This is by far the easiest way to cook salmon – Crispy Salmon Bites made in the air fryer! Ready in 10 minutes, these little bites are marinated in a honey soy garlic sauce and pack a ton of flavor and nutrition! Crispy perfection on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth flakiness on the inside.
If you don’t own an air fryer yet, don’t worry! I include directions for how to make these in the oven or a skillet, too. 🙂
This recipe was inspired when I was craving salmon with an Asian flavor, but didn’t want to spend the money on eating out. I tried a few different iterations before I got the marinade right, but now that I did I have been making these on repeat! I’m convinced this is the perfect ratio of olive oil, honey, and soy sauce to make the salmon cubes super flavorful and crispy. I hope you love it, too. 😊
Make crispy air fryer salmon anytime of year, especially summer months. You can easily turn this recipe into a complete meal by making salmon bowls with brown rice, fresh vegetables, and spicy mayo or salmon tacos with a creamy sauce and lime cilantro slaw. This is the best salmon to add on top of a salad for a low carb main dish option or serve them with your favorite dipping sauce as an impressive appetizer.
Looking for more air fryer recipes? Try making Sweet Potato Cubes or Air Fryer Apples or Cinnamon Pears.
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Why You'll Love Crispy Salmon Bites
NUTRITION - as a dietitian, I love that salmon is high in heart healthy Omega-3 fatty acids that support brain health and hormone health. It’s also a great source of protein and several other vitamins and minerals including vitamins B12 and B6, and selenium.
EASY - if you’ve ever felt intimidated by making salmon, let this be your sign to give it a try! This recipe is foolproof and involves just a couple simple steps.
QUICK - have a healthy and delicious meal ready for the whole family in just about 10 minutes.
Read more below about how to make this recipe or feel free to jump to the recipe to get cooking!
Jump to RecipeIngredients
*These Easy Air Fryer Salmon Bites are made with simple ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes. Be sure to check the printable recipe card at the bottom for exact ingredient measurements and full recipe.
Salmon - I use Atlantic Salmon for this recipe and suggest using fresh salmon if possible.
Olive Oil - extra virgin olive oil gives these bites the crispy exterior and also adds more heart healthy fats!
Low Sodium Soy Sauce - to add a touch of umami flavor.
Honey - to sweeten these bites up and also give them a sweet glaze.
Garlic Powder - for subtle garlic undertones.
Ground Ginger - pairs wonderfully with the soy sauce and garlic powder.
Paprika - for just a bit more sweet and smoky flavor.
Kosher salt and black pepper - to tie all the flavors together.
Instructions
*Below are the instructions for how to make this Air Fryer Salmon Bites Recipe with some visuals that I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
Step 1: If you aren’t using skinless salmon, carefully remove the skin from your salmon with a sharp knife and cut it into bite-sized cubes. In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, soy sauce, honey, garlic powder, ground ginger, paprika, and salt and pepper.
Step 2: Marinade the salmon. Place salmon cubes in a large bowl and pour the marinade on top. Be sure each piece is coated. Let it marinade for at least a few minutes and up to 1 hour.
Step 3: Preheat the air fryer at 400℉ for 2-3 minutes. Place the chunks of salmon in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fryer for 6-8 minutes. There is no need to flip the salmon. Salmon is done when it is golden brown and reaches an internal temperature of 145℉.
Step 4: Serve immediately or let the salmon bites cool and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Hint: for best results spread the salmon in an even layer with some space between the bite-sized salmon pieces so that air can circulate. This helps to cook the salmon evenly and give the bites a crispy texture.
Substitutions
One of the great things about making salmon bites in an air fryer is that you can easily customize them! Below are some ideas for substitutions for this recipe.
- Type of Salmon - I use Atlantic Salmon because it’s always available at my grocery store. But feel free to use wild salmon filets instead, If you use wild salmon, it may cook a bit faster so keep a good eye on it! If you don’t have fresh salmon, you can use frozen salmon, too. The safest way to thaw it is in the refrigerator overnight. Learn more about how to thaw salmon from the Alaskan Salmon Company here.
- Type of Oil - if you prefer, you can use sesame oil or avocado oil instead of extra virgin olive oil.
- Soy Sauce Replacement - use coconut Aminos in place of low sodium soy sauce for a gluten-free option.
Variations
Here are some different variations of this recipe to try!
- Spicy - give these crispy salmon bites a spicy flare by adding red pepper flakes, cajun seasoning or sriracha to the marinade.
- Lemon Garlic - if you prefer stronger fresh garlic and lemon flavor, add the juice of half a lemon and a clove or 2 of minced garlic.
- Honey Dijon - add a teaspoon or 2 of dijon mustard and an extra tablespoon of honey to give this delicious recipe a bit of extra boost.
- Sweet - do you love your salmon with a sweet glaze? Add a tablespoon of brown sugar to the marinade to sweeten things up.
Equipment
You'll need an air fryer for this recipe! I used the Ninja AF101 which is 5 quart capacity and perfect for small recipes. The Ninja DZ401 is great for a larger two-basket option.
If you prefer a different brand, I recommend the COSORI Pro III or the slightly smaller 5 quart COSORI Pro LE.
Storage
Fridge - store air fryer salmon bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat on low in the air fryer or in the microwave.
Freezer - I don't recommend freezing this recipe.
Expert tips
- Be sure to cut the salmon into evenly sized cubes.
- Whereas most air fryer recipes call for shaking the basket in the middle of cooking, I don’t recommend shaking the salmon bites in the air fryer because they are quite fragile. If you’d like to, you can carefully flip them using tongs halfway through cooking but you don’t need to.
- For the best flavor, I recommend to let the salmon bites marinade in the sauce for at least 15 minutes before cooking them.
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, these are nourishing option! Salmon is high in heart-healthy and anti-inflammatory Omega-3 fatty acids. It has also been shown to support brain health and hormone health. This recipe also contains ingredients like olive oil and honey that are sources of antioxidants.
This recipe is also high protein, low carbohydrate, contains no refined sugars and is dairy-free.
Make these salmon nuggets on the stovetop by heating a large skillet over medium high heat. Then add a bit of olive oil, and cook salmon for 2-3 minutes on each side.
You can also make salmon bites in the oven by using the convection mode.
One of the best things about these cooked salmon bites is that they are so versatile! My favorite way to eat them is as a complete meal in a rice bowl with white rice or brown rice, cucumbers, diced mango, avocado, purple cabbage and carrots topped with a spicy mayo and green onions. Keep it simple and serve them with your favorite dip and a couple side dishes like jasmine rice and broccoli or roasted carrots and cauliflower. Add them to the top of a fresh salad with fresh squeezed lemon! Another great option is to use leftover salmon bites to make salmon tacos for lunch the next day!
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Crispy Salmon Bites:
Looking for Nutrition Education?
Here are some of my educational posts you may enjoy:
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....I LOVE knowing there’s people out there trying out my recipes! 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
10-Minute Crispy Salmon Bites (Air Fryer Recipe)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb Atlantic Salmon (fresh or frozen/thawed properly)
- ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoon honey
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce (or coconut aminos)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder (or 2 cloves garlic, minced)
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt (to taste)
- ⅙ teaspoon black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- If you aren’t using skinless salmon, carefully remove the skin from your salmon with a sharp knife and cut it into bite-sized cubes. In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, soy sauce, honey, garlic powder, ground ginger, paprika, and salt and pepper.
- Marinade the salmon. Place salmon cubes in a large bowl and pour the marinade on top. Be sure each piece is coated. Let it marinade for at least a few minutes and up to 1 hour.
- Preheat the air fryer at 400℉ for 2-3 minutes. Place the chunks of salmon in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fryer for 6-8 minutes. There is no need to flip the salmon. Salmon is done when it is golden brown and reaches an internal temperature of 145℉.
- Serve immediately or let the salmon bites cool and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Be sure to cut the salmon into evenly sized cubes.
- For the best flavor, I recommend to let the salmon bites marinade in the sauce for at least 15 minutes before cooking them.
- For best results spread the salmon in an even layer with some space between the bite-sized salmon pieces so that air can circulate. This helps to cook the salmon evenly and give the bites a crispy texture.
- Whereas most air fryer recipes call for shaking the basket in the middle of cooking, I don’t recommend shaking the salmon bites in the air fryer because they are quite fragile. If you’d like to, you can carefully flip them using tongs halfway through cooking but you don’t need to.
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
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