This Air Fryer Salmon Recipe makes a fresh and flavorful dinner you can easily whip up in under 30 minutes! Tender salmon filets are marinated in a tasty garlic sauce then air fried in minutes. Enjoy this nutritious, and shockingly simple salmon with all your favorite sides and get excited for an unbelievable dinner!
Air Fryer Salmon Recipe
There are so many reasons to love this easy recipe:
Quick and Easy – When I say this is easy, it’s even easier than you think.
Nutritious – I’m not here to tell you what’s good for you, but serve this with a carb and veggie of your choosing and you have yourself a deliciously well balanced meal.
Tasty & Flavorful – The honey garlic soy sauce marinade is absolutely incredible and bursting with flavors that pair perfectly with salmon. If you like the Herb Grilled Salmon at Olive Garden, give this one a try!
Restaurant Grade – You’ll feel like you’re sitting down at a 5 star seafood restaurant after trying a bite of this.
No need to spend the time and money getting salmon at your local steakhouse or seafood place, you can make equally as good salmon from the comfort of your own home!
Ingredient Info
This is a discussion about the ingredients. For the actual recipe with amounts, please see the recipe below.
- Salmon – For this recipe, I used skin-on, fresh salmon filets. You can use skinless salmon instead, that is completely up to your preference. Frozen salmon work as well, just make sure you thaw it before adding the sauce and cooking it.
- Honey – Honey adds the perfect amount of sweetness to this recipe. You can use agave syrup instead, or use some brown sugar.
- Soy Sauce – Regular soy sauce is ideal, but if you want to cut down on the salt, use a low-sodium one instead. You could also use seasoning sauce or coconut aminos.
- Garlic – You’ll need minced garlic for this recipe. You can absolutely use jar-lic, however I prefer the taste of freshly minced garlic.
- Sides – I love serving this over a bed of white rice with some steamed broccoli. However this would taste great with a side of roasted potatoes and green beans, brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes, or even some fried rice!
How To Make This Air Fryer Salmon Recipe
This is a short discussion of the instructions. For the actual recipe with full instructions, please see the recipe below.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Use an air fryer basket liner, or parchment paper to line the inside of the air fryer basket.
- Use a paper towel to pat the salmon filets until dry. Set aside. In a separate small bowl, add the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Whisk everything together.
- Pour the sauce over the salmon making sure it’s evenly coated. Optional, but you can let the salmon filets sit in the sauce for about 10-20 minutes in the fridge so they can soak up the flavor.
- Add the marinated salmon to the lined air fryer basket, and cook for 10-12 minutes, basting with any extra marinade you have halfway through cooking time. You’ll know the salmon is cooked through completely when a piece flakes off easily with a fork.
- Remove from the air fryer and serve with rice, steamed broccoli and garnish with chopped parsley and lemon wedges, or whatever sides you prefer. Enjoy!
Tips & Advice
Christi’s Kitchen Tips
Cooking Salmon – Depending on the cut of your salmon, the cook time will vary. If you have a very thick slab of salmon, you may need to add 3-4 minutes onto your cook time. If you have a really thin slice, it’s possible you will need less cooking time.
To ensure the salmon doesn’t dry out, check on it halfway through cooking time, and baste with extra marinade if necessary.
Storage – You can store the leftover salmon filets in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. You can reheat in the microwave, or back in the air fryer for 3-4 minutes.
Other Proteins – If you really loved the flavor of the salmon, and are wondering if the marinade works on other proteins, it absolutely does! You can use other types of fish like cod, tilapia or ahi tuna, or you could even marinate a chicken or steak in this sauce.
Equipment
For this easy Air Fryer Salmon recipe, it’s helpful to have the following items:
- Air Fryer
- Mixing Bowls
- Air Fryer Basket Liners or Parchment Paper
- Baster
FAQs
This recipe recommends 10-12 minutes at 400°F. I recognize all air fryers are different, so if yours has a ‘salmon’ button you could use that too. Otherwise, stick to that guideline, check on it halfway through, then adjust the cooking time as necessary.
Flipping your salmon halfway through is not necessary unless you want each side to be crispy. Otherwise, just cook it skin side down.
Serves Well With
The possibilities are endless when it comes to deciding what to serve this salmon with. Here are a variety of great side dishes to serve with salmon.
- Easy Glazed Carrots
- Instant Pot Cheesy Potatoes
- Creamed Spinach
- Green Beans and Potatoes
- Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes
- Lemon Pasta
- Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
- Green Beans Almondine
- Air Fryer Potato Wedges
- Air Fryer Corn On The Cob
- Aroma Rice Cooker Instructions And Recipe
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Air Fryer Salmon Recipe
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
Salmon Ingredients
- 2 filets fresh salmon
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- salt & pepper (to taste)
Serve With
- 1 cup white rice
- 2 cups broccoli (steamed)
- fresh parsley (chopped)
- lemon wedges
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- Use a paper towel to pat the salmon filets until dry. Set aside. In a separate small bowl, add the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Whisk everything together.
- Pour the sauce over the salmon making sure it’s evenly coated. Optional, but you can let the salmon filets sit in the sauce for about 10-20 minutes in the fridge so they can soak up the flavor.
- Add an air fryer liner to the preheated air fryer basket, then add the marinated salmon and cook for 10-12 minutes, basting with any extra marinade you have halfway through cooking time. You’ll know the salmon is cooked through completely when a piece flakes off easily with a fork.
- Remove from the air fryer and serve with rice, steamed broccoli and garnish with chopped parsley and lemon wedges, or whatever sides you prefer. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
Meet Christi, Love From The Oven
I’m Christi I love sharing easy & delicious recipes that your family & friends will love. I’m a mom, baker, cookbook author and lover of sprinkles.
