Air fryer salmon bites are easy to make and so delicious. This recipe for salmon bites in the air fryer is for people who what to eat more salmon but don’t love the taste. It’s so good, this is sure to become your new favorite way to make salmon. Even better, air fried salmon bites are ready in about 10 minutes and are great for a quick lunch or dinner.
If you love quick and easy air fryer recipes, you should try these air fryer chicken bites or air fryer frozen shrimp.
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Why you will love this recipe
- The salmon comes out perfectly every time – unlike other salmon recipe, cooking salmon bites in the air fryer makes the most delicious, perfectly cooked salmon every time.
- Quick and easy – ready in just 10 minutes, making salmon bites in the air fryer is such a simple way to add protein to any meal. Just cut the salmon into cubes, add spices and cook in the air fryer. So easy!
- Customizable – use the air fried salmon bites in salads, grain bowls, in pitas, wraps and more. You can also change up the flavor based on what you plan on serving along side the salmon.
- Healthy way to add protein to any meal – these air fryer salmon nuggets are a great way to add protein to any meal. This recipe is gluten free, dairy free, Whole30, paleo, low carb and keto friendly.
Ingredients
- Skinless salmon – buy salmon without the skin or remove the skin before cutting the salmon into cubes. This recipe works well with any cut of salmon since you cut the salmon up into bite size pieces before cooking.
- Olive oil – olive oil is used to coat the salmon and helps the spices stick to the fish while it’s cooking. You can also use avocado oil, melted coconut oil or melted ghee or butter.
- Spices: smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, oregano, crushed red pepper flakes – this combination of spices is so versatile and makes the salmon go well with just about anything. Smoked paprika gives it a slightly smoky flavor. Garlic powder adds flavor and umami to the dish. Salt helps to elevate all the flavors. Oregano deepens the flavor the crushed red pepper flakes add some heat. You can omit the red pepper flakes if you don’t like spicy food.
How to make air fryer salmon bites
Start by cutting the salmon into 1-2 inch cubes. Try to cut all the salmon cubes the same size.
Add the salmon to a bowl and add the olive oil and spices. Stir well.
Add the salmon to the air fryer basket (I like to add a silicone liner or parchment paper) and make sure it’s all in one layer in the air fryer basket.
Cook at 400F for 6 minutes. No need to shake the basket or flip the salmon.
Top tips
- For this recipe, it’s best to use skinless salmon. If you love having skin on your salmon be sure that the skin side is up when cooking in the air fryer so that the skin gets a chance to get crispy and doesn’t stick to the air fryer basket when done cooking.
- This method is espeically great if you notice that your salmon varies in thickness. This way all the salmon cooks at the same time no matter how thick or thin it is.
- Cut the salmon into similar sized pieces with sharp kitchen shears or a sharp knife and a plastic cutting board.
- I like to put down the silicone liner for the air fryer when making salmon as I find that it helps ensure the salmon doesn’t stick. If you don’t have a silicone liner, you can put down parchment paper that you cut to the size of your air fryer basket. Be sure to cut a few small holes in the paper to allow air flow. I have also made this without the liner, and it works well, but a few pieces of the salmon did stick a little.
- Use silicone tipped tongs or a silicone spatula to avoid scratching the coating on your air fryer basket when removing the salmon bites from the air fryer.
- To double the recipe, cook the salmon in 2 batches. This helps ensure that the air fryer basket isn’t overcrowded so the salmon cooks quickly and evenly. The second batch may be done in 5 minutes since the air fryer will be preheated.
Other flavors
You can change up the flavor of these air fryer salmon nuggets based on what you are serving along side of them.
- Herbs de Provence or Italian seasoning – omit the paprika and crushed red pepper flakes. Add about 1 tablespoon of herbs de provence or italian seasoning to the garlic powder, oregano and salt.
- Cajun – add about ½ tablespoon of your favorite cajun seasoning along with the other spices in the recipe.
- Ranch – omit the paprika, oregano and crushed red pepper flakes. Add ½ tablespoon dried chives, 1 teaspoon dried parsley and ½ teaspoon dried dill to the garlic powder and salt.
- Taco – add about ½ tablespoon of your favorite taco seasoning to the recipe along with the other spices.
- Smoky – add ½ teaspoon cumin to increase the smokiness of the recipe.
- Squeeze of lemon or lime – add a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime at the end to brighten the flavors, regardless of the spices used.
Ways to serve air fried salmon bites
- In wraps or pitas
- On salads
- In tacos
- On top of grain bowls, buddha bowls or nourish bowls
- As the main protein in pretty much any meal
- Over rice, quinoa, mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower with broccoli, peas, carrots, or asparagus and a fun sauce like spicy sriracha mayo or cilantro lime sauce
- In burrito bowls with black beans, yellow rice and Mexican veggies
Common questions
Can you make salmon bites without an air fryer?
Yes! You can make these salmon bites in the oven under the broiler if you don’ have an air fryer.
Coat the salmon in oil and spices and place on a baking sheet that can withstand the boiler (or you can use a large skillet or cast iron skillet.
Add the salmon to the pan and cook under the broiler for 4 minutes. Take out of the oven, flip the salmon bites and cook again under the boiler for about 3 minutes.
Do you have to preheat the air fryer?
This recipe is written using a Ninja air fryer, and I did not preheat the air fryer before cooking the salmon.
If you are using a larger air fryer that indicates that preheating is necessary, you may want to start checking on the salmon bites around the 5 minute mark.
Can you air fryer canned salmon?
If you only have canned salmon, I recommend making my canned salmon bites and cooking them in the air fryer.
How to remove the skin from salmon
Typically I buy skinless salmon when I know I will be making a recipe like this. However if you only have salmon with the skin on, you can remove yourself.
Place the salmon flesh side down on a cutting board. Start in a corner and try to pinch the skin to get a knife under it. Once you start, use small strokes with the knife as you pull back on the skin slowly removing it from the salmon. You may want to hold onto the skin with a paper towel in your hands to help keep it tight (as it can be a little slippery).
Storing leftovers
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in the air fryer at 375 for 3-4 minutes or serve cold or at room temperature.
- Freezer: Although you can freeze cooked salmon, I think this recipe is best if you enjoy it fresh. If you choose to freeze, store in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge and reheat in the air fryer.
Substitutions
- Salmon – you could also try this recipe with trout.
- Olive oil – use avocado oil, melted coconut oil, melted ghee or butter in place of the olive oil.
- Spices – omit any of the spices you don’t have on hand (except for salt) or use any of the other spice blends listed above to change the flavor.
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Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Air Fryer Salmon Bites are a quick, tasty and healthy lunch or dinner option that can be served over salad, wraps, in burrito bowls, grain bowls or with rice or quinoa. They only take 6 minutes to make in the air fryer and are whole30, gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb and paleo-friendly.
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Servings: 2
Ingredients
- 1 pound salmon
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Cut the salmon into 1-2 inch cubes. You can use sharp kitchen shears or a knife and cutting board.
- Add the salmon cubes into a bowl. Add the oil and spices to the salmon then stir well.
- Transfer the salmon cubes to the air fryer. I like to put down a silicone liner or parchment paper liner into basket first. Be sure that the salmon is in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Cook at 400F for 6 minutes.
Equipment
Notes
Top tips
- For this recipe, it’s best to use skinless salmon. If you love having skin on your salmon be sure that the skin side is up when cooking in the air fryer so that the skin gets a chance to get crispy and doesn’t stick to the air fryer basket when done cooking.
- Cut the salmon into similar sized pieces with sharp kitchen shears or a sharp knife and a plastic cutting board.
- I like to put down the silicone liner for the air fryer when making salmon as I find that it helps ensure the salmon doesn’t stick. If you don’t have a silicone liner, you can put down parchment paper that you cut to the size of your air fryer basket. Be sure to cut a few small holes in the paper to allow air flow. I have also made this without the liner, and it works well, but a few pieces of the salmon did stick a little.
- Use silicone tipped tongs or a silicone spatula to avoid scratching the coating on your air fryer basket when removing the salmon bites from the air fryer.
- To double the recipe, cook the salmon in 2 batches. This helps ensure that the air fryer basket isn’t overcrowded so the salmon cooks quickly and evenly. The second batch may be done in 5 minutes since the air fryer will be preheated.
- Herbs de Provence or Italian seasoning – omit the paprika and crushed red pepper flakes. Add about 1 tablespoon of herbs de provence or italian seasoning to the garlic powder, oregano and salt.
- Cajun – add about ½ tablespoon of your favorite cajun seasoning along with the other spices in the recipe.
- Ranch – omit the paprika, oregano and crushed red pepper flakes. Add ½ tablespoon dried chives, 1 teaspoon dried parsley and ½ teaspoon dried dill to the garlic powder and salt.
- Taco – add about ½ tablespoon of your favorite taco seasoning to the recipe along with the other spices.
- Smoky – add ½ teaspoon cumin to increase the smokiness of the recipe.
- Squeeze of lemon or lime – add a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime at the end to brighten the flavors, regardless of the spices used.
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in the air fryer at 375 for 3-4 minutes or serve cold or at room temperature.
- Freezer: Although you can freeze cooked salmon, I think this recipe is best if you enjoy it fresh. If you choose to freeze, store in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge and reheat in the air fryer.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Amount per Serving
Calories
391
Fat
22
g
Carbohydrates
1
g
Fiber
1
g
Sugar
0.1
g
Protein
45
g
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database.
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