Air fryer salmon is one of the easiest ways to cook salmon! And it comes out incredibly delicious. The air fryer creates the perfect crisp outside and a tender and flaky inside. No need to fire up the grill or turn on a hot oven. A simple yet satisfying delicious dinner that only takes minutes to prep and cook.
Next time try these frozen hamburgers in air fryer for a quick dinner.
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Easy air fryer salmon recipe is the quickest and best way to cook salmon filets for a delicious dinner tonight. Flavorful and tender salmon made with simple ingredients that pair very well with many dishes.
❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe
- The air fryer gives the fish a slightly crisp outside and a soft, tender and flaky inside.
- It's a quick and easy as well as healthy dinner!
- The flavor of Middle Eastern seasoning on this fish is amazingly delicious!
After cooking your salmon fillets, you open your air fryer and the salmon emerges beautifully cooked with the seasonings baked on. Every bite as flavorful as the next. Salmon goes wonderful with basmati rice, roasted veggies or even thrown on top of a salad!
📝 Ingredients
📋 Ingredient Notes
- Do not get intimidated by the word Hawaij, although I have the detailed recipe for such an aromatic blend, I am going to give you a quick workaround in the recipe card below.
- This recipe works for skin on or skinless salmon fillets.
- You can use butter instead of olive oil if you prefer to.
🥄 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- In a small bowl combine all ingredients except the salmon fillets and mix well.
- Pour the mixture over the salmon fillets and rub to coat well on all sides. Place the salmon in your air fryer basket and air fry for 7 to 10 minutes or until fork tender.
💡 Tips
- Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel before putting the seasoning on the salmon fillets.
- I've used skin on salmon fillets, but you can use skinless.
- Do not overcrowd your air fryer basket. Cook in batches if your air fryer is small.
- Air fryers are different so until you get used to yours, you should check it 2 minutes before the suggested cooking time ends.
- Your air fryer may smoke especially when cooking fatty food or if you are cooking multiple batches. If this starts to happen, just add a couple tablespoons of water or a piece of bread in the dripping pan or at the bottom of your air fryer. Please refer to your manual for safety and proper use.
🧺 Storage
Although salmon fillet is superior freshly cooked, leftovers can be kept in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days.
💬 FAQs
The first sign to look for if salmon is done is the color. Salmon will change from a dark pink/orange color to an opaque pink color. Second, the fillet should flake easily with your fork and finally, check that the internal temperature with a meat thermometer has reached 145 degrees before eating.
Fresh salmon will give you the best taste and texture, but if all you have are frozen salmon fillets, these will work too. First, If you have time to thaw them in the refrigerator, you can do so by thawing them for 12-24 hours. If not, you can add them in the air fryer as is (without the seasoning) at 360F for about 4-5 minutes. Take the salmon fillets out, season them and put them back in until cook thoroughly. Since frozen salmon fillets may cook unevenly, it is advised to check the internal temperature before eating.
I get it, you had good intentions to cook the salmon you recently purchased, but life happens and now it's been sitting in the refrigerator for a few days. Fresh salmon should be eaten 1-2 days for best taste. Sometimes up to three days if the salmon is well-packaged. Open up the salmon package and see how it smells. If it has a strong odor, feels slimy or you're just not sure, my advice would be throw it out.
📣 Air Fryer Recipes
Put your air fryer to work! This trendy gadget can make pretty much everything, from appetizers to main dishes. Here are some of my favorite.
- Air fryer tilapia is another economical and quick dinner to make.
- Air fryer chicken wings, are amazing from frozen or fresh. So easy to make with crunchy skin and tender flesh.
- These air fryer frozen sweet potato fries comes out even better than the oven method.
- Try this air fryer onion rings recipe for a quick side dish that goes pretty well with almost anything.
I hope you'll like this recipe and please if you make this recipe, snap a pic and hashtag it #amiraspantry — I love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter!
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Air Fryer Salmon
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets 5-6 ounces each
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 garlic clove crushed
- 1/2 lime juiced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your Air fryer to 400F.
- In a small bowl combine all the ingredients except the salmon fillets and mix well.
- Pour mixture over salmon fillets and rub to coat well from all sides.
- Place the salmon fillets in your air fryer basket and air fry for 7-10 minutes or until they are fork tender.
Notes
- Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel before putting the seasoning on the salmon fillets.
- I've used skin on salmon fillets but you can use skinless.
- Do not overcrowd your air fryer basket, cook in batches if you air fryer is small.
- If you do not want to make the Hawaij blend from whole spices, although this is the best for maximum flavor, you can make it from ground spices.
- Mix 3/4 teaspoon of each black pepper, cumin, coriander with 1/2 teaspoon turmeric along with a pinch of each cinnamon, ground cloves and cardamom. This should give you enough for this recipe.
- Air fryers are different so until you get used to yours you should check it 2 minutes before the suggested cooking time ends.
- Your air fryer may smoke especially when cooking fatty food or if you are cooking multiple batches. If this starts to happen just ass a couple of tablespoons of water or a piece of bread in the dripping pan or at the bottom of your air fryer. Please refer to your manual for safety and proper use.
- Although salmon fillets are superior freshly cooked, leftovers may be kept in an air-tight container for up to 2-3 days.
- To reheat: Salmon can dry out easily when reheated so my best advice is to drizzle it with a little olive oil, cover loosely with aluminum foil and heat in a 250F preheated oven until it has heated thoroughly, about 12 minutes.
- Salmon fillet can be served with roasted vegetables, basmati rice and your choice of dips like tahini, baba ghanoug or green salad.
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