The Air Fryer makes this salmon crispy on the outside but still juicy on the inside. This air fryer salmon recipe cooks in the air fryer in only 7 minutes and only requires 5 ingredients. It has quickly become my favorite way to cook salmon.
You’ll need an air fryer for this air fryer salmon recipe.
Have you tried using an air fryer yet? I was hesitate to try it as I thought surely it can’t be as good as a traditional fryer but I think it might be even better! Now I love cooking in the air fryer.
Essentially, the air fryer moves air quickly over food similar to broiling it in an oven that it gives the food a similar tastes to food that has been fried in oil.
The air fryer doesn’t require a large amount of oil like a traditional fryer requires so foods cooked in the air fryer generally have less calories and less fat than fried foods.
This air fryer is the one that I currently have and I really like it. I can easily fit 3 salmon filets in it at a time and it’s pretty easy to clean afterwards.
Can you cook fish in an air fryer?
When I first got my air fryer, I thought that I could only cook food in it that had a breading on it like normal fried food but that’s just not true.
Anything that can be cooked in the oven can generally be cooked in the air fryer and a breading is not required.
I love cooking fish in the air fryer as it gives the fish a nice crispy texture on the outside of the fish and it still tastes moist and juicy on the inside. This is now my preferred way to prepare fish.
What ingredients are needed for salmon in air fryer?
Like I mentioned before, you only need 5 ingredients for this salmon in the air fryer recipe and I bet you already have most of them in your pantry.
6 Salmon Filets
2 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Teaspoon Garlic Salt
1 Teaspoon Pepper
2 Fresh Lemons
Not much is needed to create this delicious salmon recipe for hot air fryer. The air fryer will do all the work and you’ll be left with moist and amazing salmon to enjoy.
How do you cook salmon in the air fryer?
First, I put the salmon fillets in the pre heated air fryer basket at 400 degrees. To preheat my air fryer, I run the air fryer with nothing in it for 5-10 minutes prior to cooking.
Then, you drizzle the olive oil over the wild caught salmon. You can also use the olive oil cooking spray as it provides a nice olive oil mist on the salmon.
Next season the salmon with garlic salt and pepper.
Lastly, cook the salmon in the air fryer for 7 minutes until it’s perfectly cooked. When the air fryer salmon is done, it will be flaky.
Cook in additional 2 minute increments in the air fryer if the salmon is not quite done yet as cooking times do vary based on the size of the salmon filets.
Finally, once it’s done cooking, squeeze the fresh lemons over the salmon. I recommend this lemon squeezer. It gets more juice out of the lemons than I can with my own hands!
See, it’s really that simple. With preheating, prep and cook time, you’ll have salmon ready to serve in less than 12 minutes!
Can you put foil in the air fryer?
The general rule for the air fryer is that if something is oven safe, it’s air fryer safe as well.
You CAN put foil in the air fryer. However, I recommend not covering up the complete bottom of the air fryer basket.
The holes in the bottom of the basket help the air move freely around the food in the basket so you don’t want to cover them all up or it will reduce the effectiveness of this cooking process.
The foil does make clean up even easier once you have already enjoyed your air fried salmon.
Can you stack food in the air fryer?
I do stack fries and vegetables when I cook in the air fryer. However, when I cook these, I mix them throughout the cooking time (by shaking the basket) so different parts are exposed while it’s cooking.
Remember, the air fryer works by moving air quickly over the food so in order for it to work correctly, you’ll want to keep as much part of the food exposed to the air as possible.
For this air fryer salmon recipe, I do not recommend stacking as you will want all of the outside of the salmon exposed to the hot air that moves through the air fryer.
Can you cook frozen salmon in the air fryer?
You can make air fryer frozen salmon fillets by putting the frozen salmon filets directly in the air fryer basket.
I recommend doubling the minutes of cooking time if you are cooking the salmon from frozen as it would need the additional time to defrost in the air fryer as well.
After the cooking time, if the salmon is not cooked perfectly, continue to cook in the air fryer in 2 minute increments until the fish flakes with a fork.
Other ways to season the salmon for this quick and easy recipe.
Once you master this recipe, you can change it up slightly for different variations of this air fryer salmon recipe.
You can create a garlic butter salmon air fryer recipe by seasoning the salmon filets with butter and minced garlic instead of the olive oil and garlic salt.
Also, you can give it a more Asian flair by drizzling the salmon with a soy sauce and honey mixtures.
This salmon in air fryer recipe is quick and simple!
I hope that you are not hesitant to try air fryer cooking like I was. It really does give the food great texture and flavor without all the calories and unhealthy fat.
This salmon recipe is a great starter recipe for the air fryer. If you try it, please leave us a comment and let us know what you think!
The air fryer is my choice for salmon. It doesn’t dry the meat out. This receipt is amazing. Thank you.
Great to hear – Thanks for sharing!
Were your salmon filets skinless? I have frozen filets that still have skin. I’m thinking I may try cooking from frozen. Would you open the fryer maybe 1/2way through cooking time to add the spices?
Mine were skinless. They were frozen, but we thawed them first. I haven’t tried frozen, but I would think the time would need to be doubled. Let us know if you try it and how it turns out.
Favorite way to cook salmon, hands down. I used frozen skinless filets straight out of the freezer. I heated up my air fryer like you suggested (10 min) brushed it with chopped garlic, butter, salt and pepper. Both pieces cooked at 400 for 12 min…. skin was well done and center moist and flakey. My hubby is super picky and it passed with flying colors!
Thanks for your recipe!!
You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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The air fryer is my choice for salmon. It doesn’t dry the meat out. This receipt is amazing. Thank you.
Great to hear – Thanks for sharing!
Were your salmon filets skinless? I have frozen filets that still have skin. I’m thinking I may try cooking from frozen. Would you open the fryer maybe 1/2way through cooking time to add the spices?
Mine were skinless. They were frozen, but we thawed them first. I haven’t tried frozen, but I would think the time would need to be doubled. Let us know if you try it and how it turns out.
Favorite way to cook salmon, hands down. I used frozen skinless filets straight out of the freezer. I heated up my air fryer like you suggested (10 min) brushed it with chopped garlic, butter, salt and pepper. Both pieces cooked at 400 for 12 min…. skin was well done and center moist and flakey. My hubby is super picky and it passed with flying colors!
Thanks for your recipe!!
You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it!