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Get It Now- Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Make Salmon Bites In The Air Fryer
- How Long To Cook Salmon Bites In The Air Fryer?
- Tips For The Best Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Flavor Variations
- Storage Instructions
- What To Serve With Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- More Of My Favorite Salmon Recipes
- My Favorite Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Salmon Bites Recipe card
- Recipe Reviews
Whether I’m rushed for dinner on a weeknight or want something easy to impress guests, my go-to choice is always something from my collection of air fryer recipes. And these air fryer salmon bites? They might be my fastest and tastiest creation yet. Not only are they quick and simple to make, but the sweet flavors and moist, flaky texture taste even better than regular air fryer salmon fillets.
These are a fun way to start a party, but I also make these salmon bites in the air fryer when I’m simply too busy for a lengthy dinner — which is often. Every bite is pure bliss, and you’d never guess they took just 10 minutes!
Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Moist and flaky inside with crispy edges
- Sweet and savory honey garlic flavors
- Simple ingredients
- Easy – just dice, marinate, and air fry!
- On the table in only 10 minutes
- Less mess than the stovetop and faster than the oven
- Great as a healthy appetizer or even dinner
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for air fried salmon bites, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Salmon – This recipe for air fryer salmon bites works with all kinds of salmon — king salmon, pink salmon, Atlantic salmon, sockeye salmon… you name it. It doesn’t matter if you get individual salmon fillets or one large piece (like I did), since we’ll be dicing it either way.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
- Honey – I prefer natural sugar-free honey, but regular honey works just as well. (I’ve tried both!)
- Coconut Aminos – This is my favorite soy sauce substitute for a combination of sweet and umami flavors. You can easily substitute low-sodium soy sauce or tamari if you like.
- Olive Oil – Avocado oil also works fine.
- Spices – A blend of smoked paprika, garlic powder, and warm ground ginger. Feel free to customize the spices to your liking.
How To Make Salmon Bites In The Air Fryer
This section shows how to make this air fryer salmon bites recipe, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Dice the salmon. Cut into strips, then slice in the opposite direction to make uniform 1-inch cubes.
- Make the marinade. In a large bowl, whisk together the honey, coconut aminos, olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, ground ginger, salt, and pepper.
- Marinate the fish. Add the salmon cubes to the bowl and mix well to coat. Marinate for up to an hour.
- Air fry. After preheating, place the seasoned salmon bites in the air fryer basket in a single layer, with some spaces between most of them. Cook until cooked through (see tips below).
How Long To Cook Salmon Bites In The Air Fryer?
Air fry salmon bites for 5-7 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 135-140 degrees F for moist, flaky salmon or 145 degrees F for more firm salmon.
Tips For The Best Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Don’t crowd the basket. Otherwise, the pieces won’t cook evenly. Work in batches if they don’t all fit into the air fryer basket.
- No need to flip. Air fryer salmon bites are pretty fragile and can fall apart when you try to flip them. It’s better to just leave them alone and avoid flipping, so this is where it’s important to have spaces between them to allow for air circulation (see tip above).
- Avoid overcooking. For a perfectly flaky, moist inside and crispy outside, aim for an internal temperature of 135-140 degrees F. The temp will rise a little more from residual heat after you remove them from the basket.
Flavor Variations
The honey garlic flavors in these little air fryer salmon nuggets are my absolute fave, but you can easily switch up the flavor with different marinade options. Here are some ideas:
- Lemon Garlic Butter – Season with olive oil, lemon juice (you can also add zest), paprika, salt, and pepper. Air fry, then toss in melted compound butter. Simply irresistible!
- Teriyaki – Use 1/4 cup of your favorite teriyaki sauce to marinate the salmon bites.
- Maple – Just use my homemade salmon marinade!
- Blackened – Like a faster version of blackened salmon! Omit the spices, honey, and coconut aminos. Instead, combine 2 tablespoons of blackened seasoning with olive oil to coat the salmon bites with a bold smoky flavor.
- Cajun – Give your air fryer salmon bites a Southern kick by tossing them in a mix of 2 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning and olive oil.
- Jerk – For a Caribbean flair (similar to jerk salmon), marinate with 2 tablespoons of jerk seasoning blended with olive oil.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Stack leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Meal prep: You can cut the salmon and make the marinade ahead of time. Store separately in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. I don’t recommend marinating for an extended period of time, as the salmon will turn mushy.
- Reheat: The best way is to reheat salmon bites in the air fryer at 300 degrees F (or the lowest temperature that your air fryer allows) for about 2 minutes. Since they are already crispy and golden, higher temperatures tend to burn the outside. Watch carefully to avoid drying out.
- Freeze: Place air fryer salmon bites in a freezer bag and store in the freezer for 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
What To Serve With Air Fryer Salmon Bites
These salmon bites work both as an appetizer and a light main dish if you pair them with the right sides. Here are a few ideas for serving them:
- Veggies – Keep it simple with roasted vegetables, like broccoli or asparagus. You can also make your entire meal in the same appliance — try air fryer cauliflower or air fryer zucchini.
- Salad – Serve the salmon bites over a leafy kale salad, sweet mandarin orange salad, or filling sweet potato salad for a complete meal.
- Rice – For a satisfying meal, serve with a side of fluffy white rice or cauliflower rice. My personal fave way to use air fryer salmon bites is in a salmon bowl!
- Surf & Tuf – Sometimes when I want a mini surf & turf appetizer or meal, I like to pair these salmon bites with sirloin steak tips.
- Dipping Sauces – Honestly, the honey marinade is so flavorful that you don’t need a sauce! But if you make one of the variations above, a sauce might be a nice addition. Try a drizzle of spicy mayo or dunk in garlic aioli.
More Of My Favorite Salmon Recipes
My Favorite Air Fryer
This air fryer hasn’t failed me yet! The basket is nice and roomy, and the non-stick surface has lasted well for years. Highly recommend it!
Air Fryer Salmon Bites
The best air fryer salmon bites — moist and flaky inside, crispy outside, and irresistible honey garlic flavor! Make them in just 10 minutes.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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In a large bowl, whisk together the honey, coconut aminos, olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, ground ginger (if using), salt, and pepper.
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Add the salmon pieces to the bowl and mix well to coat. Marinate for 5-10 minutes, or up to 1 hour if you have time. When time is up, turn the salmon pieces in the marinade again to coat well.
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Meanwhile, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C).
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Place the salmon bites in the air fryer basket in a single layer, with some spaces between most of them. (Do not crowd the basket. If they don’t all fit, cook in batches.) Air fry for 5-7 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 135-140 degrees F (57-.60 degrees C)
Did You Like It?
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 8 salmon bites
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂
20 Comments
Darlene
0This is an awesome recipe!! I like to take the leftover marinade or make a little extra and mix in with rice and veggies. One of my favorite recipes!!
Deanna
0I made this but used a farm raised salmon the marinade was tasty but unfortunately the salmon had a gamy taste. Definitely want to try it with a wild caught salmon. Wonder how it would taste on chicken? Loved how quick it was to cook.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Deanna, I have never tried it but I think this marinade would also work for chicken.
Aubrey Smith
0Super easy and delicious! My husband really enjoyed this different way to prep salmon! I wanted to pre-prep so I marinated in morning for hour, then drained extra marinade, but kept salmon in fridge. This probably made for stronger taste, but we both really liked it! I did not use quite as much sweetener.
Lee
0First time making salmon bites. They were at hit! Didn’t have honey, used monk fruit sweetener instead. Youngest to the oldest enjoyed this recipe!
Jennifer Burris
0We tried this recipe last night. The salmon bites came out perfectly cooked, but we found them to be too sweet for our taste. I would definitely try it again using one of the variations for marinade/seasoning though!
Jayne Howe
0Recipe looks interesting. Do you skin the salmon or cut through the skin! I am not a fan of the salmon skin.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Jayne, I remove the skin of the salmon.
Steph
0This looks amazing. Could you give a baking time and temp for the good old oven?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Steph, I don’t have that information, it would take much longer in the oven.
Margaret
0This is probably a stupid question, but I have never cooked salmon except over charcoal. Where I get my salmon, it has skin still on. Is there a way to easily remove the skin so I can make this recipe? I tried to remove it with a knife before dicing the fish and it was a butchered mess. Thank you !
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Margaret, If you want you can leave the skin or if you want to remove it you will need a very sharp knife to remove the skin.
Sal
0This was my first attempt at making salmon in the air fryer and, holy cow, I’m never going back! The fish was perfectly cooked with an amazing texture and we all loved the seasoning. Thanks for such a great recipe!
Melissa
0I had never thought to do salmon in the instant pot! What a fantastic idea!
Kristyn
0Yes, please!! These are incredible!! Salmon is my favorite! These will be a hit at any gathering! So much flavor in every bite!
Milan
0First time trying salmon in the air fryer, and I’m honestly amazed! The bites were moist and crispy, and the honey garlic glaze is so delish. But the real deal breaker for me is the quick cook time!
Trina
0I made this for lunch and it was delicious. Love the addition of honey giving it a sweet taste with every bite. Even my two year old loves it plus this was really easy to make.
Lianne
0I love salmon for dinner and sometimes I find no time to make it due to being tired from work, so glad I have discovered this – yummy dinner in just few minutes!
Tina
0I love the flavor the smoked paprika added! These bites were so easy and I’ll definitely be making them again. Even my son loved them!
Jane
0Just got myself a new air fryer and without a second thought tried this recipe for dinner. Just can’t get over with the flavors! Aside from the fact that it’s so easy to cook, it’s absolutely delicious. I’m still new to cooking, and this recipe is now at the top of my favorites list.