These quick and easy air fryer salmon bites are almost as much fun to make as they are to eat! Featuring bite-sized salmon pieces dressed in a sweet and savory sauce, the mouthwatering bites are fantastic served over rice or salad.
Want to change up your usual air fryer salmon? This air fryer salmon bites recipe has your name on it!
They’ve been a super flavorful and exciting way to cook seafood. They take minutes to make and taste incredible.
Table of Contents
Why this recipe works
These bites may look incredibly fancy, but I promise you, they are so easy to whip up.
- A better way to cook salmon. I couldn’t live without my air fryer, especially when it comes to cooking seafood. It needs a fraction of the time of other cooking methods.
- Incredible flavor and texture. The texture of the bites is tender, flaky, and moist in the middle. They have a lovely Asian sweet and savory flavor that leaves you wanting more!
- Quick and mess-free. Cooking salmon in the air fryer means you get to skip the mess and long cook times of pan-fried salmon and baked salmon. Plus, you don’t need any oil or fat to make it taste amazing!
- A healthy meal prep option. If you are a meal prep fiend like me, this is a winning protein option for you. The bite-sized salmon pieces go well with anything and everything and are great to enjoy cold or room temperature!
Ingredients needed
Cooking salmon bites in the air fryer is so easy and besides the salmon and some seasonings, there isn’t much else needed to make. Here is what you’ll need:
- Salmon. Pick up a juicy and vibrant-looking skinless salmon and slice it into bite-sized pieces. You can use fresh or frozen salmon here, but you’ll have to thaw the frozen fish before marinating and cooking.
- Spices. Salt, pepper, and garlic powder round out the rest of the flavors in the marinade.
- Soy sauce. This gives the marinade a salty and umami flavor that pairs perfectly with the rich salmon.
- Garlic and ginger. Use fresh garlic and ginger for extra vibrancy.
- Honey. To give the sauce a mild floral sweetness. Maple syrup or brown sugar will work well as substitutes.
- Cornstarch. Cornstarch and water are mixed together and used as a thickening slurry for the sauce.
How to air fry salmon bites
These salmon air fryer bites are easy to make: just remember to chop the salmon into equal sized pieces.
Make the marinade: Whisk the marinade ingredients together in a bowl.
Marinate: Add the salmon bites to the bowl with the marinade, toss to coat, then set aside to marinate.
Air fry: Cook the salmon bites in the air fryer until they’re crisp and tender.
Thicken the sauce: Meanwhile, whisk the cornstarch slurry into the remaining sauce (in a small saucepan) and heat it over medium heat until it thickens.
Serve: Brush the crispy salmon bites with the sauce, then garnish and serve!
How long to cook salmon bites in the air fryer
While salmon bites can take between 10 to 12 minutes to cook in the air fryer, you’ll know they’re cooked to perfection when the meat flakes easily. Check them often to ensure they don’t overcook or dry out.
You can also use a meat thermometer to measure the internal temperature. For the most moist and tender salmon, I recommend cooking it to an internal temperature of 120ºF to 125ºF.
Tips to make the best recipe
- Cut into even pieces. Slice the salmon into evenly sized cubes to help them cook evenly and at the same time.
- Cook in a single layer. It’s best to air fry the bites in an even layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space in between each one. This way, the heat can circulate evenly around every piece and crisps the outside.
- Let them rest. After cooking, let the bites rest on a cutting board for 5 to 10 minutes. This gives those wonderful meaty juices time to settle back into the meat, leaving you with the most succulent results.
Recipe variations
Add herbs and spices. Add dry thyme, oregano, or onion powder to enhance the flavors in the sauce.
Use a pre-made marinade. Replace the marinade in this recipe with any flavorful marinade of choice or a simple combination of soy sauce and sesame oil.
Use a custom spice blend. Instead of marinating the salmon, coat it in blackening seasoning, lemon pepper seasoning, or Cajun seasoning for rich, smoky flavors.
Make it spicy! Stir cayenne, red pepper flakes, or sriracha into the marinade if you’re craving spicy salmon bites.
Storage instructions
To store: Once the leftover salmon has cooled, pack it into an airtight container and store it in the fridge for 3 days.
To freeze: You can also freeze the cooked salmon bites for up to 2 months. Let the salmon thaw in the fridge before reheating.
To reheat: Place the salmon back into the air fryer and reheat at 375ºF until the bites are warmed through.
Leftover idea
When you’re looking for healthy meal prep ideas, pack the bites in an airtight container with the sides of your choice. This way, you have healthy lunches to enjoy throughout the week.
More easy salmon recipes
Frequently asked questions
Yes! Frozen salmon works well, provided you thaw the fish completely before marinating it.
The marinade can be made up to three days in advance. Any longer and the saltiness will intensity and also it will thicken up.
Yes! Simply season with salt, pepper, and touch of olive oil.
Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Ingredients
- 1 lb salmon cut into bite sized pieces
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon ginger minced
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the salt, garlic, pepper, soy sauce, garlic, honey, ginger, and mix.
- Add the salmon to it and mix until fully coated. Let it sit for 10 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer to 190C/380F. Remove the salmon from the sauce mix and reserve the leftover sauce to use later.
- Add the salmon bites in a single layer and air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- While the salmon is air frying, combine the cornstarch with water to form a slurry. Whisk it into the remaining sauce and place in a small saucepan over medium heat. Let it simmer until it thickens slightly.
- Once the salmon bites and cooked, brush with the glaze and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.
All look delicious
So grateful for your recipe… Easy, fast and healthy for a working mom on the go.
If I am reading a recipe and it only gives temperatures in “F” I tend to give up. You did give temperature later on in both “F” and “C”.
The entire world uses Celsius. America is the odd one out. I cannot impress on you how meaningless Fahrenheit is in the rest of the world. To me it is just random numbers.
OK – give temperatures in “F” – but you MUST give a conversion in “C”. Otherwise you are excluding the rest of the world.
This is a fool proof recipe and it’s delicious as well! I also, tried with chicken and it is just as good.
I have made this recipe baked but this is brilliant. Tomorrow night these air fryer bites will be on my menu. Broccoli on the side and an arugula salad. I cannot wait. Thanks for another great recipe.
What a wonderful salmon recipe! So healthy and we love salmon and our incredible air fryer! Hubby wants it made again tomorrow. Thank you!
Looks amazing. Definitely going to try the salmon recipes
So easy and delicious!
GREAT recipe! Can you please recommend a good air fryer that you like to use? Thanks! Ellen
This is my fav- https://amzn.to/3n7JbYL
Very easy to make and very good .
Very easy to make and very good .
Wow! This was excellent!
They look awesome!
I pulled out my brand new, unused air fryer just for this recipe. I am so glad that I did! It is incredibly easy and the flavors, they just pop. It is simple and delicious. This will definitely be in our rotation for a tasty, nutritious meal that suits our busy lifestyle.
I highly recommend you try it ASAP!
Thanks Arman 🙂
FANTASTIC!!! Love me some Salmon! Your Recipes are the BEST!!!
This is the best salmon ever. Ever! Thank you for the recipe!!