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GET IT NOW- My Flakiest, Most Buttery Air Fryer Salmon Recipe In Just 10 Minutes
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Cook Salmon In The Air Fryer
- My Tips For Moist, Flaky Results
- How Long To Cook Salmon In The Air Fryer?
- Air Fryer Salmon (Perfect In 10 Minutes!) Recipe card
- Serving Ideas
- More Air Fryer Recipes For Dinner
- Recipe Reviews
My Flakiest, Most Buttery Air Fryer Salmon Recipe In Just 10 Minutes
This air fryer salmon is the fastest way I cook this fish! While I regularly make baked salmon, grilled salmon, and pan seared salmon, cooking salmon in the air fryer is quicker and more foolproof than all of them. Here’s why it has been my go-to method ever since I tried it years ago:
- Moist, flaky, and tender – I make this recipe several times a month, because no other method makes salmon this melt-in-your-mouth tender. Sometimes I change it up with air fryer tilapia or air fryer cod, but the premise is the same: The air fryer locks the moisture in fish incredibly well!
- Super simple ingredients – You probably have all you need, and they let the buttery flavor of the fish shine. But if you like something a little more sweet and bite-sized, you can easily transform it into my honey glazed air fryer salmon bites.
- Ready in no time – My air fryer salmon recipe takes just 10 minutes including the prep time and the cook time… much faster than the oven. It has saved me on so many busy weeknights.
- Feel good meal – This recipe is naturally gluten-free, packed with protein, and of course the salmon has plenty of omega 3s I’m always trying to eat more of.
If fish is a staple healthy dinner at your house like it is in mine, make this air fried salmon with me! You just might never look back.
“I tried this recipe and it was fabulous! I made it exactly as instructed, it looked and tasted like a dish from a fancy restaurant.”
-Gena
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my air fryer salmon recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Salmon – I usually buy a large fillet and cut it crosswise into narrow, 5-6-ounce strips, as shown in the picture below. You can also just buy the fillets already pre-cut. I prefer to use wild-caught salmon with skin (and the air fryer makes amazing crispy skin!), but you can use any type of salmon that you prefer.
- Olive Oil – For brushing over the fish. Avocado oil also works.
- Lemon Juice – Use fresh lemon juice for best flavor, or bottled for convenience.
- Spices – My simple blend is garlic powder, paprika (or sometimes I use smoked paprika), sea salt, and black pepper. If you like a kick, you can change it up and use Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper seasoning, or jerk seasoning. (I do this for date nights if my kids won’t be joining us — they can’t handle the heat.) Prefer something more sweet? You’ll love my maple salmon marinade, which leaves a little glaze on top of the air fryer salmon after cooking.
How To Cook Salmon In The Air Fryer
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Prep the salmon. Pat the fish dry with paper towels. This will help form that beautiful golden exterior during cooking — and crispy skin if your fish has skin.
- Make the oil mixture. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice.
- Season. Brush the oil mixture over both sides of the salmon. Sprinkle both sides with the garlic powder, sea salt, paprika, and black pepper.
- Air fry. Arrange the salmon fillets in the air fryer basket (I have and love this one), skin side down. Ensure that there is space between the pieces. Air fry until the fish reaches your desired doneness — see my tips and time recommendations below!
My Tips For Moist, Flaky Results
- Get salmon fillets that are uniform in size. That way, they cook at the same rate. Also, I find that narrow (5-6-ounce) fillets cook more evenly (and more quickly!) than large pieces.
- Leave space between the salmon fillets in the air fryer basket, so that air can fully circulate around the fish. Again, this ensures even cooking. Cook in batches if they don’t all fit at once. In my air fryer, four fillets fit just fine.
- Test internal temperature with a thermometer. Insert it into the thickest part of the fish to measure. I highly recommend 130-135 degrees F for buttery, flaky air fryer salmon that isn’t dry. If you don’t have a thermometer, the fish should be opaque and flake easily with a fork, but don’t cook it for so long that it turns almost white.
- Do you need to flip? I usually don’, as it’s just another chance of breaking, but you can if you like. If you do, I recommend starting skin side down, flip halfway, and end skin side up.
- How to get crispy skin? My air fried salmon usually gets crispy skin pretty easily, as long as you pat dry well before oiling and seasoning. For even crispier results, air fry skin side up.
- Yes, you can cook from frozen with the right method. I love this shortcut when I forget to thaw the salmon! I don’t normally recommend cooking fish from frozen, but it actually works beautifully in the air fryer with just an extra step. I explain how to cook frozen salmon in the air fryer here.
How Long To Cook Salmon In The Air Fryer?
Air fryer salmon cook time will vary depending on fillet size and how done you want it, but in general, individual fillets will take about 6-10 minutes. Cook to 125-130 degrees F for medium rare, 130-135 degrees F for medium, or 140-145 degrees for well done.
My air fryer, which nicely fits four fillets as pictured above, takes 6 minutes for a perfect (in my opinion) medium doneness.
Air Fryer Salmon (Perfect In 10 Minutes!)
My air fryer salmon recipe cooks up moist and flaky every time, with just a few simple ingredients. Easy to make in 10 minutes!
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Use paper towels to pat the fish dry.
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In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil and lemon juice. Brush the salmon fillets on both sides with the olive oil mixture.
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Season both sides with garlic powder, sea salt, paprika, and black pepper. Rub the seasonings into the salmon to spread evenly.
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Arrange salmon fillets in the air fryer basket, skin side down, with space between them. (If using skinless salmon, line the bottom of the basket with aluminum foil before adding the salmon, leaving the edges of the basket uncovered so that air can flow through.)
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Air fry salmon at 400 degrees F (204 degrees C) for 6-10 minutes, until the salmon internal temperature reaches your desired doneness: 125 degrees F (52 degrees C) for medium rare, 130 degrees F (54 degrees C) for medium, or 140 degrees F (60 degrees C) for well done. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can test if the fish flakes easily with a fork.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 salmon fillet
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get moist, flaky air fryer salmon with crispy skin, and even an option to cook from frozen.
- Storage: Keep leftover salmon in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. I usually repurpose the leftovers for another dish for variety. My faves are salmon bowl or creamy salmon salad. It’s also yummy as a swap for chicken in Cobb salad, stirred into fried rice, or mixed into pasta or zoodles with Alfredo sauce.
- Reheat: It’s probably no surprise that reheating salmon in the air fryer is my favorite way. The key is to use a lower temperature than you did for cooking it initially, otherwise it browns too much. Just a couple of minutes at 350 degrees F is perfect.
- Freeze: Store the fish in an airtight container or zip lock bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. However, like most fish recipes, it tastes best fresh.
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Ebook Bundle and my Healthy Air Fryer Bundle!
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Air Fryer Salmon
Serving Ideas
All this air fried salmon recipe needs is a simple side dish! My weeknight dinners are typically a protein (like this one) and a vegetable or salad, but I often make a starch for my kids as well.
- Veggies – Try my air fryer broccoli (pictured above), air fried cauliflower, air fryer carrots, or air fryer asparagus for a whole meal cooked in the same appliance. I love this approach for less dishes to wash — just cook the vegetables first! For other prep methods you can cook in parallel, my roasted asparagus (or cheesy asparagus casserole if you want comfort) or sauteed zucchini are great options that cook pretty quickly.
- Starches – An air fryer baked potato makes the meal feel like comfort food! I make lighter swaps more often though, like mashed cauliflower (creamy and comforting), zucchini noodles (light and fresh for summer), or cauliflower rice (to serve this as a bowl meal).
- Salads – I serve this air fryer salmon with salads when I want something easy and fresh without much effort. Mix up my Greek salad, creamy cucumber salad, or strawberry spinach salad — or choose from one of my other healthy salad recipes!
More Air Fryer Recipes For Dinner
If you like my recipe for air fryer salmon, you might also like these other air fryer recipes I keep on rotation for weeknight meals:
56 Comments
Marilyn Bartlett
1This air fryer salmon recipe makes delicious salmon every time. I think salmon cooked in the air fryer is better than any other way of cooking it. I love all the Wholesome Yum recipes!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Marilyn! It’s one of my favorite ways to cook it, too. I’m glad you love my recipes, appreciate you saying that!
Glen Lindsay
0So simple and tastes great.
Wholesome Yum D
0I’m so glad you thought so, Glen! Sometimes the simplest recipes are the ones we come back to the most.
Morgan Reece
0This looked faster than the first recipe I found on YouTube so I went with this one. It was delicious! Moist salmon, and my husband and I really enjoyed this rub, which was much spicier than what I’ve used on fish in the past. Adaptations: Substituted avocado oil for the olive oil. (I’ve read/heard from multiple sources, olive oil should never be heated as it has a low smoke point. Best alternatives are Avocado Oil, Coconut Oil,, Ghee, or Tallow.) Included Thyme leaf in the rub mix.
Wholesome Yum D
0I’m so glad you both enjoyed it, Morgan! The avocado oil swap and thyme addition sound great, and I’m happy the rub brought a new, spicier twist you loved. Thanks for sharing your version!
BRIAN MOORE
0I do a similar recipe with my fish in tinfoil, but use mayo instead of oil. I fry @ 400 degrees between 10 to 12 minutes depending on thickness.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thanks for sharing, Brian! This sounds a lot like my baked salmon with mayo.
Pam
0Tastes better than something that quick should.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Pam! I think so, too, hehe.
Karen Sobkowiak
0I loved this recipe we make salmon every Friday in our air fryer, and this was a very good recipe ty.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m so glad you loved it, Karen! Enjoy!
Barb
0This was my 1st air fryer recipe & I didn’t know what to expect. It came out perfectly by following the temperature & approx time. Very moist.
I made it 2 ways. I used the seasonings in the recipe on 2 filets and the others I used an herb seasoning, with a little kick to it, that we love. We liked them both as far as flavor. (Think Mrs Dash with a bit more spice). Next time I’m going to try the regular recipe with a few sprinkles of my seasoning.
Something I’d definitely make again. This recipe wants me to try others in the air fryer.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m so happy to hear that, Barb! Thank you for sharing your seasoning variations. You can find more of my air fryer recipes here if you want to try others.
Mary
0I do not have an air fryer. At what temperature and how long would I cook this in a conventional oven?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Mary, You can use these same seasonings and follow my baked salmon recipe for oven timing. Hope this helps!
Thomas B Krone
0I’m making it right now.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hope you loved it, Thomas!
Linda D.
0I made this air fryer salmon, it was really good. I used cajon seasoning on mine along with your cauliflower rice and a salad. It will be in my meal plan rotation. I love your recipes!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m so glad you liked it, Linda! Cajun seasoning sounds delicious.
Martha Crutchfield
0Great idea to cook the salmon in the air fryer – so much better than when cooked in the oven. Love the crispy exterior while the internal texture is moist and delicious from using the lemon juice, olive oil, and seasonings.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Martha! Yes, I love how moist this air fryer salmon gets compared to other methods. Enjoy!
Martha Crutchfield
0Excellent recipe for air fryer salmon – delicious and “heart healthy”. I am always looking for new ways to prepare “wild caught” salmon since it has such high levels of the Omega 3 fatty acids. I served it with a 3 ounce portion of quinoa and a large organic salad..Yum.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Martha! I’m so glad you like this recipe. That sounds like a delicious meal.
Kathi
0Every time I have ever tried to cook salmon in a air fryer it broke up in pieces. I can’t wait to try this recipe. Thank you for sharing your recipes. I use them all the time. Matter of fact, I am cooking 4 of your recipes.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Sorry to hear that, Kathi! I’ve never had this happen with this recipe, but the air fryer does leave fish very tender. I recommend a fish spatula like this for transferring salmon, no matter how you’re cooking it — it makes it so much easier. Hope this helps!
Peggy
0Do you preheat the air fryer?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Peggy, For this recipe I haven’t found that it makes much difference either way.
Mariah
0Perfect!
Gena
0I tried this recipe and it was fabulous! I made it exactly as instructed, it looked and tasted like a dish from a fancy restaurant.
gulfliving4u
0Very nice.
Jenny Fleming
0I tried the salmon in air fryer and loved it. But mine did not have a crispy crust that I was looking for like yours. What do you think I might have done incorrectly? Thank you for all your recipes.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m glad you liked it, Jenny! Did you pat the fish dry before adding the oil and seasonings? That can have an impact on the crust you get. Otherwise, I suppose it could also be a difference in air fryers, if yours runs a little cool on the temperature. If that’s the case, you can try turning it up a bit higher, or make my air fryer salmon bites that get even more of a crust on all sides.
Danielle Jess
0This worked better than I ever imagined. My salmon was perfectly cooked. Light, flaky, and moist. Perfect.
Phoebe
0I tried it with the maple salmon marinade, and it was so good! I even cooked it for a bit less time like this recipe, and it turned out perfect. Thanks for sharing!
Olivia
0Absolutely delicious! I used smoked paprika because that’s what I had and it worked perfectly fine! I cooked mine for about 5 mins, I think the salmon I got was a bit smaller, but other than that this recipe was perfect!
Claude
0Using the air fryer produced salmon with a crispy edges while maintaining a juicy and tender interior, which is exactly how I prefer it. I served it alongside zucchini noodles and It was a flavorful and enjoyable meal with my husband. Yum!
Meghan
0So thrilled to find a recipe for salmon that is quick and easy! I’m the only one that likes salmon in our house, so I could make this along with food for others without worrying about it overcooking. Flaky, tender, and perfect!
susanne
0you don’t say what temp to put the air fryer at…
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Susanne, Air fry salmon at 400 degrees F, you will find that info in step #5 on the recipe card.
Deb Giambo
0I made the air fryer salmon tonight in my new air fryer. I also used the Maple salmon marinade. It was easy to make and delicious! I did cook it for only 4 minutes but other than that did not change anything. I served with a quick rice pilaf I made. A big hit! Thanks for the recipe!
Mary Ellen
0Would this work with other types of fish?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Mary Ellen, Yes, I have a tilapia recipe that is cooked in the air fryer.
Paula
0Simple, yummy, quick and perfect. Thank you.
Carmen Morales
0It came out really good. This is going to be a new dish for my house.
Vicky
0Really good! It’s become a weekly dish at our house.
Vicky
0Delicious! I was looking for a quick and easy dinner after traveling all day. I had a couple of salmon fillets in the freezer. This turned out so good!! My new favorite way to prepare salmon!
Imsen
0Great food with less effort…just how cooking should be! Absolutely loved this recipe and will definitely be making it again! Also really loved the aluminum foil tip.
Swathi
0Air fryer salmon is delicious.
Amy L Huntley
0I won’t make these any other way! So, crispy and tender at the same time! The flavor is simply amazing too!
laura
0Salmon in the air fryer is SO GOOD!
Kristyn
0Salmon is my favorite fish!! I don’t make it a lot at home, but this recipe makes it super easy & it tastes incredible!!
Toni
0This is so perfect!! Easy to make, healthy and tastes really good!
Jessica Burgess
0Yum!! This was really easy and had great flavor! Thank you so much!
Roxanne
0This looks really delicous!
Karla
0Cooks up quickly, great for a quick meal.