| |

Salmon in the Air Fryer

I’ll admit it: seafood can be a challenge to cook. Keep it in the pan too long, and it’s dried out. Putting fish on the grill always runs the risk of it falling through the grates. That’s why I love that I discovered how you can cook seafood, and specifically salmon, in the air fryer.

Four seasoned salmon fillets placed in a black air fryer basket, seen from above.
Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Salmon in the Air Fryer

One of the beauties of cooking salmon or any seafood in the air fryer is that it is pretty difficult to do it wrong. Many air fryers have a seafood setting that you can select. Then, from there, you can adjust the temperature or timing so everything comes out just right. I’m confident you’ll find this recipe to work in your favor when you’re looking to add fish that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids to your diet.

Oh, and did I tell you the best part? At most, the cook time is 10 minutes. Prep time? Five minutes. So, dinner in 15 minutes and you didn’t have to microwave anything.

Ingredients Overview and Instructions

Four salmon fillets on a white surface, accompanied by bowls of salt, pepper, and avocado oil, and a slice of lemon.
Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes. Pat the salmon filets dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Brush both sides of the salmon filets with avocado oil.

Four raw salmon fillets on a white tray with a brush and parchment paper, next to a small bowl of oil.
Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Season the filets with salt and black pepper, ensuring they are evenly coated

Hand sprinkling salt on raw salmon fillets in an air fryer basket, viewed from above.
Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Grate the zest from the fresh lemon over the salmon filets, distributing it evenly.

Four raw salmon fillets seasoned with pepper on a white surface, next to a lemon and a metal grater.
Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Place the salmon filets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, skin-side down.

Four seasoned salmon fillets placed in an air fryer basket, ready to cook.
Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Cook the salmon in the air fryer for 7-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C) and the flesh is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Once cooked, remove the salmon from the air fryer and let it rest for a couple of minutes.

A person's hand holding a fork with a piece of cooked salmon, with more salmon on a plate garnished with parsley and lemon slices in the background.
Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Serve the air fryer salmon with fresh lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over the fish before enjoying. Garnish with parsley if so desired.

Three cooked salmon fillets garnished with herbs on a white dish with lemon wedges, served on a blue-striped napkin.
Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Notes about salmon in the air fryer

This section of this article includes affiliate links. That means that if you click through our links and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission. There is no cost to you for clicking a link. Also, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Now onto my additional notes about this recipe.

  1. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the salmon filets. Thicker filets may require slightly more cooking time, while thinner filets might cook faster.
  2. It’s important to preheat the air fryer to ensure even and consistent cooking.
  3. Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to allow for proper air circulation and even cooking. It’s one of the reasons we upgraded our air fryer to the Instant Vortex 6QT XL Air Fryer, 4-in-1. It has a square fryer basket and more space that our original and smaller air fryer.
  4. You can customize the seasoning by adding other herbs or spices like dill, garlic powder, or paprika according to your taste preferences.
  5. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the salmon to ensure it reaches the recommended safe temperature of 145°F (63°C).
  6. The fresh lemon zest adds brightness and enhances the flavors of the salmon. Make sure to distribute it evenly over the filets before cooking.
  7. Serve the air fryer salmon with your choice of sides such as roasted vegetables, risotto or a fresh salad for a complete and delicious meal.

Save This Recipe?

Enter your email & we’ll send it to your inbox. Then, when we publish anything new, we’ll send that along as well.

Save Article

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Bagels and Lasagna.

A person's hand holding a fork with a piece of cooked salmon, with more salmon on a plate garnished with parsley and lemon slices in the background.

Salmon in the Air Fryer

I'll admit it: seafood can be a challenge to cook. Keep it in the pan too long, and it's dried out. Putting fish on the grill always runs the risk of it falling through the grates. That's why I love that I discovered how you can cook seafood, and specifically salmon, in the air fryer.
One of the beauties of cooking salmon or any seafood in the air fryer is it is pretty difficult to do it wrong. Many air fryers have a seafood setting that you can select. Then, from there, you can adjust the temperature or timing so everything comes out just right. I'm confident you'll find this recipe to work in your favor when you're looking to add fish that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids to your diet.
Oh, and did I tell you the best part? At most, the cook time is 10 minutes. Prep time? Five minutes. So, dinner in 15 minutes and you didn't have to microwave anything.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Course Dinner, Entree, Supper
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 352 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 28 ounces salmon filet Ideally, you're using seven-ounce or a similar size salmon filet. You can buy fresh from a fish market or frozen in individual packets from a place like Costco.
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil You can substitute olive oil, if that's what you have on hand.
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 lemon You'll zest the outside of this lemon. Then, cut into slices or wedges to serve alongside the cooked salmon.

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes.
  • Pat the salmon fillets dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture.
  • Brush both sides of the salmon fillets with avocado oil.
  • Season the fillets with salt and black pepper, ensuring they are evenly coated
  • Grate the zest from the fresh lemon over the salmon fillets, distributing it evenly.
  • Place the salmon fillets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, skin-side down.
  • Cook the salmon in the air fryer for 7-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C) and the flesh is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
  • Once cooked, remove the salmon from the air fryer and let it rest for a couple of minutes.
  • Serve the air fryer salmon with fresh lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over the fish before enjoying. Garnish with parsley if so desired.

Notes

This section of this recipe includes affiliate links. That means that if you click through our links and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission. There is no cost to you for clicking a link. Also, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Now onto my additional notes about this recipe.
  • The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the salmon filets. Thicker filets may require slightly more cooking time, while thinner filets might cook faster.
  • It’s important to preheat the air fryer to ensure even and consistent cooking.
  • Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to allow for proper air circulation and even cooking. It’s one of the reasons we upgraded our air fryer to the Instant Vortex 6QT XL Air Fryer, 4-in-1. It has a square fryer basket and more space than our original and smaller air fryer.
  • You can customize the seasoning by adding other herbs or spices like dill, garlic powder, or paprika according to your taste preferences.
  • Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the salmon to ensure it reaches the recommended safe temperature of 145°F (63°C).
  • The fresh lemon zest adds brightness and enhances the flavors of the salmon. Make sure to distribute it evenly over the filets before cooking.
  • Serve the air fryer salmon with your choice of sides such as roasted vegetables, risotto or a fresh salad for a complete and delicious meal.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 352kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 40gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 669mgPotassium: 1013mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 87IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 2mg

Disclaimer

Please note that nutrient values, if included with the recipe, are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability/substitution and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating