Air Fryer Salmon Bites for a weeknight

Need a fast, simple, tasty and versatile salmon recipe? These Air Fryer Salmon Bites tick all the boxes! This is a great salmon dinner recipe as well as an simple seafood party appetizer.

When We say that we use our air fryer every single day, We'm not kidding. From every day family dinner recipes like Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken to desserts like Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies, the almighty air fryer is truly a versatile and must-have kitchen appliance!

And, it's an awesome way to cook seafood. This Air Fryer Salmon Bites recipe makes a tasty weeknight dinner. It's also simple to turn into a sophisticated (yet still super simple to make!) party appetizer.

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🌟 Why this recipe works

There are so many reasons to love this air fryer salmon recipe!

You only need four ingredients – plus pantry staples olive oil and pepper.
It's a super fast seafood recipe. You can make this in 20 minutes!
Clean up is simple, thanks to having the cooking all contained in the air fryer.
As mentioned earlier, it's quite versatile: serve these salmon bites as party appetizers or as the main course for lunch or dinner.

🛒 Ingredient notes

This simple air fryer recipe requires simply a few ingredients! Some notes on what to use:

Salmon – We prefer to use wild caught salmon, which tends to have more flavor and cooks up nicely in the air fryer. You can leave the skin on or off – it's your choice. We prefer to keep the skin on because it gets nice and crispy in the air fryer and We love the added flavor and texture!

Spices – We like to sprinkle a mix of garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper on this salmon dish. You can also try adding herbs such as dill or basil.

✅ Step-by-step instructions

Making salmon bites in the air fryer couldn't be easier!

Start by patting the salmon dry.

In a large bowl, toss together the salmon cubes, garlic powder, paprika, dill, black pepper, olive oil, and lemon juice.
Place parchment paper at the bottom of the air fryer basket or trays, or spray with cooking spray. Place the salmon bites so they are slightly apart from one another.
Air fry at 390°F for 6 to 8 minutes. Not necessary, but you can shake the basket or flip the salmon pieces over with tongs halfway through.

That's it!

👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

Should We flip the salmon in the air fryer?

While it's not necessary, some people choose to flip the salmon halfway through cooking, as an added measure to ensure all sides cook evenly. But because air circulates throughout the air fryer, this is not a necessary step.

How do We know when salmon is done cooking?

The best way to tell that salmon is done cooking is to place a thermometer through the thickest part of one of the pieces. When the salmon reaches an internal temperature of 145°F degrees, it's completely cooked. You can cook salmon to an internal temperature of 135°F degrees if you prefer a medium cook. If you prefer the salmon medium-rare, cook to 125°F degrees.

What's the best way to store leftovers?

This salmon recipe is best enjoyed soon after it is done cooking. However, you can store salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to another day or two. Be sure to let the salmon cool down to room temperature before storing.

🍽 Serving ideas

If serving as a main course for lunch or dinner, serve them over Pressure-cooker Garlic Rice or Pressure-cooker Garlic Mashed Potatoes and a side of Garlic Lemon Asparagus or Grilled Asparagus. They're also tasty with Air Fryer Broccoli!

It's simple to serve these salmon bites as party appetizers, too! Simple top each salmon bite with a toothpick or food pick, then serve on a plate. They'd be great with other party appetizers such as Air Fryer Crab Rangoon or Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp.

Another tasty leftover salmon idea: make seafood pasta! We simply cook pasta, heat up the salmon in an air fryer at 350°F degrees for 2-3 minutes, toss everything together. Drizzle olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and top with thinly sliced fresh basil.

Such a great way to enjoy leftover salmon bites!

🍷 🥂 Wine pairings

The two favorite wine pairings for salmon are classic Burgundian-style Oregon wines: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment

Ready to make this recipe? Here are the kitchen tools and equipment you'll need:

An air fryer – We love our Pressure-cooker Dual Zone Air Fryer. It has two baskets so we can cook salmon in one and air fryer broccoli in the other. If you prefer the tray-style air fryer, we have also used the Pressure-cooker Vortex Air Fryer, and it's great for this recipe!
Kitchen tongs – to easily move the salmon bites in and out of the air fryer.

More air fryer recipes

Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you truly loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!

Air Fryer Salmon Bites

By Marlynn Schotland Prep Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 8 mins Total Time: 13 mins Servings: 4 people A flavorful, fast, simple, and healthy appetizer or main course!

Equipment

1 Air Fryer

Ingredients

1 pound salmon, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dill
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions

Pat the salmon dry.
In a large bowl, toss together the salmon cubes, garlic powder, paprika, dill, black pepper, olive oil, and lemon juice.
Place parchment paper at the bottom of the air fryer basket or trays, or spray with cooking spray. Place the salmon bites so they are slightly apart from one another.
Air fry at 390°F for 6 to 8 minutes. Shake the basket or flip the salmon pieces over with tongs halfway through.

Notes

To serve as an appetizer: poke toothpicks or decorative food picks through each salmon bite and serve on a plate as bite-sized appetizers. Salmon: you can use any salmon but wild caught salmon tends to have more flavor and cook up nicely in the air fryer. You can leave the skin on or off – it's your choice. Storage: These salmon bites are best enjoyed shortly after they are done cooking. If you do have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 196 kcal, Carbohydrates: 1 g, Protein: 23 g, Fat: 11 g, Saturated Fat: 2 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5 g, Cholesterol: 62 mg, Sodium: 51 mg, Potassium: 571 mg, Fiber: 0.1 g, Sugar: 0.1 g, Vitamin A: 68 IU, Vitamin C: 1 mg, Calcium: 16 mg, Iron: 1 mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.