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Home » Recipes » Seafood

Air Fryer Salmon

Published: May 17, 2023 by Scott · This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This quick and easy air fryer salmon recipe is crisp on the outside, moist and flaky on the inside, and it's done in under 15 minutes from start to finish, so it's perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner!

Jump to:
  • Why this Recipe Works
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
  • Storage and Reheating Tips
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Recipe Variations
  • More Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • You May Also Like

Why this Recipe Works

This air fryer salmon is possibly the easiest salmon recipe ever! The fillets are brushed with a light coating of olive oil to help give the salmon a crispy crust, and then they're simply seasoned with salt and pepper before cooking in the air fryer.

The hot, circulating air in the air fryer cooks the salmon quickly, and produces delicious salmon fillets with a crisp crust on the outside that are moist and tender on the inside. All in just 10 minutes of cooking time!

It's perfect for an easy, no-fuss salmon recipe when you need a healthy meal on a busy weeknight!

Ingredient Notes

Salmon fillets on a cutting board next to small pinch bowls of olive oil, salt, and pepper.
  • Salmon fillets - Using salmon fillets will allow the air to circulate in the air fryer so the salmon cooks quickly and evenly. Fillets also give you crispy edges on each piece for maximum flavor.
  • Olive Oil - brushing the salmon with oil helps give it a crispier exterior, and also coating the skin will help to avoid sticking as it cooks.

See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Rinse the salmon and pat dry with paper towels. Brush each fillet with a light coating of olive oil, including the skin, to help avoid sticking, then season with salt and pepper.
  2. Place the salmon in the air fryer basket skin side down and cook for 8-10 minutes based on your preference for doneness.
4 raw salmon fillets in an air fryer basket.
Cooked salmon fillets in an air fryer basket.

Note: Air fryer baskets vary in shape and size. I use a Ninja Foodie and am able to fit 4 individual fillets. They touched slightly before cooking but do shrink up as they cook. You may need to cook 2-3 fillets at a time in smaller air fryers.

Storage and Reheating Tips

  • Store leftover salmon in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. You can also freeze the cooked salmon for up to 3 months.
  • Reheat the salmon in the air fryer at 350°F for 4-5 minutes or in the oven for 7-8 minutes to maintain the crisp exterior.

Serving Suggestions

This easy salmon recipe is perfect for a quick, healthy meal. It pairs well with a variety of side dishes like my grilled broccolini, crispy oven-roasted potatoes, or my garlic butter green beans.

It's also a great way to prepare salmon for topping a salad or pasta dish like my salmon pasta with lemon cream sauce!

A plate of pesto zucchini noodles and a salmon filet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I air fry frozen salmon?

Yes, you can cook frozen salmon in the air fryer. To cook from frozen, preheat your air fryer to 360°F and cook for 5-6 minutes until thawed, then turn the heat up to 400°F and cook for around 10 minutes until cooked through.

Should I cook salmon in the air fryer with the skin on or off?

Leaving the skin on during the cooking process will help hold the salmon fillets together and make them easier to remove from the basket.

How to keep salmon from sticking to the air fryer?

To avoid sticking, brush the skin with olive oil before placing it in the air fryer basket. You can also line the basket with foil or a parchment liner.

Recipe Variations

This air fryer salmon is simply seasoned, but you can add more flavor using a sauce or marinade. Check out some of my other salmon recipes for options:

  • Honey Mustard Glazed Salmon
  • Soy Ginger Glazed Salmon
  • Lemon Dill Salmon
  • Honey Bourbon Glazed Salmon

To adapt these flavors for this recipe, prepare the sauce and season the salmon as directed in the original recipe, then cook it in the air fryer for 10 minutes.

More Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes

  • Shake and Bake Pork Chops
  • A plate of bite-sized chunks of chicken tossed in garlic butter served with vegetables and rice.
    Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
  • A bowl of Greek salad topped with chicken meatballs and tzatziki sauce.
    Greek Chicken Meatballs
  • Close-up of two boneless skinless chicken thighs served on a plate with steamed vegetables and rice.
    Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs

If you try this recipe, don't forget to leave a RATING or COMMENT below. I would love to hear from you!!! And FOLLOW me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram for all the latest recipes!

📖 Recipe

A salmon fillet served with zucchini noodles.

Air Fryer Salmon

This quick and easy air fryer salmon recipe is crisp on the outside, moist and flaky on the inside, and it's done in under 15 minutes from start to finish, so it's perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner!
Author: Scott
No ratings yet
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 2 minutes mins
Cook Time: 10 minutes mins
Total Time: 12 minutes mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 286kcal

Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Ingredients

  • 4 salmon fillets, around 1.25-1.5 pounds total.
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Rinse the salmon and pat dry with paper towels. Brush with a light coating of olive oil, including the skin, to help avoid sticking, then season with salt and pepper.
  • Place the salmon in the air fryer basket skin side down, leaving a little space in between each piece, and cook for 8-10 minutes based on your preference for doneness.

Nutrition

Calories: 286kcalProtein: 36gFat: 15g

* All nutrition information we provide are estimates based on third party calculators. We encourage you to calculate these on your own for accurate results.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Don't forget to leave a rating above and mention @disheswithdad or tag #disheswithdad on social media!

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About Me

Hello, I'm Scott! I'm a former professional cook and an experienced home cook. I created this space to share my favorite quick and easy, family-friendly recipes and hopefully inspire you to try some of them for yourself!

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