If you haven't made salmon in the air fryer, let this be your sign to make Air Fryer Salmon Bites with a delicious honey garlic soy marinade! The salmon cooks quickly and gets melt-in-your-mouth tender. I included instructions for using the oven or a skillet in case you don't have an air fryer! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. 😊
As a dietitian, I get asked all the time about how to make a healthy and quick meal for busy weeknights. And one of my favorite ways to get dinner on the table without much time or fuss is using my air fryer! These salmon bites marinade in 15 minutes and cook in less than 10 minutes which is honestly faster than take out would even get to you.
I like to serve them in a poke-inspired salmon rice bowl with cilantro lime rice, spicy yogurt sauce and a cucumber mango salad. Or with a carrot cucumber salad with fresh ginger and easy air fryer pineapple chunks. They're perfect for making salmon tacos or even to serve with a dipping sauce like sriracha yogurt as an appetizer.
If you like this recipe, you may also enjoy my sweet & smoky smoked paprika salmon, salmon rice bowls, or street corn inspired salmon bowls. If you're looking for more air fryer recipes, try my air fryer hot honey shrimp or air fryer sweet potato cubes.
Jump to:
- Key Ingredient Notes and Substitution Ideas
- How to Make Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Alternative Cooking Methods for Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Dietitian Tip
- Video of How to Make Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Variations of Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Equipment
- Storage for Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Expert Tips
- FAQ
- Related
- Perfect for Pairing
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Key Ingredient Notes and Substitution Ideas
These air fryer salmon bites are made with simple ingredients. Below are some notes. Check the recipe card at the bottom for measurements and full recipe.
- Salmon - salmon provides important nutrients like protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D. You can use fresh salmon or frozen salmon that has been safely thawed. I like to cut off some of the skin from my salmon and it comes off pretty easily when cutting the salmon into cubes. But you can leave it on if you prefer.
- Low Sodium Soy Sauce - to add some savory umami flavor and a salty component. If you are gluten-free, substitute with coconut aminos or gluten-free tamari sauce.
- Sesame Oil - all you need is a little bit of sesame oil which is the perfect way to add flavor. If you don't like the taste of sesame oil, you can use olive oil or avocado oil here instead.
- Honey - honey adds sweetness and helps to form a caramelized glaze on the exterior. Alternatives that work are pure maple syrup or brown sugar.
- Garlic - a couple of fresh garlic cloves add flavor and garlic contains antioxidants and allium which has been shown to support immunity. You can substitute with garlic powder if you don't feel like mincing fresh garlic (I often do when I make this recipe).
- Rice Vinegar - just a small bit of rice vinegar adds acidity.
- Ginger Root - fresh ginger adds a bit of spice. You can easily grate ginger finely using a microplane grater or can use ground ginger powder instead.
How to Make Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Below are the directions for how to make this recipe with photos that I hope are helpful. Check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
Step 1 - Cut the salmon into bite sized pieces using a sharp knife. I like to do about 1 inch sized pieces. You can leave the skin intact or remove it. I typically remove about half the skin and leave the rest.
Step 2 - In a large bowl, combine the marinade ingredients. Stir or whisk together until well-combined. Add the salmon and mix until each piece of raw fish is coated in the marinade. Set aside to marinade for 15-30 minutes. I don't suggest letting it marinade longer than this because the vinegar will start to break down the fish.
Step 3 - Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper and spray with a cooking spray (this is optional for easy clean up). Place the salmon cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Step 4 - Air fry at 390°F (200°C) for 6-8 minutes. There is no need to flip or shake the salmon. You may need to do it in 2 batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
Hint: for best results, spread the salmon in a single layer with space between the bite-sized salmon pieces so that air can circulate. This helps to cook the salmon evenly.
Alternative Cooking Methods for Air Fryer Salmon Bites
This easy salmon recipe can be made on the stove in a pan or skillet or the oven on a baking sheet if you don't have an air fryer. Salmon cooks quickly when it's in smaller pieces like this so be sure to keep an eye on it to prevent overcooking no matter what cooking method you use!
Stove Top Method
To make Honey Garlic Salmon Cubes on the stovetop, heat a nonstick skillet over medium to medium high heat and add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Add salmon cubes to the hot skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes on one side and then flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes until cooked through.
Oven Method
Make Honey Garlic Salmon Cubes in the oven by placing them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Cook in the oven at high-heat of 425°F (220°C) for 10 minutes
Dietitian Tip
Salmon is a source of Omega-3 fatty acids which are essential to get from your diet. Omega-3s have been shown to help decrease inflammation in the body and can support brain health and hormone health.
Video of How to Make Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Here's a video showing how to make this recipe that I hope is helpful!
Variations of Air Fryer Salmon Bites
One of the great things about these salmon nuggets is that you can easily customize them. Below are some ideas.
- Spicy - turn this recipe into spicy honey garlic salmon bites by using hot honey or adding red pepper flakes, chili powder, hot sauce, cajun seasoning or sriracha to the marinade.
- Teriyaki Salmon - omit the sesame oil to give it a more authentic teriyaki flavor.
- Lemon Butter - if you prefer a buttery lemon flavor, add a little lemon juice and a pat of melted butter.
- Honey Dijon - use a combination of olive oil, dijon mustard, honey, and garlic for a honey dijon flavor.
- BBQ - replace the marinade with your favorite BBQ sauce to add a sweet and smoky spin.
Equipment
You'll need an air fryer for this recipe. I have a COSORI TurboBlaze 6.0-Quart Air Fryer which is perfect for recipes like these salmon bites.
Storage for Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Refrigerator - store leftover salmon bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat on low in the air fryer or in the microwave.
Expert Tips
- If you want to get the skin off the salmon, cut it off carefully with a sharp knife.
- Don't let the salmon marinade for more than 30 minutes because the vinegar will start to tenderize the fish and it could get mushy when it cooks.
- There's no need to preheat your air fryer for this recipe.
- Be sure to put the salmon in a single layer with a little space between each salmon bite.
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, these air fryer salmon bites are nutrient-rich. Salmon is high in heart-healthy and anti-inflammatory Omega-3 fatty acids. It is also a high-quality source of protein and many other nutrients including Vitamin D, selenium, and B Vitamins. This recipe also contains other nutrients such as antioxidants from the garlic, ginger and honey.
Absolutely. Be sure to use a safe thawing method before cooking.
You can leave the skin on for this recipe but I like to use skinless salmon. Removing skin from salmon is pretty easy! You can use a sharp knife or boiling water to remove salmon skin. Here is a helpful video to show you how.
You can easily turn this recipe into a healthy meal by adding the bites to salmon bowls made with sushi rice, brown rice, or cilantro lime white rice, a cucumber mango salad or carrot cucumber salad, spicy yogurt mayo sauce. Use leftovers to make fish tacos by serving them with tortillas, cabbage slaw, and cilantro lime sauce or avocado crema. Or serve them with your favorite side dish like oven-roasted broccoli or honey thyme carrots and sweet potato halves or a bell pepper cucumber salad. You can use them to add protein to a simple spinach arugula salad, kale chickpea quinoa salad, or cilantro lime chickpea salad.
They are not gluten-free since they contain soy sauce but can easily be made gluten free by replacing soy sauce with coconut aminos or gluten free tamari sauce or gluten-free soy sauce which you can find at most grocery stores.
Related
Looking for more dietitian recipes like this ? Here are some you may enjoy:
Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Air Fryer Salmon Bites:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Salmon Bites with Honey Garlic Soy Marinade
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb salmon
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce (or coconut aminos)
- 2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (or ½ teaspoon garlic powder)
- 2 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon ginger root, finely grated (about ½ inch of fresh ginger root or 1 teaspoon ground ginger)
Instructions
- Cut the salmon into bite sized pieces using a sharp knife. I like to do about 1 inch sized pieces. You can leave the skin intact or remove it. I typically remove about half the skin and leave the rest.
- In a large bowl, combine the marinade ingredients. Stir or whisk together until well-combined. Add the salmon and mix until each piece of raw fish is coated in the marinade. Set aside to marinade for 15-30 minutes. I don't suggest letting it marinade longer than this because the vinegar will start to break down the fish.
- Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper and spray with a cooking spray (this is optional for easy clean up). Place the salmon cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 390°F (200°C) for 6-8 minutes. There is no need to flip or shake the salmon.
- Hint: for best results, spread the salmon in a single layer with space between the bite-sized salmon pieces so that air can circulate. This helps to cook the salmon evenly.
Video
Notes
- If you want to get the skin off the salmon, cut it off carefully with a sharp knife.
- Don't let the salmon marinade for more than 30 minutes because the vinegar will start to tenderize the fish and it could get mushy when it cooks.
- There's no need to preheat your air fryer for this recipe.
- Be sure to put the salmon in a single layer with a little space between each salmon bite.
- Refrigerator - store leftover salmon bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat on low in the air fryer or in the microwave.
Hannah
SO GOOD! I used coconut aminos in place of soy sauce cause I'm GF and they turned out perfect. My hubby was even impressed! 🙂
Mallory
I'm so happy that you loved this recipe! Thank you for taking time to leave a review. It means so much to me. I have made it with coconut aminos too and it was just as good. Please let me know if there are any recipes/recipe ideas you want me to share, I love getting ideas from my readers! <3