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Home » Recipes » Seafood

Air Fryer Salmon

By Laura Fuentes Updated Aug 12, 2024

5 from 26 votes

Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.

When you're making air fryer salmon, get ready to love the taste and the texture!

New to cooking salmon in the air fryer? This Air Fryer Salmon recipe will show you that this method is the easiest way to cook salmon, ever!

In just 15 minutes, you’ll have fork-tender delicious salmon every single time.

salmon and asparagus on a plate with a lemon wedge

How to Make Air Fryer Salmon

The best part about cooking salmon in the air fryer is that it gets a crispy outer texture we all love from the pan with flaky middles from the oven. You know what I’m talking about, right?

That flaky texture paired with the juiciness makes it irresistible to stop eating. There’s a reason why we don’t have leftovers in our house when salmon is on the menu and it’s because none of us can stop till we’re forced to because it’s gone.

Ingredients

I promise you that cooking salmon in the air fryer isn’t tricky at all. Just a few easy ingredients are all you need to get started. Here’s the list of simple ingredients:

  • salmon fillets: fresh or frozen salmon and skin-on or skinless fillets are perfectly fine, just make sure you thaw them first.
  • olive oil: to help the seasoning mix coat the salmon.
  • garlic cloves: grated or minced are best, even garlic powder is an option.
  • smoked paprika: the smokey flavor is amazing with the salmon, but regular paprika works, too.
  • fresh herbs: fresh herbs really do add an important freshness.
four salmon fillets in an air fryer

Air Fryer Salmon Recipe

Grab the five simple ingredients listed above, and let’s get cooking this easy air fryer salmon recipe! Here’s how to cook fork-tender flaky salmon every single time:

  1. Preheat
    Preheat the air fryer to 400F for 5 minutes.
  2. Dry the salmon fillets
    Pat dry salmon fillets and place them inside the air fryer basket.
  3. Combine the ingredients
    In a small dish, combine olive oil, garlic, and smoked paprika.
  4. Coat the salmon fillets
    Distribute it over the salmon fillets, and close the air fryer basket.
  5. Cook
    Cook salmon, at 400F for 10-12 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fillet.
  6. Test the doneness
    You know it’s done when the salmon meat separates easily with a fork.

Make next: Salmon Pesto Pasta

How to Season Air Fryer Salmon

The key to seasoning salmon for the air fryer is to add the seasoning right onto the salmon fillets once placed in the air fryer basket. This will reduce run-off and create that nice crust we all love.

As far as seasonings, the possibilities are endless. For this recipe, I stuck with my go-to Spanish Seasoning for salmon.

How Long to Cook Salmon in the Air Fryer

The length of time to cook the salmon depends on the thickness. For thinner salmon fillets, 10 minutes of cooking time should be perfect. For thicker pieces, 12 minutes of cooking time will be needed.

What Temperature to Cook Salmon in the Air Fryer

The best temperature to cook salmon in the air fryer is 400F because the circulating air seals the moisture in, creates a nice crust on the outside, and flaky middles.

To achieve this epicness, I recommend you preheat the air fryer for about 5 minutes. Doing so means you start with a nice hot air fryer basket and helps the salmon achieve great results in less than 12 minutes of time.

salmon fillet on a plate

Air Fryer Salmon Success Tips

With a few simple tips, you can cook salmon perfectly every single time!

Do You Have to Flip Air Fried Salmon?
Nope, you don’t have to flip the salmon! The air circulates and cooks all sides evenly without the need to flip.

Can You Use Frozen Salmon
Absolutely. You can use fresh or frozen salmon – so use what you have at home or what is the least expensive at the store.

Skinless or Skin-on Salmon in the Air Fryer
Both skinless and skin-on salmon can be cooked in the air fryer. And, if you cook skin-on salmon pieces in the air fryer, the skin separates easily from the salmon after!.

If you already purchased skinless, go ahead and cook that to perfection with this recipe.

What to Serve with Air Fryer Salmon

Don’t forget that there are many side dishes that pair well with the flavor of salmon. Here are some great side dish options:

  • Mexican Cauliflower Rice
  • Spanish Cauliflower Rice
  • Lemon Broccolini
  • Roasted Summer Vegetables
  • Lemon Asparagus

Air Fryer Salmon

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 15 minutes mins
Total Time: 20 minutes mins
When you’re making air fryer salmon, get ready to love the taste and the texture!
5 from 26 votes
Print Pin

Ingredients

  • 4 salmon fillets, fresh or frozen
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon fresh herbs, chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer to 400F for 5 minutes.
  • Pat dry salmon fillets and place them inside the air fryer basket.
  • In a small dish, combine olive oil, garlic, and smoked paprika.
  • Distribute it over the salmon fillets, and close the air fryer basket.
  • Cook salmon, at 400F for 10-12 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fillet.
  • You know it’s done when the salmon meat separates easily with a fork.

Equipment

an air fryer with a cook book
Air Fyer
Best Grain-Free Meals on the Planet
magnetic air fryer cooking chart
Air Fryer Cooking Chart
magnetic air fryer cooking chart
Air Fryer Cheat Sheets

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 277kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 76mg | Potassium: 853mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 276IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 2mg

More Seafood

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    Air Fryer Salmon Bites
  • a cooked salmon fillet in a dish
    Air Fryer Frozen Salmon
  • penne pasta with alfredo sauce and salmon
    Salmon Alfredo with Penne Pasta
  • top view of two dishes of salmon alfredo
    Creamy Salmon Alfredo Pasta

Comments

    5 from 26 votes (14 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Julian says

    March 05, 2025 at 1:34 pm

    5 stars
    This air fryer salmon was tasty and very easy to make.

    Reply
  2. felicity says

    February 19, 2025 at 8:26 pm

    5 stars
    Easy and yum!

    Reply
  3. Dave says

    January 23, 2025 at 6:54 am

    5 stars
    Fantastic idea!

    Reply
  4. Sandy says

    March 17, 2023 at 4:25 am

    5 stars
    Had no idea it would be this simple to make salmon in my air fryer! incredible!

    Reply
  5. Latisha says

    March 12, 2023 at 10:04 am

    5 stars
    Must-make salmon in the air fryer!

    Reply
  6. Jessie says

    March 09, 2023 at 6:50 am

    5 stars
    Huge hit tonight!

    Reply
  7. Chasen says

    March 06, 2023 at 9:04 am

    5 stars
    obsessed with this quick salmon recipe.

    Reply
  8. Morgan says

    March 06, 2023 at 7:20 am

    5 stars
    Hands down the easiest way to cook salmon. Air fryer for the win!

    Reply
  9. Raquel says

    February 24, 2023 at 1:16 pm

    5 stars
    OMG SO GOOD

    Reply
  10. Bonny says

    February 23, 2023 at 7:25 pm

    5 stars
    I needed a recipe to break in my new air fryer and this was AMAZING

    Reply
  11. Shelli says

    February 02, 2023 at 2:09 am

    5 stars
    so much flavor, i’m impressed

    Reply
  12. Carolyn says

    January 27, 2023 at 11:16 pm

    5 stars
    Quickest, easiest salmon from the air fryer. amazing.

    Reply

Hi! I'm Laura.
Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, mom of three, and the woman behind the world’s best pancakes—here to help you ditch the mealtime drama with recipes your family will actually eat.

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