This Air-fryer Salmon is a healthy and delicious weeknight dinner. Seasoned lightly and air-fried for just 7-9 minutes, these come out incredibly tender, moist, and flavorful. I love serving these with fresh seasonal veggies and a bowl of rice.
About This Recipe
When I first started air-frying salmon, I went through quite a bit of trial and error. Sometimes they were too dry, other times they were not flavorful enough, and occasionally, they were undercooked. But after a lot of practice, now I have the perfect recipe that makes delicious salmon every time.
The best tips I can give you are to season them well, brush them with a little bit of honey, and check their temperature a few minutes before the end of cooking. Honey really elevates the flavor of the salmon, adding sweetness and a bit of caramelization.
To prevent the salmon from overcooking, I start checking the temperature a few minutes before they "should" be done. If you have salmon fillets that are different sizes, you can remove the smaller ones earlier.
One extremely important lesson I've learned is to never air-fry FROZEN salmon. I tried this a few weeks ago, thinking it would only take a couple more minutes of cooking, but actually it tripled the cooking time. And by the time the salmon was done, it was as dry as a desert.
Key Ingredients
Salmon fillets: Today, I'm using wild pink salmon, because I'm on a strict low-fat diet, but I typically recommend farmed Atlantic salmon. You generally want fattier salmon because the flesh will be more tender. If you're using frozen salmon, make sure it's defrosted completely. To speed this up, you can soak them in a bowl of cold water for 30 minutes.
Olive oil + honey: Brushed on the outside of the salmon for flavor.
Spices: Garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, and salt.
For serving (optional): I love serving with a spritz of lemon juice and tartar sauce.
Instructions
STEP 1: In a small bowl, combine the olive oil and honey. Brush all over the salmon. Combine the spices in a small bowl and sprinkle on top.
STEP 2: Arrange the salmon in the air-fryer basket.
STEP 3: Air-fry for 7-9 minutes (no flipping required) until the flesh is flaky and cooked through.
๐ Recipe
Air Fryer Salmon
Ingredients
- 4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets (farmed Atlantic salmon is the best)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ยฝ teaspoon garlic powder
- ยฝ teaspoon paprika
- ยฝ teaspoon black pepper
- ยฝ teaspoon salt
- lemon wedges (for serving)
- tartar sauce (for serving)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the olive oil and honey. Brush over the salmon.
- In another small bowl, combine the garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, and salt. Sprinkle over the salmon.
- Arrange salmon in the air fryer basket and air-fry at 400ยฐF for 7-9 minutes. The salmon is ready when the flesh is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. If still under, air-fry for a couple more minutes.
- Serve with lemon wedges and tartar sauce. Enjoy!
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