Enhance your dinner repertoire with tasty and flaky air fryer salmon! Made in just a few simple steps with common pantry staples, this no-fail recipe is always a go-to for a quick and easy dinner in my house. The easy prep belies the impressive presentation and dimensional flavor, making this the perfect salmon recipe for everything from busy weeknights to elevated dinner parties.
If you’ve never made salmon in the air fryer, now’s the time to start! Choose your favorite type of salmon – farm-raised or wild-caught are both great options – whip up the simple seasoning blend and let the air fryer do all of the hard work for you! For more seafood recipes, check out my blackened salmon, air fryer coconut shrimp, and seafood pasta recipes.
What You Need to Make This Recipe
Salmon – both farm-raised and wild-caught salmon work for this recipe. Opt for skin-on salmon if possible, though skinned salmon can also work. Use fresh or frozen and defrosted fillets; if using defrosted, thoroughly pat with paper towels to remove any excess moisture.
Dijon mustard – adds a tangy and lightly peppery flavor which complements the seasoning blend. Smooth Dijon mustard is the best as it spreads evenly, making it easier for the spices to adhere.
Olive oil – mixes with the mustard, adding richness to the fish and helping to lock in the moisture as it cooks. For the best result, use extra virgin olive oil.
Spices – in particular, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Freshly ground pepper and spices with a good expiration date always add the most flavor.
How to Air Fry Salmon
1. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil and Dijon mustard until combined.
2. In another small bowl, stir together the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
3. Using paper towels, pat the salmon filets dry.
4. Place the salmon skin side down on a piece of parchment paper, plate, or baking sheet. Brush the fish evenly with the olive oil mixture.
5. Sprinkle the salmon evenly with the spice mixture.
6. Add the fish to the air fryer basket, salmon skin side down, leaving at least ½ inch of space between each fillet. Air fry at 400°F for 7 to 9 minutes, or until the salmon is opaque in the center and flakes easily with a fork. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.
Can I use Frozen Salmon?
Yes! Thaw fillets for several hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Once thawed, place the fillets on paper towels and cover with more on top. Let them sit for 10 minutes to absorb any excess moisture from the thawed fish.
How to Store
Store leftover salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. It does not freeze well. Reheat the salmon in an air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes or in the microwave on low heat for 30-60 seconds, or until warmed through.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Salmon
Air fried salmon is a versatile main dish that goes with a variety of sides and salads. Some of my favorites are French green beans, roasted sweet potatoes, creamed spinach, and hasselback potatoes. Make it a feast by also serving the fish with homemade dinner rolls or sweet potato biscuits.
What Air Fryer is Best?
There are so many great models of air fryers! I mainly look at size. I prefer a 6-quart air fryer so the basket is large and can cook more food at one time. This cuts down on the amount of time it takes to get dinner on the table and helps eliminate the need to cook in batches. I also like models that have a removable grate versus a wire basket. But, any air fryer you have should be able to make delicious air-fried salmon!
Will this recipe work in an oven?
Yes! You can bake the salmon in a regular oven. Place the fillets on a greased, rimmed baking sheet and cook at 400°F for 10 to 15 minutes or until flaky in the center.
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
- Dry the salmon fillets before seasoning. Removing moisture from the flesh of the fish is essential in allowing the Dijon mixture and seasoning blend to adhere to the fish. It also helps the fish to crisp up on the exterior, locking in the juices.
- Space out the salmon for cooking. Leave at least ½ inch of space between each of the fillets to leave ample room for the hot air to circulate around the fish, cooking it evenly and creating a crisp exterior. If the air fryer basket is too small to accommodate all of the fish at once, cook it in batches.
- Prep the air fryer basket for skinned salmon. Skin-on salmon releases more easily from the air fryer basket. If using skinned salmon, brush the air fryer basket with additional olive oil before adding the fillets.
- Check the salmon near the end of the cooking time. Different air fryer brands run at varying temperatures and intensities, cooking salmon at different rates. Check the salmon for doneness starting at the 7-minute mark and adjust the cooking time accordingly. If you are cooking thin or wild salmon fillets, check the salmon at the 6-minute mark, as both of these can cook quickly.
- Seasoning variations? Make this recipe for air fryer salmon your own by switching up the spices! For a vibrant and herbal twist, season the prepared salmon with dried dill and top with thin slices of lemon before air frying. You can also use other seasoning blends like everything bagel seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or your favorite spice mix. For a sticky glaze, brush the salmon with barbecue sauce before cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions
You will know the salmon is cooked through and safe to eat when it is opaque in the thickest part of the fillet and flakes evenly with a fork or when the internal temperature has reached 145°F. The exact cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the salmon.
As the salmon cooks, you may see albumin, a protein that is released from the salmon and turns white as it cooks. This is normal! It is flavorless and perfectly safe to consume. If it starts to appear, it’s likely that your salmon is already done cooking. The more albumin, the more done the fish is, and can actually be an indication the fish is overcooked.
You can cook salmon fillets either way! If you prefer skinless salmon, remove it before seasoning.
If you are cooking skin-on salmon, start skin side down and cook for 4 minutes to firm up the fish. Then, carefully flip the fillet skin side up and continue cooking. This way, the skin will be crispy when it’s done cooking.
Not all air fryers require preheating, but if yours does, preheat according to the manufacturer’s instructions before adding the salmon. Doing so will help it to cook quickly and for the exterior to crisp up nicely, keeping the fish nice and moist.
There are so many options for what you can do with leftovers. Some of my favorites are making salmon salad with fresh dill, chopped onion, and mayo; topping quinoa or green salads with flaked fish; substituting flaked salmon for crab in crab cakes, or adding it to seafood chowder. You can also make salmon wraps with tortillas, baby spinach, and your favorite dressing or replace the tuna with the air fried fish when making Niçoise salad.
If you love this recipe try these out!
If you’ve tried this air fryer salmon recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
Air Fryer Salmon
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 4 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 4 (6-ounce/168g) salmon filets (skin-on is preferred)
- Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- In a small bow, whisk together the olive oil and mustard until fully combined. In a separate bowl, stir together the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Pat the salmon filets dry with paper towels. Brush the flesh sides of each filet evenly with the olive oil mixture. Sprinkle the spice mixture evenly all over the filets.
- Spray the basket of an air fryer basket lightly with cooking spray. Set the filets in the basket, skin side down, leaving about ½” of space in between each filet. (Cook in two batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.)
- Air Fry at 400°F for 7 to 9 minutes, or until the salmon is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Use a spatula to carefully remove the filets from the basket (they will be very delicate). Serve immediately with lemon wedges.
Notes
- Dry the salmon fillets before seasoning. Removing moisture from the flesh of the fish is essential in allowing the Dijon mixture and seasoning blend to adhere to the fish. It also helps the fish to crisp up on the exterior, locking in the juices.
- Space out the salmon for cooking. Leave at least ½ inch of space between each of the fillets to leave ample room for the hot air to circulate around the fish, cooking it evenly and creating a crisp exterior. If the air fryer basket is too small to accommodate all of the fish at once, cook it in batches.
- Prep the air fryer basket for skinned salmon. Skin-on salmon releases more easily from the air fryer basket. If using skinned salmon, brush the air fryer basket with additional olive oil before adding the fillets.
- Check the salmon near the end of the cooking time. Different air fryer brands run at varying temperatures and intensities, cooking salmon at different rates. Check the salmon for doneness starting at the 7-minute mark and adjust the cooking time accordingly. If you are cooking thin or wild salmon fillets, check the salmon at the 6-minute mark, as both of these can cook quickly.
- Seasoning variations? Make this recipe for air fryer salmon your own by switching up the spices! For a vibrant and herbal twist, season the prepared salmon with dried dill and top with thin slices of lemon before air frying. You can also use other seasoning blends like everything bagel seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or your favorite spice mix. For a sticky glaze, brush the salmon with barbecue sauce before cooking.
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