Delectable Air Fryer Salmon Bites are ready in just 15 minutes to enjoy with rice, vegetables, in salmon tacos, and more! These seasoned salmon bites call for just four simple ingredients and are one of the easiest air fryer dinners you can make.
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Salmon Bites Air Fryer Recipe
The buttery richness of the salmon cubes paired with spicy Chili seasoning creates a sweet heat sensation and a crispy texture with a juicy interior, perfect for serving by themselves with dipping sauce as a main dish or appetizer, or with couscous, cauliflower rice, rice bowls, tacos, salads, and more. The list goes on!
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Ingredients
- Salmon:
- We used skinless Atlantic salmon fillets that have been frozen and vacuum sealed. If using frozen salmon filet in this recipe, be sure to thaw it first in the refrigerator overnight, or by placing in a cold water bath. Place vacuum sealed fillets in a bowl of cold water for about 30 minutes or until completely thawed. Never use hot water to thaw frozen food.
- When purchasing frozen salmon, look for responsible farming labels on the packaging to ensure you are getting a quality product that was farmed in line with certified, responsible farming practices that cover food safety, environmental protection, and animal welfare.
- The safe cooking temperature for salmon, as recommended by food safety guidelines, is 145°F. This temperature ensures that the salmon is fully cooked, safe to eat, and has the right texture and flavor. Cooking to just below the target temperature and allowing the salmon to rest a few minutes before serving will allow the salmon to finish cooking without it getting overcooked.
- Cooking salmon to between 130°F-140°F and allowing it to rest will result in a slightly more tender and moist texture compared to cooking it all the way to 145°F. This will result in a better taste and texture and you’ll get salmon that is flaky and flavorful every time.
- Oil:
- We like to use avocado oil for its mild taste and high smoke point, but any high smoke point oil, such as light olive oil, will work in this recipe. The oil helps the Chili seasoning adhere to the salmon chunks as well as helping to keep the salmon from sticking to the air fryer basket. Learn about Our Favorite Oils to use for Air Frying.
- Chili Seasoning:
- You can make your own Chili seasoning or purchase it pre-made. Try Our Signature Chili Spice Blend! It brings a bold, spicy, and smoky flavor to the salmon that we love in this salmon bites recipe.
- Parsley:
- Look for flat leaf Italian parsley. The vibrant green color contrasts beautifully with the salmon and adds a refreshing note to the overall flavor. We chose to garnish this recipe with chopped fresh parsley, but cilantro or chives would be good choices as well.
How to Air Fry Salmon Bites
Step 1 - Prep:Preheat your air fryer to 400°F and carefully cut skinless salmon fillets into 1-inch cubes. The pieces should be as uniform in size as possible to ensure they cook evenly.
Step 2 - Season: Toss the salmon pieces in chili seasoning and oil to fully coat each piece well.
Step 3 - Arrange in Air Fryer Basket: Place the salmon bites in the air fryer in a single layer. Do not overcrowd the air fryer; if you're cooking a large amount, you may need to cook in batches to avoid uneven cooking.
Step 4 - Air Fry: Air fry the salmon until just cooked through, about 5-6 minutes.
Step 5 - Check Internal Temperature: At the 5 minute mark, check the salmon's internal temperature using an instant read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the salmon cubes. It should read between 130-140°F. If not up to temperature, air fry for another 30 seconds to 1 minute, then check the temperature again.
Step 6 - Rest the Salmon and Serve: Allow your air fryer salmon nuggets to rest for 5 minutes before serving. When ready to serve, garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired, and enjoy!
Toaster Oven Style Air Fryer Instructions
The following instructions are for toaster oven style air fryers, such as the Breville Smart Oven Air.
- Cut skinless salmon filets dry, then cut into evenly-sized 1-inch cubes using a sharp knife.
- Toss salmon pieces with oil and seasoning in a bowl so each piece is well coated.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
- Once preheated, place the salmon pieces on the air fryer tray. Air fry until just cooked through, about 6-7 minutes. At the 6 minute mark, check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer. It should read 130-140°F. If not up to temperature, air fry for another 30 seconds to 1 minute, then check the temperature again.
- Allow your air fryer salmon bites recipe to rest for 5 minutes before serving. When ready, garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- It's important not to overcook salmon, as it can become dry and lose its flavor and tenderness, so be sure to check the internal temperature with a thermometer.
- Serve salmon bites over pasta or rice, as a salad topper, or an appetizer with remoulade sauce. These salmon bites also pair well with veggies, cauliflower rice, as a topper in rice bowls, and they are great in tacos too!
- If you're using frozen salmon, make sure to thaw it first by leaving it in the refrigerator overnight or by thawing it in a cold water bath, changing out the water every 30 minutes.
- Cook time may vary depending on your specific air fryer model. As always, use the cook time and temperature as a guide until you are more comfortable with your specific brand of air fryer.
- Time and temperature is based on a preheated air fryer. If cooking in multiple batches, be sure to check on the remaining batches early, as they may cook more quickly.
Storage Instructions
Refrigerating
- Store leftovers of this salmon recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To reheat cooked salmon bites that are not frozen, add to a preheated air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.
Freezing
- If you want to freeze your salmon bites, make sure to cool them completely first. Then, add them to a parchment-lined baking sheet and place in the freezer until frozen solid, about one hour. When frozen, transfer to an airtight freezer-safe container such as a zip-top freezer bag, and label with the date.
- To reheat frozen cooked salmon bites, preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Loosely wrap the salmon bites in foil and place in the air fryer basket. If you want, you can also line the foil with parchment paper so the fish does not touch the foil. Reheat for about 5 to 10 minutes, checking at the 5 minute mark, until heated through to 145°F.
Variations
Salmon is a versatile protein you can serve with many different flavors! Here are a few of our suggestions:
- Soy Sauce Marinade: Use soy sauce and lemon juice as a marinade with honey for sweetness, then drizzle teriyaki sauce and top with toasted sesame seeds to serve to serve. Coconut aminos or tamari can also be used in place of soy sauce if you need a gluten-free or soy-free option.
- Maple Glazed Salmon: Try pairing soy sauce with maple syrup and Dijon mustard, and toss the salmon cubes in the mixture before air frying.
- Garlic Butter Salmon Bites: Pair salmon bites with a garlic butter mixture by combining melted butter with minced garlic and fresh herbs.
Air Fryer Dinner Recipes
- Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos
- Air Fryer Thin Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
- Try all of our Air Fryer Dinner Recipes!
Leave a comment and review for us below if you enjoyed this recipe, or if you have questions about any of our air fryer recipes!
Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 pound Salmon skinless and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 Tablespoon Oil such as avocado oil; see our guide to Cooking Oils
- 1 Tablespoon Chili seasoning
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Toss 1 pound Salmon pieces with 1 Tablespoon Oil and 1 Tablespoon Chili seasoning to coat well.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400℉.
- Place the salmon pieces in the preheated air fryer basket. Air fry the salmon until just cooked through, 5-6 minutes. At 5 minutes check the salmon’s internal temperature with an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part. It should be between 130-140℉. If not up to temperature, air fry another 30 seconds to a minute and check the temperature again.
- Allow salmon bites to rest for 5 minutes before serving. When salmon is ready, garnish with Chopped fresh parsley if desired, and serve.
Notes
- It's important not to overcook salmon, as it can become dry and lose its flavor and tenderness, so be sure to check the internal temperature with a thermometer.
- If you're using frozen salmon, make sure to thaw it first by leaving it in the refrigerator overnight or by thawing it in a cold water bath, changing out the water every 30 minutes.
- Cook time may vary depending on your specific air fryer model. As always, use the cook time and temperature as a guide until you are more comfortable with your specific brand of air fryer.
- Time and temperature is based on a preheated air fryer. If cooking in multiple batches, be sure to check on the remaining batches early, as they may cook more quickly.
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