Frozen Salmon In The Air Fryer

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My 10-minute air fryer salmon recipe is probably my favorite way to cook this fish, but one night, I realized my fillets were frozen. We’ve all been there, right? Turns out, cooking frozen salmon in the air fryer works great, with a little trick I’ve learned. It’s the same method I use for air fryer frozen chicken wings: Start out low, then season and crank up the heat. My air fryer frozen salmon cooked up golden and flaky, cutting out the usual thaw time. So if you’re in a rush for dinner tonight, give my method a shot. Easy fix!

Why You’ll Love My Air Fryer Frozen Salmon

• Simple, savory flavor – A simple mix of olive oil, lemon, and spices lets the natural flavor of the salmon shine. If you’re already in a rush to get dinner going, you don’t need much else!
• Moist, flaky inside – The air fryer gives the salmon a golden crust while keeping the inside moist and tender. I’d never do this with skillet salmon or oven salmon, but you can cook frozen salmon in the air fryer without drying it out!
• No need to thaw – You’ll love how my recipe turns frozen salmon into the perfect dinner in less than 15 minutes. It’s a lifesaver when you forgot to plan ahead.
• Fuss-free, healthy dinner – This simple salmon is a naturally gluten-free, healthy recipe, without any complicated ingredients. Plus, it’s packed with omega-3 and protein that my family loves — so I can skip the dinnertime battles.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my air fryer frozen salmon recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.

• Frozen Salmon Fillets – You can use already frozen fillets from the store, or ones you froze yourself from another day. Just make sure they are similar in size, so they cook at the same rate. I find that narrow (approximately 5-6-ounce) fillets cook more evenly — and more quickly — than large pieces. My recipe here is designed to cook air fryer salmon from frozen, so if you have fresh salmon (already thawed), make my regular air fryer salmon instead.
• Olive Oil – This is my go-to for flavor and makes the fish crispy on the outside. Avocado oil works well, too.
• Lemon Juice – I just grabbed some bottled lemon juice because let’s be real, I hadn’t prepped at all. But fresh lemon juice would definitely be a game changer next time!
• Fresh Parsley – It’s totally optional, but tossing a tablespoon in there really brightens things up. If you’re out, you can substitute fresh dill, or a teaspoon of dried herbs also works.
• Spices – I stuck with the basics: garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. But if you’re in the mood for a kick, switch it up with my lemon pepper seasoning, or spicier Cajun or jerk seasoning. I go for these when it’s just us adults—my kids aren’t quite ready for the heat! If you lean towards sweet flavors, you’ve got to try my maple salmon marinade. It leaves a savory, sticky glaze on the salmon that’s just perfect out of the air fryer.

How To Cook Frozen Salmon In The Air Fryer

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.

1. Air fry at medium heat. Preheat your air fryer. Then, arrange the frozen salmon fillets in the basket in a single layer. Air fry until thawed (see time and temperature on the recipe card below).
2. Make the seasoning mixture. While you have the frozen salmon in the air fryer, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, parsley (if using), and garlic powder in a small bowl.
3. Season the salmon. When the air fryer dings, pull out the basket and give your salmon a good brush with the olive oil mixture on both sides. Then, sprinkle the fillets with salt and pepper. It might look half done on the outside at this point, but the inside will still be raw and it won’t have that golden crust yet.

4. Crank up the heat. Increase the air fryer temperature, and air fry again, until the salmon reaches your desired doneness and forms a golden crust on the outside. (See my tips below!)

My Recipe Tips

• Give the salmon space in the basket. If they fillets are stuck together when frozen, check after a couple of minutes and spread them out as soon as you can.
• If your salmon comes with skin, start with it skin side down. Then, flip it skin side up just before you hit that final cooking phase. This little flip helps get the skin extra crispy!
• Check the internal temperature for best results. My frozen salmon in the air fryer typically takes about 5 minutes in the first step and an 8-minute cooking time in the final step, but it can vary, so I always check with my meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the fillet. I aim for 130-135 degrees F for that perfect, buttery flaky texture. If you prefer a different doneness, aim for 125 degrees F for medium rare, 130 degrees F for medium, 135 degrees F for medium well, or 140 degrees F for well done.
• No thermometer? Use a fork instead. This method is less foolproof, but you can check that your fish flakes easily with a fork instead. Make sure it doesn’t turn almost white—that’s overdone.

Storage Instructions

• Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I usually repurpose them for a whole new dish (see ideas below).
• Reheat: You might guess that the air fryer is my top choice for reheating salmon. Just dial down the temperature a bit from the initial cooking—too high and it’ll brown too much. A quick 2 minutes at 350 degrees F should do the trick. While the microwave can work in a rush, it tends to dry out the fish, so I’d stick with the air fryer if you can.
• Freeze: You can freeze cooked salmon wrapped in aluminum foil or in a freezer bag for up to 3 months (double wrapping works best). But like most fish recipes, this one tastes better fresh.

Leftover Ideas:

I often use my leftover salmon to whip up a salmon bowl or a creamy salmon salad, because I can throw in any leftover veggies I have with those. It’s also delicious swapped out for chicken in my Cobb salad, stirred into some fried rice, or mixed into pasta or zoodles smothered in Alfredo sauce.

Serving Suggestions

Air fryer frozen salmon is for those nights when you didn’t have time to plan! So, I recommend sides that are just as easy:

• Asparagus – This vegetable cooks the fastest, so it’s my go-to with salmon. You can make roasted asparagus or sauteed asparagus while you have your frozen salmon in the air fryer, or whip up air fryer asparagus in just a few minutes right after.
• Other Veggies – My other favorites are brussels sprouts (but they must be charred and crispy!), zucchini (in a gazillion different ways including zoodles), and eggplant (with plenty of olive oil). Sauteed broccoli also makes a quick side option.
• Salad – We always had fresh leafless salads growing up, like tomato cucumber salad or radish salad, but my daughter really loves kale salad with maple dressing. You can’t go wrong with just about any of my other healthy salad recipes!
• Starches – I’m more of a mashed cauliflower or cauliflower rice kind of girl, but if you need something more filling, a simple side of air fryer potatoes or regular rice will do the trick.

More Quick Air Fryer Recipes

I don’t know what I ever did without my air fryer! If you liked this quick and easy air fryer frozen salmon, try some of my other mains in your air fryer next:

Shrimp In The Air Fryer

Air Fryer Sirloin Steak

Cod In The Air Fryer

Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs

My Tools For This Recipe

• Air Fryer – Can’t make air fried frozen salmon without one! I’ve tried a few, and my current one is by far the best. The basket size is large, while the whole thing doesn’t feel too big.
• Instant Read Thermometer – This little gadget gives me an accurate temp in just seconds, so I always know exactly when my salmon is perfectly cooked.

Recipe Card

5 from 6 votes

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Frozen Salmon In The Air Fryer

Cook frozen salmon in the air fryer in less than 15 minutes, using simple ingredients like olive oil, lemon juice, and spices. Flaky & easy!

Cook: 13 minutes

Total: 13 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from Wholesome Yum

Servings: 4 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 4 6-oz Frozen salmon fillets ▢
• 3 tbsp Olive oil ▢
• 1 tbsp Lemon juice ▢
• 1 tbsp Fresh parsley (optional; chopped) ▢
• 1 tsp Garlic powder ▢
• 1 tsp Sea salt ▢
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C).

2. Arrange the frozen salmon fillets in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry for 5 minutes, until warm but not cooked through.

3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, parsley (if using), and garlic powder.

4. When the air fryer beeps, remove the basket and brush the fish on both sides with the olive oil mixture. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.

5. Increase the temperature to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C). Return the basket to the air fryer and air fry for 6-10 minutes, until the salmon internal temperature reaches your desired doneness: 125 degrees F (52 degrees C) for medium rare, 130 degrees F (54 degrees C) for medium, 135 degrees F (57 degrees C) for medium well, or 140 degrees F (60 degrees C) for well done. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can test if the fish flakes easily with a fork.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

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Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 salmon fillet

Nutrition info does not include optional fresh parsley.

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Air Fryer Bundle!

Nutrition Facts

Amounts per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 334

Fat 20.9g

Protein 33.9g

Total Carbs 0.9g

Net Carbs 0.8g

Fiber 0.1g

Sugar 0.2g

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.

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