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This air fryer salmon is one of the easiest and best ways to make perfectly cooked salmon. It’s juicy, flavorful, and comes together in minutes with almost no cleanup. We love using the air fryer to cook salmon because it’s fast, healthy, and there’s no need to turn on the stove or heat up the whole house.
It’s the perfect go-to for busy weeknights, meal prep, or when you want something that feels special without the extra effort. If you’re looking for a simple and delicious way to cook salmon, the air fryer is the way to go!
For more delicious salmon recipes, be sure to try our easy salmon burgers, flavorful ginger miso salmon, healthy salmon bowls, and classic salmon salad.
Table of Contents
Why You Will Love Air Fryer Salmon
- Fast: This recipe is quick and easy to make in about 15 minutes total! The salmon cooks in under 10 minutes in the air fryer.
- Flavorful: The salmon turns out juicy and flavorful with minimal prep work required.
- Healthy: This air fryer salmon recipe is a healthy option! There’s only a light spray of oil on each salmon fillet so the seasonings stick.
- Flavor Options: We’re sharing a delicious base recipe along with 10 incredible flavor variations!
Ingredients Needed
- Salmon: Use two, six-ounce salmon fillets for this recipe.
- Olive Oil Spray: Lightly spray the salmon fillets with olive oil so the seasonings stick.
- Seasonings: Mix the simple and flavorful seasoning blend of smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper before rubbing it onto the salmon fillets.
Find the full measurements in the recipe card below.
Air Fryer Salmon Flavor Variations
Want to switch things up? These flavorful variations keep your salmon interesting and delicious! Each is sized for 2 fillets and uses just a light spray of olive oil.
- Bright & Zesty: Season with 1 teaspoon lemon pepper, ½ teaspoon dried dill, and ½ teaspoon lemon zest.
- Herby & Earthy: Use ½ teaspoon oregano, ½ teaspoon thyme, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon black pepper.
- Smoky & Bold: Try ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon brown sugar or a sugar-free brown sugar substitute, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, or 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, and adjust the salt if needed.
- Maple Dijon Glaze: Lightly season the salmon with salt and pepper, and cook. Mix 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard with 1 teaspoon maple syrup. Brush the glaze on during the last 2 minutes of cooking.
- Teriyaki Glaze: Season the salmon with ¼ teaspoon garlic powder and ⅛ teaspoon pepper, and cook. Brush on 1 tablespoon of teriyaki sauce in the last 2 minutes of cooking.
- Honey Mustard Glaze: Lightly season the salmon with salt and pepper, and cook. Mix 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard with 1 teaspoon honey. Brush the glaze on during the last 2 minutes of cooking.
- Spicy & Sweet: Use 2 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning, and drizzle with 1 teaspoon of hot honey after cooking.
- Asian-Inspired: Season with 1 tablespoon soy sauce, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ⅛ teaspoon pepper, and a pinch of ground ginger. Sprinkle optional sesame seeds on top after cooking.
- Mediterranean Flair: Season with 1 teaspoon oregano, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon lemon zest, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon pepper.
- BBQ Glaze: Lightly season with salt and pepper. Cook, then brush your favorite BBQ sauce on during the last 2 minutes of cooking for a caramelized finish. Some great options are our homemade smoky BBQ sauce or cherry chipotle BBQ sauce.
Don’t miss our salmon flavor guide with cook times and expert tips!
How To Make Air Fryer Salmon
Step 1: Pat the salmon fillets dry with a paper towel.
Step 2: Lightly spray the salmon fillets with olive oil spray.
Step 3: In a small bowl, mix the smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Step 4: Rub the seasoning blend evenly on the salmon fillets.
Step 5: Place the seasoned salmon fillets in your air fryer basket, skin side down.
Air fry the salmon until fully cooked.
Step 6: Serve the cooked salmon warm and enjoy!
How Long To Cook Salmon In An Air Fryer
Cook salmon fillets in the air fryer at 400°F. For skin-on fillets, cook for 7-9 minutes. For skinless fillets, cook for 6-8 minutes. If your fillets are particularly thick, they may need 10-12 minutes. Salmon is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F. The cooking time may vary slightly depending on the thickness of the fillets.
Serving Suggestions
We love to serve this air fryer salmon with our healthy Greek yogurt tartar sauce or some fresh lemon wedges. It also pairs wonderfully with a side salad like our hearty Mediterranean chickpea salad or sweet and tangy strawberry goat cheese salad.
For a comforting meal, try it alongside garlic ranch mashed potatoes, creamy cottage cheese mashed potatoes, or air-fried diced potatoes. Or, serve it with vegetables such as our air fryer frozen broccoli, air fryer green beans, air fryer carrots, or roasted Brussels sprouts.
Or, you can flake the salmon into a bowl with cilantro lime cauliflower rice or brown rice for a delicious and easy salmon bowl!
Shawna’s Expert Tips
- Skin On: You can use salmon fillets with or without skin, but I personally prefer the skin on. It helps keep the salmon moist and prevents it from drying out during cooking.
- Pat Dry: Always pat your salmon dry before seasoning to get the best flavor and texture.
- Oil Spray: Use a light spray of olive oil instead of drenching the salmon to keep it healthy while helping the seasonings stick.
- Enough Space: Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Give each fillet enough space to cook evenly.
Storage Instructions
You can store leftover air-fried salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know When The Salmon Is Done?
Once done, the salmon should be opaque and flake easily with a fork. Use a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.
How Do I Prevent Salmon From Sticking To The Air Fryer Basket?
We like to place one of these parchment paper liners in the air fryer basket before adding the salmon fillets to prevent them from sticking and for easy cleanup.
Do I Need To Flip Salmon In The Air Fryer?
No, you don’t need to flip salmon fillets when cooking them in the air fryer. Simply cook them skin side down.
Can I Cook Salmon In The Oven Instead?
Yes, if you don’t have an air fryer, cook the salmon skin-side down on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper at 400°F for 12-15 minutes, or until fully cooked, when the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
More Air Fryer Recipes To Try!
- Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Air Fryer Chicken Bites
- Parmesan Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
If you try this recipe, please be sure to leave us a comment and star rating, ★★★★★ letting us know how it turns out for you.
AIR FRYER SALMON
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 salmon fillets, 6 ounces each, skin on
- light spray of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Pat the salmon fillets dry with a paper towel.
- Lightly spray the salmon fillets with olive oil spray.
- In a small bowl, mix the smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Rub the seasoning blend evenly on the salmon fillets.
- Place the seasoned salmon fillets in your air fryer basket, skin side down. Air fry the salmon at 400°F for 7-9 minutes, depending on the thickness, until fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
- Serve the cooked salmon warm and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Cooking Time: Cook salmon fillets in the air fryer at 400°F. For skin-on fillets, cook for 7-9 minutes. For skinless fillets, cook for 6-8 minutes. If your fillets are particularly thick, they may need 10-12 minutes. Salmon is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.
- Skin On: You can use salmon fillets with or without skin, but I personally prefer the skin on. It helps keep the salmon moist and prevents it from drying out during cooking.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Looks Delicious
Can’t wait to try it
so happy not using soy sauce So many recipes use it and it has so much salt even the low sodium one
Thanks for all you do
Hi Eileen, thank you! I’m so glad the air fryer salmon looks delicious! Let us know if you give it a try, I’d love to hear what you think! Your support means so much.
This air fryer salmon is one of our go-to dinners. It’s super easy, so tasty, and comes out perfect every time with no mess and no fuss. We hope you love it as much as we do.