My classic Air fryer salmon recipe turned into a juicy, tender, and delicious with the yummiest top crust ready in under 10 minutes. This quick and easy recipe can make your dinners uncomplicated.
I love to eat salmon; especially when it is cooked right and the air fryer makes it more crispy, caramelized, and perfect every time. If you like crispy, juicy, tender and flaky salmon then, you should try this recipe because in the air fryer cooking salmon is like a piece of cake! Speaking of cake, it pairs amazingly with air-fried broccoli.
Air fryer salmon is not just a flavorful but a healthy dish. Salmon is full of healthy proteins, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and more. So you can also follow this recipe if you are following a low-carb lifestyle or are a diet-conscious person.
For this recipe, I picked the BBQ cut salmon from Trader Joe’s. BBQ Salmon cut is the whole salmon fillet, pre-cut into three long strips, making it easier to cook. I cooked one piece in the preheated air fryer on the Air fry (air crisp) setting at 400°F, and it only took 6 minutes to juicy, fluffy, and flaky perfection. Note: I used Ninja XL 6-in1.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Salmon recipe
- Salmon Fillets: Two wild-caught boneless salmon fillets. Mine were 1 and ¼ inch thick. I used “BBQ CUT” Trader Joe’s Norwegian fresh Atlantic salmon.
- Salt and Pepper: Use salt and pepper as per your taste. I used ½ teaspoon for both.
- Olive Oil: 2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil. (You can also use another oil as per your choices, such as grape seed oil, sesame oil, or avocado oil)
- Mustard: 2 Tablespoons Whole grain mustard
- Maple syrup: 1 Tablespoon Pure Maple syrup (can substitute for 1 Tablespoon of brown sugar)
- Garlic: two cloves of garlic, minced or finely chopped
- Thyme: ½ tsp
How to cook Salmon in the Air fryer:
Make the Maple Sauce. In a small bowl mix, maple syrup or (Brown sugar), mustard, oil, garlic, and thyme. It will become like a paste-like consistency.
Preheat the air fryer to 425F for 5 minutes. It is an important step. You have to make sure your air fryer is hot and ready for the delicious fish.
Prepare Salmon: Pat dry your salmon fillets with the help of a paper towel. Now apply the Maple Sauce to the fillets.
Now place the sauced salmon in an air fryer basket or tray. Skin side down.
My salmon fillets were 1 and ¼ inches thick, and they only took 6 minutes to cook. If you have large salmon fillets, it can take 8 to 10 minutes depending on the desired tenderness you want.
When the timer goes off, the air fryer beeps. Check the salmon pieces with the help of folk and make sure they are done, to your desired doneness.
Serving
Serve your air-fried salmon with air fryer garlic roasted green beans or asparagus. Divine!
Tips for Successful Air Fryer Salmon recipe
- Fillets should be similar in thickness.
- Your air fryer should be preheated, before putting the fillets into it.
- Check its doneness.
- If you have a smaller size air fryer, then you should not overcrowd your basket. Add fillets in separate batches.
- Do not worry about undercooking the salmon. If your fish is undercooked, you can always send it back to the air fryer for a minute or two.
- Learn by trial and error. Once you achieve the perfect tenderness and doneness of your salmon in the air fryer, you will become a pro. Different Air fryer brands may cook slightly differently. The air fryer that I use for cooking my salmon is Ninja Foodi XL 6-in-1.
The air fryer salmon recipe is easy to cook in less time. If you like to eat healthy food and search for healthy and tasty food. Then try this recipe once, you will be surprised by the taste and texture. Sauce topping inspiration from Delish.
Other Recipes to enjoy:
Air Fryer Salmon with Garlic Maple Dijon topping
Melt in the mouth delish, Garlic Maple Dijon Air fryer salmon comes out perfectly tender and flaky on the inside with an amazing top crust.
Ingredients
- 2 salmon fillets, boneless. Mine were 1 and ¼ inch thick. I used "BBQ CUT" Trader Joe's Norwegian fresh Atlantic salmon.
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper or to taste
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons Whole grain mustard
- 1 Tablespoon Pure Maple syrup (can sub for 1 Tablespoon brown sugar)
- 2 clove garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon thyme
Instructions
- Season salmon all over with salt and pepper.
- In s small bowl, whisk together oil, mustard, maple syrup (or brown sugar), garlic and thyme. It should be a paste-like consistency.
- Spread on top of the salmon fillet.
- Preheat your air fryer to 425F for 5 minutes. This is an important step. You want to make sure your air fryer is hot and ready for the salmon.
- Arrange salmon in air fryer basket or tray. Skin side down
- Set air fryer to 400F/200C and cook for 6-8 minutes, depending on the size of the thickest piece of salmon fillet.
- When the timer goes off, open the basket and check fillets with a fork to make sure they are done to your desired doneness.
- Serve with air fryer roasted broccoli or asparagus. Divine!
Notes
Tips to get success in air fryer salmon recipe
- Fillets should be similar in width.
- Your air fryer should be preheated, before putting the fillets into it.
- Check its doneness.
- If you have a smaller size air fryer, then you should not overcrowd your basket. Add fillets in separate batches.
- Do not worry about undercooking the salmon. If your salmon is undercooked, you can always send it back to the air fryer for a minute or two.
- Learn by trial and error. Once you achieve the perfect tenderness and doneness of your salmon in the air fryer, you will become a pro. Different Air fryer brands may cook slightly differently. The air fryer that I use for cooking my salmon is Ninja Foodi XL 6-in-1.
Beff
One of the best air fryer salmon recipes. perfectly tender and flaky
Cstraz
Hello- is this cooked on air fryer mode or bake mode?
Thank you.
Irina
Air fry mode 400F/200C
Rochelle
Hello, I have this exact same air fryer, the Ninja Foodi XL 6 in 1.
When/if you need to cook the salmon a little longer after checking on it how do you time it since the air fryer goes back into preheat? Do you take the salmon out until the 2nd pre-heat is complete and then put it back in for a few more minutes? I’m still learning how to use this air fryer.
Irina
Very good question. The way I use my machine: It pre-heats, then I place the salmon. The default time on AF is 20 minutes. So I just set my own timer on the phone or Alexa, when my timer beeps, it's time to check on food, or to flip. Then I close the cover and it continues cooking. So I set another timer.
However, if you use the Ninja's timers and once the timer beeps, it is done, so you are right , the machine goes into a preheating mode. But there's a way to cheat the preheating mode by opening the door and closing it right away. So it goes into the cooking mode straight. I hope this is helpful
Rochelle
Thank you! I looked at the recipe again today, as I plan on cooking this tomorrow and saw your reply. I appreciate the information!
Nancy
Your Salmon recipe is absolutely wonderful!!!! We both loved it! Thanks for sharing.
Irina
Hi Nancy. Thank you! It's my favorite too! I feel that Air fryer salmon is the best!
Alice
This was absolutely delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
Irina
You're very welcome! So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing