this salmon with a lemon wedge to add extra flavor and goodness. As for sides, here are some of my favorite ideas:
- Crunchy Kale Quinoa Salad – Tender quinoa and raw kale, tossed in a homemade vinaigrette along with apples, grapes, bell pepper, and sunflower seeds.
- Lemon Parmesan Risotto – Creamy risotto made with shallots and garlic, and studded with fresh green asparagus.
- Roasted Potatoes and Carrots – Caramelized veggies dressed with olive oil, black pepper, and garlic.
- Grilled Cabbage Steaks – These smoky cabbage slices are incredibly crispy on the outside, soft and tender on the inside. So good!
- Grilled Zucchini – Coated with a wonderful sesame-soy glaze, this simple squash recipe is perfect with salmon.
How to Store Extras
- Fridge: Store completely cooled salmon fillets in an airtight container, and keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: To freeze, store cooled salmon in freezer bags or in an airtight container, and keep in the freezer for 2 to 3 months.
Tools Used in this Recipe
Air Fryer Salmon
Ingredients
- 2 (6-ounces each) salmon fillets, thawed
- 1 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian Seasoning
- salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Melt the butter and whisk in minced garlic, lemon juice, brown sugar, parsley, and Italian seasoning.
- Brush salmon fillets with butter mixture.
- Season salmon with salt and pepper.
- Transfer fillets to the air fryer basket.
- Set Air Fryer at 390˚F and cook salmon for 7 to 8 minutes, or to your desired doneness. Salmon is cooked when internal temperature registers at 145˚F.
- Remove from Air Fryer and serve.
Notes
WW FREESTYLE POINTS: 5
NET CARBS: 3
- NOTES: Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. If you want to double the recipe, cook in batches. I can fit 3 (4-ounce) fillets in mine without overcrowding them and leaving enough space between each fillet. Also, with a fuller basket, I add 1 to 2 minutes of cooking time to make sure the salmon is cooked through.
- You CAN use frozen fillets, but set the cooking temp to 400˚F and cook the fillets for about 15 minutes.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Categories:
More Air Fryer Recipes to Try
- Crispy Parmesan Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
- Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
- Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
- Air Fryer Steak
ENJOY!
