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These quick and easy air fryer salmon bites feature bite-sized salmon pieces dressed in a sweet and savory sauce. Ready in 10 minutes and super versatile.
Love air fryer recipes? Try my air fryer meatballs, air fryer chicken parmesan, air fryer cod, and air fryer coconut shrimp.
Whenever I want to change up my usual air fryer salmon, my air fryer salmon bites recipe is always a fabulous alternative. These are a sure-fire way to have dinner on the table quickly.
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- 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 bites are tender, flaky, and crispy 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 cooking 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 (hello, salmon bowls!).
Ingredients needed
- Skinless Salmon fillets. Pick up a juicy and vibrant-looking skinless salmon filet and slice it into 1-inch cubes or pre-cut salmon cubes. You can use fresh or frozen salmon here, but you’ll have to thaw the frozen fish before marinating and cooking.
- Spices. Salt, black 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. Tamari or coconut aminos work for a gluten-free substitute.
- 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.
- Garnishes. Fresh lemon juice, sesame seeds, and green onion.
How to air fry salmon bites
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Make the marinade: Whisk the marinade ingredients together in a bowl.
Step 2- Marinate: Add the salmon bites to the bowl with the marinade and toss to coat. Set aside to marinate.
Step 3- Air fry: Cook the salmon bites in the air fryer until they’re crisp and tender.
Step 4- Thicken the sauce: Meanwhile, whisk the cornstarch slurry into the remaining sauce (in a small saucepan). Heat it over medium heat until it thickens.
Step 4- Serve: Drizzle 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.
Arman’s recipe tips and variations
- 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 crisp 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.
- 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.
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 seasoned salmon bites back into the air fryer and reheat at 375ºF until the bites are warmed through.
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 a touch of olive oil.
Yes, to bake the salmon bites, place them on a lined sheet and bake at 200C/400F for 10 minutes.
More easy salmon recipes
Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound 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.
I love that this salmon recipe is in small bites because the delicious sauce covers all sides of the individual pieces! So delicious!
I love salmon… so this is a recipe I’m definitely going to try!
Easy recipe, lots of flavor!!
This is the BEST air fryer salmon bites recipe I’ve made and I’ve made at least 3!!
Thanks for sharing I’m making it tonight my grandson is learning to cook he teaches me also
Looks very tasty and delicious! Reminds me of General TSO’s chicken.
most of my friends don’t like fish, baby I will show them this.
I made these and they were fantastic! I made brown rice with mine. This is definitely going on my rotation!
excellent meal and so easy to prepare. All I can hear is Delicious! from my fellow diners.
Salmon bites were easy and delish! Thanks for being this recipe into my life!
I love all your recipes. Thank you for sharing.
I’m stuck with baked salmon so I’ll surely try this one. Just by looking at the recipe, the ingredients are easy to find from where I live. And being Asian, this looks perfect with steamed rice for dinner. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Oh my gosh! These Salmon bites were so good that they were just like eating candy!
Sounds delicious!
Great way to cook up salmon!