You’re just a few moments away from making the Best Air Fryer Salmon ever! Perfectly seasoned and made in less than 10 minutes, this salmon is tender, juicy, and flaky. Cooking in the air fryer makes the fish crispy and golden on the outside yet juicy on the inside.
If you love cooking in the air fryer, then you’ve got to try my Air Fryer Whole Chicken recipe and Air Fryer Hot Dogs!
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If you’ve always wanted to cook fish perfectly but are too intimated, well, guess what? You can kick those feelings to the curb! I’ve got the BEST way to cook salmon, and you are not going to believe how easy it is.
What Makes Air Fryer Salmon So Good?
- This air fryer salmon is light with simple seasoning that lets the delicious flavor of the salmon stand out. You’ll enjoy how easy it is to make, especially with a cooking time of just 10 minutes.
- It’s beautifully crispy on the outside from the hot circulating air of the Air Fryer, yet it’s juicy and fork tender on the inside.
- Salmon is loaded with Omega-3 fats (the good fatty acids), making it low-carb and low-calorie. It’s a new favorite feel-good food!
- It’s delicious served with stuffed baked potatoes or garlic rice with roasted asparagus, air fryer brussels sprouts, or broccoli and a meal that rivals anything you’ll find in a fancy restaurant.
Ingredients Needed To Make Air Fryer Salmon
- Fresh or Frozen Salmon – Whether you caught it yourself or snagged it from the store, get about ¼ pound fillets of that slippery silver goodness.
- Olive Oil – Drizzle a touch of this liquid gold to make sure your salmon gets that perfect crispy sizzle.
- Garlic Powder – This adds a subtle kick that’s not too powerful, but just right.
- Paprika – Add a pinch of paprika for a hint of smoky.
- Kosher Salt – Ensures your salmon is seasoned just right.
- Fresh Cracked Pepper – Grind up some fresh cracked pepper to bring the heat and pepperiness.
Variations To this Air Fryer Salmon Recipe
- Honey Dijon Glaze: Whisk together honey and Dijon mustard in a bowl. Brush the glaze onto your salmon filets before air frying for a sweet and tangy flavor twist.
- Citrus Zest Infusion: Grate some orange or lemon zest and mix it with a bit of olive oil. Rub this citrus-infused mixture onto your salmon before air frying for a zesty and refreshing kick.
- Cajun Spice Explosion: Create a Cajun spice blend using ingredients like cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, thyme, and oregano. Coat your salmon generously with the Cajun spice mix for a bold and spicy Southern-inspired flavor explosion.
How To Make Fresh Air Fryer Salmon
- Drizzle olive oil over salmon fillets.
- In a small bowl, mix garlic powder, paprika, Kosher salt, and pepper. Sprinkle the seasoning mix over the salmon.
- Lightly spray the air fryer with cooking spray and place the salmon in the basket. Set the temperature for 400 degrees and the timer to 8 minutes.
- When the timer goes off, check the salmon for doneness. Add another 1-minute if desired.
- Remove the salmon from the air fryer and squeeze on fresh lemon juice and serve.
Tips For Making Salmon
- Pat the fish dry with a paper towel before cooking.
- Spray the basket of the air fryer with non-stick cooking spray before putting the fish in.
- Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket if you are cooking more than 3-4 pieces of salmon. It’s best to work in batches if needed.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It’s great to toss in a salad or pasta for lunch!
Commonly Asked Questions
Believe it or not, the salmon cooks in less than 10 minutes. I like to use salmon fillets that are about a ¼ of a pound each, and I check them at the 8-minute mark to see if they are done. Make sure that you don’t overcook the fish because it will dry out. Once the salmon is done, I take it out of the air fryer, taste, and adjust to season with salt and pepper, then give it a nice drizzle of fresh lemon juice.
The key to successfully cooking in an air fryer is to test and practice with different foods. I use a Power XL Air Fryer and have had excellent results. All the settings are easy to understand, and the heat stays consistent, producing beautiful results.
After air frying your salmon, let it cool to room temperature before tightly wrapping individual filets or the entire batch in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Place the wrapped salmon in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag and refrigerate promptly.
When reheating, use a gentle method like a low-heat oven or air fryer to retain moisture.
More Air Fryer Recipes You Will Love!
If you tried this Air Fryer Salmon Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a 
star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
Ingredients
- 2 Salmon Fillets (about ½ pound total)
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
- ½ lemon sliced
Instructions
- Drizzle olive oil over salmon fillets.
- In a small bowl, mix together garlic powder, paprika, Kosher salt, and pepper. Sprinkle the seasoning mix over the salmon.
- Lightly spray the air fryer with cooking spray and place the salmon in the basket. Set the temperature for 400 degrees and the timer to 8 minutes.
- When the timer goes off, check the salmon for doneness. Add another 1-minute if desired.
- Remove the salmon from the air fryer and squeeze on fresh lemon juice and serve.
Notes
- Make sure to use kosher salt for the best flavor without the overly salty taste that table salt gives.
- After air frying your salmon, let it cool to room temperature before tightly wrapping individual filets or the entire batch in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to minimize air exposure. Place the wrapped salmon in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag and refrigerate promptly in the coldest part of your fridge, labeling the container with the date if preparing multiple batches. Eat the air-fried salmon within 2-3 days for best taste and quality.
- When reheating, use a gentle method like a low-heat oven or aikrfryer to retain moisture. This way, you’ll keep that air fryer salmon tasting as fresh as a Southern breeze for days to come!
Nutrition
Want To Know More About Air Frying?
If you are new to cooking with an Air Fryer or just don’t know where to start, I’ve got something to help. I’ve put together a helpful guide with tips and recipes to get you using the Air Fryer like a pro!
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Deb
DELICIOUS!! Easy, simple. I put my asparagus in with the salmon and it was all done in 8 minutes!!
Sounds perfect!
~Donya
Carol
Excellent!
Thank you Carol!
~Donya
Janette
AMAZING!!!! Tender, crispy and moist. Best Salmon ever!
THANKS, Janette! And, I really appreciate the terrific rating.
~Donya
Barb C
Hey Donya,
Do you leave the skin on one side of the salmon?
Do you flip the salmon in the air fryer?
It really looks delicious and simple.
I am really excited to try this.
Kind Regards,
Barb
Donya
Hey there Barb!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe, these are great questions! Yes I do leave the skin on while it’s cooking, then remove it after it’s finished cooking. I do not flip the salmon as it cooks since the air circulates throughout the Air Fryer. I really hope you enjoy this recipe, let me know how it turns out!
~Donya
Pam
Thanks for the recipe! Do you preheat your air fryer?
Donya
Hey there Pam!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe, I think you’re going to really like it! You do not need to preheat the Air Fryer, just place your seasoned salmon in the basket, set it to the temperature and time specified in the recipe, and enjoy. I really hope you like this recipe, let me know how it turns out if you give it a try!
~Donya