Air Fryer Salmon Bites
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Last updated on Dec 27, 2024
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These air fryer salmon bites are marinated in a simple teriyaki sauce and cook up in under 10 minutes. They’re crispy on the outside, tender on the inside and absolutely delicious served with rice and veggies or on top of a salad.
If you’re a seafood lover and looking for a healthy, delicious and speedy meal, then these air fryer salmon bites are for you!
I love my air fryer salmon recipe, but these salmon bites might just be my new favorite way to cook salmon in the air fryer. They’re perfectly tender on the inside, crisp on the outside, loaded with flavor and cook up in under 10 minutes making it the perfect recipe to make when you need to get dinner on the table fast!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: These salmon bites cook up in under 10 minutes in the air fryer, which is way faster than cooking salmon in the oven!
- Healthy: Salmon is rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, and when cooked in the air fryer, it requires less oil, making it a healthier option.
- Flavor-packed: With a marinade of tamari, maple syrup, garlic and ginger each bite is packed with a burst of umami, sweetness and a hint of spice.
- Versatile: Perfect as an appetizer, snack or protein addition to your meal.
Ingredients Needed
- salmon – the star of the dish. We’re using 1 lb of salmon fillets and you can keep the skin on or off depending to your preference. I recommend getting fresh salmon from your grocer but don’t be afraid of frozen salmon, either! Flash frozen fish can be just as healthy. Just make sure the salmon is thawed first if you are using frozen filets.
- oil – I like to use avocado oil because it has a high smoke point and pairs perfectly with the other ingredients. Plus, it helps the salmon bites get that perfect crispy finish in the air fryer!
- tamari or soy sauce – adds a umami flavor to the salmon. Use low-sodium to control the salt level.
- maple syrup or honey – a touch of natural sweetness to balance out the flavors in the marinade.
- garlic – minced garlic infuses the salmon with tons of flavor. Fresh garlic works best, but you could also use garlic powder if you don’t have fresh on hand.
- apple cider vinegar – adds a slight tanginess to the marinade.
- fresh ginger – freshly grated or minced ginger brings in a spicy zing.
Find the full ingredient list with measurements in the recipe card below.
Substitutions
- Oil – If you don’t have avocado oil, sesame oil is perfect for adding a toasty flavor. And if you’re in a pinch, olive oil will do the trick, too.
- Tamari – Not worried about keeping it gluten-free? Go ahead and use soy sauce instead. If you’re soy-free, coconut aminos is a great alternative and adds a touch of sweetness.
- Apple cider vinegar – Rice vinegar adds a nice balance, but you could also use white wine vinegar or lemon juice for a little tangy kick.
How to Make
Making these air fryer salmon bites is so easy! You’ll have perfectly crispy, flavorful salmon on your plate in no time. Just follow these quick steps and get ready to enjoy.
Step 1: In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, tamari, maple syrup, garlic, vinegar and ginger until well combined.
Step 2: Using a sharp knife, cut the salmon filet(s) into bite-sized chunks.
Step 3: Add salmon to the marinade. Place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours for more flavor absorption.
Step 4: Place the marinated salmon cubes in the air fryer basket in a single layer and air fry at 400°F for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway.
Tips for Success
- Marinate longer for more flavor – If you have the time, letting your salmon marinate for a few hours or even overnight will seriously boost the flavor. But hey, even if you only have 15 minutes, it’ll still taste amazing!
- Avoid overcrowding – Make sure the salmon bites are in a single layer when you put them in the air fryer. Trust me, giving them space helps them cook evenly and get that perfect crispy edge we all love.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Salmon Bites
There are so many ways you can serve these air fryer salmon bites! Whether you keep it simple with a side of veggies and rice like I usually do, or incorporate it into other recipes, you won’t be disappointed. Here are some ideas to inspire you:
- Some veggie sides ideas include roasted broccoli, air fryer broccoli, roasted cauliflower, roasted sweet potatoes, air fryer brussels sprouts, air fryer zucchini, roasted carrots or roasted asparagus.
- Add a grain like quinoa, cauliflower rice or cilantro rice to make it a complete meal! Pro tip: serve it with a drizzle of this peanut dressing or tahini sauce for a flavor blast.
- Serve over a salad like my garlicky kale salad, sweet kale salad or easy spinach salad. Really, you can boost the protein for any of my salad recipes with this salmon!
- Meal prep these air fryer salmon bites for lunches throughout the week with this asian noodle meal prep bowl or salmon meal prep bowl.
- Use these air fryer salmon bites in my teriyaki salmon bowls.
- Leftover salmon would be perfect in the viral salmon rice bowl!
- Make salmon tacos by swapping the tofu for these seasoned salmon bites in this asian tofu taco recipe.
How to Store
Store any leftover salmon bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, place the salmon bites in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes. This will help them retain their crispiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! I’ve made these salmon bites in the oven and they turned out awesome! To make these in the oven just prepare your salmon as directed and bake for 10-12 minutes at 400°F.
Yes, you can! Just make sure to thaw the salmon completely before marinating and air frying. Frozen salmon releases extra moisture, so thawing it will help the bites cook evenly and get crispy.
You’ll want your salmon to reach an internal temperature of 145°F for perfect doneness. You can check this easily with an instant-read thermometer.
This could be because the salmon bites are overcrowded in the air fryer basket. Make sure to spread them out in a single layer to allow for even cooking and crisping. You can also try patting the salmon dry before marinating to remove excess moisture.
More Air Fryer Recipes to Try
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Salmon
- Air Fryer Shrimp
- Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
- Air Fryer Vegetables
More Salmon Recipes You’ll Love
- Mediterranean Salmon Salad
- Air Fryer Date Glazed Salmon
- Baked Pesto Salmon
- Smoked Salmon Dip
- Pan Seared Salmon
Be sure to check out all of the air fryer recipes as well as the full collection of dinner recipes!
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Ingredients
- 1 lb salmon, skin removed (or not)
- 1 Tablespoon avocado oil, or sesame oil
- ¼ cup low sodium tamari, or soy sauce
- ½ Tablespoon maple syrup, or honey
- 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, or rice vinegar
- ½ teaspoon fresh ginger, grated or minced
- sesame seeds and green onions, for serving
Instructions
- Add oil, tamari, maple syrup, garlic, vinegar and ginger to a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
- Using a sharp knife, chop salmon into bite size chunks.
- Add the salmon chunks to the sauce and place in the fridge to marinate for 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
- When ready to cook the salmon, preheat the air fryer if required. Place marinated salmon chunks in the air fryer in a single layer and cook for 6-8 minutes at 400°F, flipping halfway. Cook salmon in batches if needed.
- Serve salmon bites warm over rice, or grain of choice and top with sesame seeds and green onions.
Notes
- To make in the oven: Prepare your salmon as directed and bake for 10-12 minutes at 400°F.
- Storage: Leftover salmon bites can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Soy-free: For a soy-free version, swap out the tamari or soy sauce with coconut aminos. It’s a great alternative that’s slightly sweeter but works just as well to give these salmon bites delicious flavor!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This was absolutely delicious! Thank you for the quick and easy recipe. We served ours with roasted broccoli and rice.
WOO! I am so happy to hear you are loving this recipe and it turned out great for you, Daire. Thanks for coming back and sharing your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!
This was delicious! 6 minutes was perfect for us. I did salmon bowls with brown rice, salmon, roasted broccoli and cucumber. yummy! The whole family loved it.
WOO! So glad this recipe is a hit for the whole family, Shely. Thank you for sharing your review + star rating, I appreciate it!
LOVE this salmon recipe, it is becoming a regular in our dinner rotation! In fact guess what’s for dinner tonight? Yep, this recipe. 😃
YUM! One of our favorites too, Joni! I am so glad you are loving this recipe, thank you for sharing your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!
This looks great! What’s a healthy alternative to air frying? I don’t own one, but would love to try this recipe.
Hi Emme! I haven’t tested this recipe cooking it another way, but I’ve had a few people ask about this so I’m going to test it in the oven and let you know!
Hi Emme – I tested this in the oven and it turned out amazing – it takes about 12 minutes at 400F. Hope you love this recipe!
Hi Emme – I tested this in the oven and they turned out delicious. Bake at 400 for about 12 minutes. Hope you love these!
can you use frozen salmon (thawed of course).
Sure! That should work, just make sure you pat dry to remove excess moisture. Enjoy!
looks so delicious!! I don’t have an air fryer, are there other ways to cook this?
I haven’t tested this recipe cooking it another way, but I’ve had a few people ask about this so I’m going to test it in the oven and let you know!
thanks!! im looking forward to hearing about it cuz I’m itching to try this recipe!! ☺️
Hi D – I tested this in the oven and they turned out great. It takes about 12 minutes at 400F. Hope you enjoy!