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Experience the juiciest, flakiest Air Fryer Salmon fillets ever! This easy and healthy recipe delivers tender, succulent salmon with a perfectly browned, restaurant-quality finish. Ready in just 10 minutes, it’s the ideal low-carb, nutritious option for a quick and delicious weeknight meal.
If you love using your air fryer as much as I do, you’ll definitely want to check out some of my other air fryer favorites. My Air Fryer Pork Chops are juicy and flavorful, and they’re perfect for a quick weeknight meal. Or, if you’re in the mood for something a bit more indulgent, my Air Fryer Steak is a game-changer!
Do you ever have those busy weeknights where you want to get something healthy on the dinner table, but you also need it to taste amazing and don’t want to spend a ton of time on it? Me, too, friend. That’s where this air fryer salmon recipe comes in! Whenever I’m in a pinch, this is one of the recipes I reach for. Even my tweenagers, who don’t usually like fish, love it when I turn this salmon into their favorite salmon tacos or salmon patties.
Topped with melted butter, garlic, and herbs, my air fryer salmon recipe takes just ten minutes to make and is a tasty, flavorful, and wholesome choice for dinner. Packed with protein, Omega-3s, and potassium, this simple meal will leave you feeling great about what you’re eating!
Ingredients You Will Need
Here’s everything you’ll need to make this quick and tasty air fried salmon. These simple ingredients will help you make a dinner you’ll feel great about serving! For precise measurements and directions, scroll down to the recipe card.
- Salmon fillets: Choose fillets about 5 to 6 ounces each for even cooking.
- Butter: Substitute with olive oil if needed.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic is best, but you can use garlic powder instead.
- Lemon juice: Adds acidity to balance the richness of the butter.
- Brown sugar: Provides a bit of sweetness. Honey or maple syrup can be used as alternatives.
- Fresh parsley: Used for a fresh herby flavor. You can substitute with fresh cilantro or dill for a different flavor profile.
- Dried Italian seasoning: If you don’t have Italian seasoning, use a mix of dried basil, oregano, and thyme.
- Salt and fresh ground black pepper: Essential for seasoning.
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!
- Make the butter sauce. 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 season them with salt and pepper.
- Cook. Transfer the fillets to the air fryer basket. Set the cooking temperature at 390˚F and cook for 7 to 8 minutes or to the desired doneness. The cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of the fillets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can cook frozen salmon in the air fryer. A good tip is to rinse the frozen salmon fillets under some cold water to get rid of any frost or ice. Afterward, dab it dry with a paper towel and proceed with the recipe. I also add a couple more minutes to the cooking time for frozen fillets.
Salmon is cooked when the internal temperature registers at 145˚F. Please get in the habit of using an Instant Read Thermometer – it’s a lifesaver and, most importantly, a food-saver.
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!
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.
Recipe Tips
- 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.
- Cut the salmon pieces into even sizes so that they cook evenly.
- Don’t overcrowd your basket. With only two salmon fillets, you should easily be able to cook everything at once, but if you double this recipe, do not crowd the basket. You need hot air to circulate around the fillets to cook the salmon properly and get that crisp, gently browned exterior.
- Doubling the recipe. If you want to double the recipe, cook in batches. I can fit three (4-ounce) fillets in my air fryer without overcrowding them and leaving enough space between each fillet.
What To Serve with Salmon?
There are so many delicious sides you can serve with fish. This Crunchy Kale Quinoa Salad is a favorite. My Creamy Lemon Parmesan Risotto studded with fresh green asparagus is so, so good!
Caramelized veggies, like these Roasted Potatoes and Carrots, are as yummy as carrots can get! These smoky Grilled Cabbage Steaks are incredibly crispy yet tender and are a nutritious side dish that pairs nicely with salmon. Finally, this Grilled Zucchini coated with a wonderful sesame-soy glaze is one of our favorite side dishes to serve with anything.
Proper Storage
Leftover fish fillets can be stored in an airtight container, refrigerated for 2 to 3 days, or frozen for up to 3 months.
More Air Fryer Recipes to Try
- Crispy Parmesan Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
- Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
- Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
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Air Fryer Salmon
Ingredients
- 2 salmon fillets, fillets should be about 5 to 6 ounces each
- 1½ tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried Italian Seasoning
- salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Pat dry the salmon fillets with paper towels.
- Melt the butter and whisk in the minced garlic, lemon juice, brown sugar, parsley, and Italian seasoning. Brush the salmon fillets with the butter mixture and season the filets with salt and pepper.
- Transfer the salmon to the air fryer basket. Set the air fryer to 390˚F and cook the fish for 7 to 8 minutes or to your desired doneness. Salmon is cooked through when its internal temperature registers at 145˚F.
- Remove the fillets from the air fryer and let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. If you want to double the recipe, cook in batches. Only cook a few pieces in the air fryer at once; proper airflow is critical for optimal cooking and browning.
- Uniform sizes. Ensure the salmon pieces are about the same in size for even cooking.
- Frozen fish. You can use frozen fillets, but consider adding a couple of minutes to the cooking time.
- Extra crispy. If you want a crispier salmon, you can briefly broil it in the oven, but I find that the air fryer does an excellent job at browning the fillets.
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.
Who knew that salmon in an air fryer would have this much flavor! I can’t wait to grab my air fryer and make this dinner!
I hope you LOVE it!! Thank YOU!! ๐
This turned out perfect!
I am VERY happy you enjoyed the Air Fryer Salmon! Thank you! ๐
My kids love salmon and this looks worthy of a restaurant, indeed! Excited to give this a try!
Thank YOU! I hope you enjoy it! ๐
This looks incredibly delicious!
Thank you so much, Erin! ๐
I have never tried making salmon in the air fryer before! What a great idea. ๐
Thank YOU!! You should definitely try it! ๐
My husband I were just talking about needing some new ideas on how to cook our Salmon. This looks perfect and I’m always looking for new ways to use my air fryer.
I hope you enjoy it! Thank YOU! ๐
I love the whole air fryer salmon idea! The salmon is so tender and flaky, the best dinner recipe!
Thank you so MUCH!! ๐
The air fryer is a great idea and that touch of brown sugar is perfect for the flavor!
Thank you so much, Kimberly! ๐
Wow! I seriously thought an air fryer was was frying breaded items or fries and never thought it could cook salmon so well (healthy but still juicy). Love this!
Thank YOU!! The Air Fryer is the BEST!! ๐
I made this recipe the other night for dinner and not only was it fast and super easy, it was incredibly delicious! I’ve never had such crispy skin before and absolutely enjoyed every bite. I’ll definitely be making this again soon so thank you for a wonderful recipe!