Air Fryer Salmon Bites

by Kayla Berman on October 5, 2023 0 comments

If you’ve been on the hunt for a quick and easy way to add protein to your meals, you’re going to love this easy Air Fryer Salmon Bites recipe! Made with fewer than 10 ingredients in just 15 minutes start-to-finish, this simple recipe for crispy salmon bites is the versatile, customizable weeknight wonder you need in your arsenal.

If you need an air fryer dessert to follow up your salmon dinner, you have to try my Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls.

Why You’ll Love This Crispy Salmon Bites Recipe

If golden-brown, tender, flaky salmon nuggets sound appealing to you, you have to try this super simple method. Aside from yielding delicious bites of seafood goodness, this crispy air fryer salmon recipe is also:

Quick & Easy Weeknight Dinner – All you need is 10 minutes of active prep and a speedy 5 minute spin in the air fryer to get these air fryer salmon cubes on the table. That means you have a delectable protein-packed add-on for any meal in just 15 minutes!
Perfect for Meal Prep – Feel free to keep the seasoned salmon cubes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. That way, you can quickly toss them in the air fryer whenever you’re hungry.
Made With Only 8 Ingredients – And that’s including salt & pepper! In fact, aside from the salmon, everything you’ll need to make delicious salmon in the air fryer is a pantry staple.
Sweet & Savory – My air fryer brown sugar salmon bites have the perfect balance of flavor, making them an excellent addition to everything from grain bowls and salads to tacos and pastas. They’re also entirely customizable, so you can easily swap in the spices and seasonings your heart desires!

Ingredients & Substitutions

As promised, you only need a handful of ingredients to make this easy salmon bites air fryer recipe. Here’s what to grab:

Salmon – I suggest reaching for salmon fillets rather than salmon steaks, as they’re easier to skin and cut into cubes without getting any bones in the mix. Feel free to use farmed or wild-caught, fresh or defrosted frozen. Pick up skinless salmon fillets to make your life even easier!
Olive Oil – No need to bust out the “good stuff” here; just your normal cooking oil is perfect. You’re also welcome to use a neutral oil like avocado oil instead.
Light Brown Sugar – For a touch of sweetness and gorgeous caramelization. You can also use dark brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup depending on what you have on hand!
Garlic Powder – For sweet allium complexity without any sticky fingers. Feel free to swap in garlic salt if that’s what you have, but use it to replace the added salt, too.
Dried Oregano – You can use either Mediterranean/Greek/Italian oregano or Mexican oregano depending on what flavor profile you’re going for. You can also swap in 3x as much fresh oregano leaves if you prefer!
Chili Powder – This spice blend typically includes multiple varieties of dried, ground chiles as well as spices like cumin. Feel free to use any brand you prefer! You can also always swap in a different single-variety chili powder (e.g. smoked paprika or ground chipotle) if you prefer.
Sea Salt & Black Pepper – For basic seasoning. Be sure to use freshly ground black pepper for the most flavorful results!

Equipment

Sharp Knife & Cutting Board
Measuring Spoons
Large Mixing Bowl
Air Fryer
Air Fryer Basket Liners (optional, for easy cleanup)

How To Make Crispy Air Fryer Salmon Bites

These easy air fryer salmon nuggets come together in just a few minutes. Here’s how:

Step 1: Season. Add the salmon cubes, olive oil, light brown sugar, garlic powder, dried oregano, chili powder, salt, and black pepper to a large mixing bowl. Toss until all the salmon bites are thoroughly and evenly coated.

Step 2: Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F.

Step 3: Cook. Add the seasoned salmon bites to the basket in an even, single layer. Cook the salmon bites for 5-7 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to toss.

Step 4: Serve & Enjoy!

raw salmon bites added to the basket of the air fryer.

cooked salmon bites in the basket of an air fryer.

Optional Variations & Dietary Adaptations

While I believe this is the best air fryer salmon recipe around, there are plenty of ways for you to make it your own. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Different Seasonings – Feel free to adjust the spices you use based on what you have on hand and what your end goal is. For example, you could use taco seasoning, cajun seasoning, or BBQ dry rub seasoning as a 1-bottle solution, or you could use just garlic powder, salt and pepper for a super simple seasoning.
Add a Glaze – Brushing on some BBQ sauce or teriyaki sauce before cooking can help replace the brown sugar and many of the spices. It also makes for an easy way to change the flavor profile of your salmon bites!
Different Fish – Feel free to swap in pollock, arctic char, yellowtail, or any other fish with a similar firm yet flaky consistency to a salmon filet.

Expert Tips

Learning how to air fry salmon bites is pretty simple, but I’ve learned a few things along the journey. Here are my best tricks to ensure your delectable fish nuggets turn out perfectly every time:

Pat the salmon dry with a clean kitchen towel or fresh paper towels before seasoning. Moisture is the enemy of crispness, so if you want golden-brown, crispy edges, this step is super important.
Coat the salmon bites thoroughly with the oil, sugar, and seasonings. This will ensure that every bite is caramelized and seasoned to perfection.
Adjust the seasonings as you like! There’s plenty of room for experimentation here, so have fun with it.
Meal prep for easy weeknight eats. If I know I have a hectic week coming up, I like to prep and season the raw salmon nuggets, then keep them in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Then, whenever I need a quick hit of protein, I just fire up the air fryer and toss them in! Leftovers will also keep for an additional 3-4 days, so you’re able to set yourself up for a full week of success.

Serving Suggestions

Perhaps my favorite thing about this salmon nuggets air fryer recipe is how versatile it is. Not only are these bites perfect for weeknights (they’re so speedy!) as a main dish, but they can also be adapted to whatever else you have on hand. I like to serve them with:

Grain Bowls – Serve them over a bed of steamed rice alongside your choice of veggies – like green beans, broccoli, or raw carrot salad – and a topping of soy sauce. I like to add green onions and sesame seeds too as a garnish! They’re also great with other grains like barley or quinoa.
Salads – Add them to your favorite bowl of green goodness for a quick hit of protein.
Pasta – These little cubes of salmon are perfect for twirling up with your favorite noodle dishes.
Wraps – Whether you opt for a Cali-Mex style burrito or wrap them up with caesar salad in a whole grain tortilla, they’re an easy addition for added protein.
Sauce – One of my favorite ways to serve this quick meal is with a creamy sauce of sort! Perhaps a creamy peanut dipping sauce, firecracker sauce, or spicy mayo. You could also skip the creamy and just go with a simple hot sauce!

You could even pair with my Air Fried Sweet Potato Cubes for a balanced meal made entirely in the trendy appliance.

FAQs

How long should salmon go in the air fryer? How long to air fry salmon bites?

That cooking time will depend on your air fryer and how big the salmon pieces are. I’ve found that in my air fryer, roughly 1-inch salmon chunks cook in just 5-7 minutes.

What should I season my salmon with?

At the very least, add some oil, salt, and pepper. From there, feel free to get creative! I typically make my air-fried salmon bites with a mixture of brown sugar, chili powder, oregano, and garlic powder.

What temperature should I set my air fryer for salmon?

I’ve found that 400F is perfect for getting a nice crispy exterior while keeping a flaky, moist interior.

How to re-air fry salmon to reheat it?

If you’ve already cooked the salmon and are just looking to reheat it before eating, preheat it to 350-360F. Cook the salmon bites for about 4-5 minutes, or until they register an internal temperature of 145F with a meat thermometer.

Related Recipes

More Seafood Recipes

More Easy Dinner Recipes

Connect With Me!

If you make this air fryer salmon recipe or any of my other recipes, I would absolutely love to know! Tag me @wellnessbykay on Instagram so I can see and share your recreations.

Love this recipe? Leave a comment and a rating! I love to see and it helps me continue to develop delicious recipes for this blog.