Air fryer salmon is so tender on the inside and perfectly crispy on the outside. Also, we serve our Air Fryer Salmon recipe with our Homemade Salmon Seasoning!
Delicious salmon from the air fryer
Dinner in 15 minutes? Yes, please! This Air Fryer Salmon is a quick and easy weeknight meal packed with omega-3s and protein.
Our air-roasted salmon comes out perfectly cooked every time—I mean, it’s fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside.
Serve this delicious main course with your favorite sides like steamed broccoli, a baked potato or air fryer Brussels sprouts.
Why you will love it!
The air fryer is definitely my new favorite way to cook salmon, and here’s why.
protein rich — 48g of protein per serving.
Fast and easy – ready in less than. 15 minutes.
Foolproof: The air fryer cooks your salmon to perfection, making it so flaky and delicious.
What you need for Air Fryer Salmon
This recipe is so easy, you only need three things – salmon fillets, salmon seasoning, and olive oil.
Salmon
Our air fryer salmon recipe calls for about 1.5 pounds. Salmon. You can buy them pre-portioned (like we do) or buy a large fillet from your local supermarket and slice it yourself.
We find that cooking portions of salmon cooks faster and more evenly than cooking an entire fillet of salmon.
Try Surrender Salmon!
Our absolute favorite salmon is Surrender Salmon. They catch wild Alaskan salmon off Bristol Bay, Alaska. The salmon is bright orange so flaky and delicious and really the best.
Surrender Salmon is a family run business based right here in Minneapolis and they are good friends of ours! Support a local business if you can.
salmon spice
For this recipe in particular, we use a homemade salmon seasoning (aka dry rub). We love how crunchy the outside gets with a salmon spice, but you can always use a salmon marinade too.
What you need for our salmon seasoning:
- paprika
- garlic powder
- Brown sugar
- Salt
- thyme
- mustard powder
- Black pepper
Homemade
salmon spice
This all-purpose salmon seasoning is delicious with any type of salmon! Make a batch and keep it in your pantry for later.
Get the recipe
olive oil
We use olive oil to ensure the salmon doesn’t stick to the air fryer basket. You can also try non-stick cooking spray.
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Top tips for air frying salmon
Removing moisture from the salmon: Before you season your salmon portions, use a paper towel to remove as much moisture as possible. This will give the salmon a crispy top.
Season generously: Since you are using homemade salmon seasoning, you can estimate how much salt will be used. For that reason, don’t worry about over-seasoning.
Cook skin side down: Salmon does not need to be turned in the air fryer. So make sure to cook it skin-side down.
Drizzle with olive oil: One of our secrets to the perfect air fryer salmon is to drizzle it with olive oil before cooking. This will make the outside crispy and black, so don’t miss out!
Don’t overcook: Whatever you do, don’t overcook your salmon! Cook the salmon in the air fryer for 7-8 minutes or until the meat turns a pale pink color inside.
Can you use frozen salmon in the air fryer?
As in our air fryer chicken wings tutorial, you can cook frozen salmon in the air fryer. The way it works is that you first defrost the salmon in the air fryer and then cook it as directed.
- So before you start our recipe, place frozen salmon portions skin side down on the air fryer basket.
- Cook at 400°F for 7-9 minutes, or until thawed.
- Then follow our recipe as directed.
How long do you cook salmon in the air fryer?
So if you’re wondering how long you should cook salmon in the air fryer, the answer is:
- From fresh: 7-8 minutes
- From frozen: 14-16 minutes
FAQ
Cook the salmon in the air fryer at 200 °C for about 7-8 minutes.
There is no need to turn the salmon over in the air fryer as the air circulates and your food is cooked to perfection on both sides.
Cook your salmon in the air fryer at 200°C for about 7-8 minutes.
You’ll know when the salmon is done because it’s pale pink in color, firm to the touch, and flaky. You can also use a meat thermometer. The inside temperature should be at least 125°F.
The answer is yes, but do we recommend it? No. The reason air fryers cook food so perfectly is circulation. If you line your air fryer with aluminum foil, you will block the airflow and the food will not cook properly.
Basically, you can defrost your salmon in the air fryer and then cook it. So yes!
storage
Store leftover air fryer salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
To warm up: We recommend reheating in the microwave on high for 60 seconds or on the stovetop for 2-3 minutes.
Ideas for leftover salmon
Do you have any salmon left? Here are some quick and easy ways to use it up!
Photography: The photos captured in this post are by Erin from The Wooden Skillet.