My Favorite Air Fryer Salmon Bites Recipe
Ever since making my favorite honey garlic salmon bites, I knew I wanted to make a similar recipe in the air fryer salmon, like this salmon arugula salad. Cutting them into bite-sized pieces gives you extra surface area for extra crispy texture (but still tender on the inside).
The best part? Air fryer salmon bites cook in 10 minutes at 400°F. A quick weeknight dinner win when you serve them with coconut rice and air fryer asparagus!
One Reader, Logan, said:
“Made this last night for dinner on a bed of rice with broccoli and avocado and we had no leftovers! Even my 1 year old gobbled it up!” ★★★★★
Need more air fryer recipes? Try bang bang salmon, air fryer orange chicken, or air fryer breaded shrimp next.
Tips Before You Start
Check temp, not time: Salmon is done at 135°F. Remove at 130°F for carryover cooking.
Ask the fish counter to remove the skin: It only takes a few minutes to do it yourself, but your fish monger will do it for you!
Preheat the air fryer: This is similar to preheating the oven and helps cook the salmon quickly and evenly.
One single layer: Cook the salmon bites in a single layer in the air fryer basket, to ensure even cooking. Avoid overcrowding the basket for extra crispy salmon.
From frozen: Air fry frozen salmon cubes at 400°F for 12–14 minutes, flipping halfway.
Love air frying? Try these air fryer bacon-wrapped chicken breasts with air fryer smashed potatoes next!
Key Ingredients
- Salmon: fresh or frozen (and thawed), cut into 1-inch cubes. Skin removed!
- Garlic + paprika + onion powder: the flavor base.
- Hot honey: adds sweet heat (we love Mike’s Hot Honey), but regular honey works.
- Soy sauce or coconut aminos: for umami and depth.
- Apple cider vinegar: brightens up the glaze.
- Optional toppings:green onions, sesame seeds, or avocado for serving.
How to Remove Skin from Salmon
Typically I recommend leaving the salmon skin on, like in this blackened salmon, because it prevents overcooking and gets nice and crispy. But for this recipe, removing the skin makes it much easier to cut the salmon into cubes.
How to do it: Lay the salmon flat on a cutting board and run a knife back and forth between the skin and flesh (parallel to the cutting board)
How to Make Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Cut and marinate the salmon: Pat dry with paper towels. Remove skin (if needed), then cut into 1-inch cubes. Add salmon bites to a bowl and toss with olive oil, garlic, paprika, onion powder, and salt.
- Air fry salmon bites: Spray the air fryer basket and arrange the salmon bites in an even layer. Air fry at 400°F for 6-8 minutes, shaking halfway through, until it reaches 135°F.
- Make the glaze: While they’re cooking, quickly mix together coconut aminos, hot honey, and apple cider vinegar in a small mixing bowl. Toss the cooked salmon bites in the glaze and serve hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cooking time for salmon in an air fryer can vary depending on the thickness of the fillet, however, it generally takes 6-8 minutes for salmon bites. A 3/4-inch salmon filet will take 8-10 minutes and a 1-inch salmon filet will take about 10-12 minutes to cook. It’s always important to check the internal temperature of the fish with a meat thermometer to cook it perfectly because the size of the salmon and the type of air fryer can vary.
Air fryer salmon at a higher temperature, 400-425°F. This high temperature helps to create a crispy crust on the outside of the fish while cooking it through on the inside.
I recommend cooking salmon with the skin-side down because the skin will help to protect the flesh of the fish while it cooks, gets the skin extra crispy, and keeps the fish moist.
Can I Make Salmon Bites in the Oven?
You can easily make this recipe in the oven if you don’t have an air fryer. The process is similar, but the cooking time and temperature vary slightly.
Follow the same instructions to cut and season the salmon.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the seasoned salmon bites it and bake at 425°F for 8-10 minutes, or until it reaches 145°F (or just lower to allow for carryover cooking)
What to Serve with Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Salad: A simple green salad, like our brussels sprout salad, grilled peach salad.
- Vegetables: Roasted or sautéed vegetables like roasted mini peppers or air fryer zucchini chips. We also love to throw stir-fry vegetables in the air fryer for 15 ish minutes.
- Potatoes: try air fryer baked potatoes or crispy roasted pesto potatoes.
- Rice: Simple coconut rice is a rich and savory side to go with veggies.
- Dip: You can also serve the salmon bites with a dip! Take the sauce ingredients and add a little mayo to give it a thicker consistency.
Storage and Reheating
- To store: Place the cooked and cooled salmon bites in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To reheat: preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the salmon bites in the air fryer basket and reheat for about 5 minutes or until heated through.
If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a star rating ★ below. You can also tag me on Instagram so I can see it!
Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Save this Recipe!
Ingredients
- 1 lb salmon
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon EACH: garlic powder and onion powder
- 3 Tablespoons hot honey divided
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce or coconut aminos divided
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- Toppings: green onions, sesame seeds, avocado
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer at 400°F for 5 minutes.
- Pat the salmon dry with paper towels and remove the skin from the salmon. Lay the salmon down on the cutting board and slide your knife back and forth between the skin and the flesh to remove the skin. Cut the salmon into 1-inch cubes.1 lb salmon
- Add the salmon chunks to a medium bowl and drizzle with olive oil then sprinkle them with the garlic, paprika, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder and toss to coat until each salmon bite is covered in seasoning.2 tablespoon olive oil, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon EACH: garlic powder and onion powder
- Mix the coconut aminos (or soy sauce) and hot honey in a small bowl and pour half of it over the salmon bites and toss again. Add the vinegar to the remaining sauce and set aside to top the salmon when it's done.3 Tablespoons hot honey, 2 Tablespoons soy sauce or coconut aminos, 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray then transfer the seasoned salmon bites to the basket in an even layer. Air fryer at 400°F for 6-8 minutes, shaking halfway through, or until the internal temperature reaches 135°F. I like to stop cooking my salmon when it reaches 130°F to allow for 5 degrees of carryover cooking.
- Drizzle the sauce over the salmon bites and sprinkle with green onions. You could also add a little mayo to the sauce and use it as a dipping sauce.
Notes
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This is my new favorite way of making salmon. If I feel lazy I just cut into the salmon and get the sauce in there but don’t cut into pieces since it’s easier to cut up once it’s cooked. If you’re thinking about it, make it, it’s great.
Thank you Veronica!
We loved this!! It made even our subpar salmon (we weren’t able to get the best quality of salmon) taste delicious! Will absolutely save this recipe. Thanks!
Thanks Amy!
Made this last night for dinner for a bed of rice with broccoli and avocado and we had no leftovers! Even my 1 year old gobbled it up!
Love that, Logan! Thanks!
We’ve been making this for family when they come over for dinner and everyone is obsessed with it! So simple and SO yummy!
Thanks, Morgan!! Loved seeing the picture your sister sent me:)
So delicious and easy! Will make again.
Step 4 says to add the liquids, then in step 6 it says to mix them together. I’m confused … what amounts do we drizzle over the top if the measurements are for post-cooking glaze. This looks delicious and I want to try it, but I’m not making sense matching the ingredients to the instructions. Also, it says “divided” but nowhere in the recipe does it say how much to use in any step, so that leaves much open to interpretation. Clarification would be greatly appreciated as I am making hot honey just for this recipe. Thank you!
Hey David! Thanks for the comment, that was a little confusing. I reworded the instructions to make it more clear. Thanks!
My husband and I both loved this. I will be making this again and again. Thanks for the great recipe!
Delicious! I made this tonight and there were no leftovers! My boys (8 and 5) both loved it! It does have a little heat to it, but we like a little spice. I followed the recipe and used soy sauce. I left the skin on some pieces as I had trouble removing it from the salmon, but it didn’t seem to make a difference. I made jasmine rice and baked some broccoli, roughly diced red peppers and onions, and sliced carrots as a basic “stir fry” on the side. I’m adding this recipe to our monthly meal plan!
Love this Lauren! All of those veggies are making me drool. So glad you liked the heat and your boys liked it too.