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My air fryer salmon recipe is a quick and easy way to cook fish in just 10 minutes! Salmon filets are drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with lemon zest 🍋, honey 🍯, and various spices 🧂that provide a nice balance between sweet and savory. With its flaky center and crispy edges, it’ll be the most delicious salmon you’ve ever made.

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Salmon Recipe 

  • Healthy: Air fryer salmon is a fast way to make a nutritious meal that’s low in carbs and high in protein. Salmon is also packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which improve heart health. 
  • Convenient: If you’re short on time, air frying is the way to go! Preheating the air fryer doesn’t take long, and it cooks fish quickly. Plus, you can easily cook fewer filets if you’re feeding fewer people and don’t want leftovers.

🐟 Air Fryer Salmon Ingredients 

  • Salmon: Use fresh or frozen wild-caught salmon filets. If using frozen, thaw it first.
  • Olive Oil prevents the fish from sticking to the air fryer and drying out while cooking.
  • Raw Honey: Drizzle a little honey on the salmon for some sweetness.
  • Lemon: Zest a lemon over the filets for a burst of citrus.
  • Spices: Onion powder, red chili flakes, garlic salt, black pepper
  • Herbs: Garnish your salmon with fresh herbs, like dill and parsley.

👩‍🍳 How to Cook Salmon in the Air Fryer 

  1. Season the Salmon: Rub olive oil on both sides of the salmon filets. Drizzle with honey, and top with lemon zest and spices. Place the fish skin-side down in the preheated air fryer basket. 
  2. How Long to Air Fry Salmon: Air fry salmon for 10 minutes at 400°F. Remove it once it flakes easily with a fork and is fully cooked in the center.

Watch me make this easy salmon recipe here

🪄 Tips and Tricks

Depending on your air fryer and the thickness of your fillets, you may need to adjust the cooking time. If you are in the market for a new air fryer, I love my Wonder Oven from Our Place.

🗒 Variations

You can also bake salmon at 400°F in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on thickness.

🗒 Substitutions 

  • 🐟 Fish: Swap salmon with another kind of fish, like halibut, trout, or mahi mahi.
  • 🍋 Citrus: Replace lemon with orange or lime.
  • 🍯 Sweetener: Substitute maple syrup for honey.
  • 🌶️ Keep It Mild: Omit the red chili flakes.
  • 🧂Spices: Switch up the seasoning and try it with Old Bay, garlic powder, paprika, or seasoning salt.
  • 🌿 Herbs: Use whatever herbs you have, like rosemary, chives, or oregano, or skip them altogether if you prefer.

🍽️ Best served with

This crispy air fryer salmon is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner and pairs well with many side dishes. Try it with asparagus, green beans, or broccoli and rice, potatoes, or pasta salad. I also like to serve the fish with lemon wedges for a little extra citrus flavor.

👝 How to Store Salmon

Leftover salmon will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for three days. Microwave or air fry it until warm, or eat it cold on a salad.

🤔 Common Questions

How long does it take salmon to cook in the air fryer?

It takes about 10 minutes to cook salmon in the air fryer set at 400°F, depending on the thickness of the filets.

How do you keep salmon from sticking to the air fryer?

Rubbing olive oil on the bottom of the fillets keeps it from sticking to the air fryer basket. It also prevents it from drying out, so it does double duty!

Do you air fry salmon skin up or skin down?

Air fry salmon with the skin-side down.

Does salmon need to be flipped in the air fryer?

No, it’s not necessary to flip salmon in the air fryer.

A plate with a piece of grilled salmon, seasoned and browned, accompanied by sautéed green beans sprinkled with grated cheese. Lemon wedges are placed on the side. In the background, a glass of water with a lemon slice.
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Air Fryer Salmon

My air fryer salmon recipe is a quick and easy way to cook fish in just 10 minutes! Salmon filets are drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with lemon zest, honey, and spices.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 4

Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Ingredients 

  • 4 salmon filets
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon raw honey
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest
  • Onion powder
  • Red chili flakes
  • Garlic salt
  • Black pepper
  • Dill, finely chopped, optional
  • Parsley, finely chopped, optional

Instructions 

  • Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
  • Rub olive oil on both sides of each salmon fillet and top with lemon zest and raw honey. Sprinkle lightly with spices.
  • Place the salmon fillets in the air fryer basket, skin-side down. Depending on the size of your machine, you may need to cook them in batches.
  • Cook at 400°F for 10 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork. You might need to adjust the cooking time based on the thickness of your filets and the model of your air fryer.
  • Serve with lemon slices.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Make this recipe?Mention @itsnicolejaques or tag #nicolejaques!
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