You have to try our new obsession, Air Fryer Salmon Bites! It's an easy recipe perfect for making crispy yet tender Salmon nuggets. This is a great way to add protein to a rice bowl or wrap.
Why This Recipe is the Best
These salmon bites are quick, flavorful, and packed with protein, making them perfect for a healthy lunch or light summer dinner. Cooking them in the air fryer gives a crispy outside while keeping the inside tender and juicy.
We love tossing them into a rice bowl with fresh veggies for a balanced meal the whole family enjoys—and they come together in less than 15 minutes!
Try our other fun air fryer recipes! Try our quick and easy Air Fryer Quesadilla, Air Fryer Hot Dogs, and Air Fryer homemade Taquitos.
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Key Ingredients
Made with fresh salmon and tasty spices and butter, look below for some helpful hints to have the best cooking experience.
- Salmon- Use fresh salmon for this recipe. Frozen salmon shouldn't be thawed beforehand, so it wouldn't work with this recipe.
- Butter- Melted, salted butter adds the best flavor. It's great for helping the spices stick as well.
- Garlic- For the best taste, we highly recommend using fresh minced garlic. If you need to use garlic powder in a pinch, you can.
- Lemon pepper- Because everyone knows how well lemon pairs with seafood, now add a dash of pepper and you have the perfect spice.
- Parsley- Use dried parsley, don't use fresh parsley for this recipe.
- Cooking oil- Salmon loves sticking to the bottom of the air fryer basket, use the cooking oil to help prevent this. We suggest using an oil with a low smoking point, like avocado oil.
How to make Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Making this Air Fryer Salmon Bites recipe is easy! Follow these step by step process photos for the best results.
- Start by cutting up your salmon into bite-size pieces. Try to make them similar sizes so they cook evenly. Gently toss with butter and pour in the mixed spices.
- Gently toss the raw salmon, butter, and spices until the bites are well coated.
- Prepare the air fryer by preheating it to 400°F. Brush or spray the bottom of the basket with cooking oil.
- Cook the salmon bites in the air fryer for 5-7 minutes. You want the internal temperature to reach 143°F and the will be flaky.
Hint: Not all air fryers are created equal! You will want to adjust the cook time based on the air fryer you have.
Common Mistakes
So many of our air fryer recipes suggest that you flip over the food halfway through cooking. This helps both sides crisp evenly. This is not the case for this recipe! We quickly learned that flipping the salmon bites cause them to crumble and fall apart. They were a big mess. The salmon bites cooked evenly without having to flip them over.
Top tip
This dish is meant to be crispy on the outside and soft, tender, and flaky in the center. Avoid overcooking the salmon so it doesn't dry out.
Recipe
Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb salmon
- 1 Tablespoon melted butter
- 1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons lemon pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon parsley
- ½ teaspoon cooking oil to grease the air fryer basket
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Cut salmon into 1 inch cubes. Toss salmon in melted butter and minced garlic. Add the lemon pepper, salt and parsley then stir to combine. See photos above for a visual reference.
- Brush cooking oil liberally onto air fryer basket, this helps the salmon not stick. Place salmon bites in air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they don't touch. Air fry for 5-7 minutes, no need to flip these. They will be hot and sizzling and flaky. Salmon is considered "done" at 143°F.
- Remember that not all air fryers are created equally- times and temperatures may vary.
Notes
- Salmon especially tends to want to stick to the air fryer basket. It is important to coat the air fryer basket well with cooking oil before air frying, My favorite is avocado oil.
- We found while testing this recipe that flipping the salmon was unnecessary and made a mess as the salmon fell apart when flipped.
- Avoid over cooking the salmon or it will be dry. The salmon will be flakky when poked at with a fork.
- This recipe will result in a slightly crisp outer layer and the inside will be flaky and moist.
Nutrition
Substitutions and Variations
Try some of our favorite substitutions and variations for different fun flavors!
- Parmesan- Add 2 Tablespoon shredded parmesan at the same time as the rest of the spices.
- Spicy- Add ½ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes with the other spices. Or you can top them with the pepper flakes right after the bites come out of the air fryer.
- With skin- If you prefer salmon with skin, this recipe can be made with the skin on.
- Sweet- Add 2 Tablespoons of brown sugar and skip the lemon pepper for a sweet taste.
How to Serve
This is a versatile recipe and can go with so many flavor profiles. We love serving it over a bed of rice and then topped with our mango salsa. Air Fryer Salmon Bites go great with both rice and mashed potatoes.
You can also mix up the flavors by tossing them with your favorite salmon marinade, glaze, or even soy sauce. If you like this recipe you'll love our Bang Bang Shrimp.
Storing Salmon Bites in Air Fryer
Store cooked bites in an airtight container, the the refrigerator for 2-3 days. When ready to eat you can reheat them in the microwave or re-crisp them in the air fryer.
Try freezing the cooked salmon in a freezer-friendly container for up to 1 month. It makes for a great meal prep meal.
FAQ
We suggest setting the temperature to 400°F. When cooked for 5-7 minutes you will get a crispy outside and moist and flaky center.
Most air fryer recipes will have you flip the food halfway through the cook time. For salmon, we don't suggest flipping. It's very fragile and may cause it to fall apart and become a big mess.
We struggled with the salmon sticking to the air fryer basket. Though the recipe is tossed with butter, you still need to coat the bottom of the basket with cooking oil. This way it doesn't stick and you don't loose part of your meal.
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