Best Damn Air Fryer Salmon Bites

Name: Best Damn Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 17 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb. salmon, cut into 1-inch cubes; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1 tablespoon honey; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon paprika; Cooking spray; Optional: Scallions, for garnish; Optional: 1 teaspoon sesame oil

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These crispy, flavorful Air Fryer Salmon Bites are about to become your new go-to snack, appetizer, or even a main dish. They come together with just 10 minutes of prep and 6 simple ingredients. Healthy, home-cooked meals have never been easier!

Air fryer salmon bites served on a plate topped with scallions and with a dipping sauce.

Why I love this recipe

This recipe is a true weeknight warrior! It comes together with minimal time and effort, so it is excellent for those nights when you’re feeling lazy but still want a delicious meal.

Salmon bites are also way more flavorful than a whole fillet of salmon. When you cut the salmon into smaller pieces, you’re increasing the surface area so the fish can soak up more of the marinade. This means that every single bite is salty, sweet, and totally delicious!

Salmon bites aren’t just great for your tastebuds, they’re also great for your health! Salmon is packed with omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and a whole bunch of vitamins and minerals. It’s a nutrition powerhouse, which is one of the reasons why I keep it in my weekly rotation.

Also, they can be a snack, appetizer or a meal! Served with some rice and broccoli… and you’ve got an amazing meal!

Air fryer salmon bites served with white rice and broccoli.

Ingredients & Equipment

Air Fryer Salmon Bites come together with just 6 simple ingredients (plus 2 optional ones)! The star of this recipe is obviously the salmon. I recommend buying a skinless salmon fillet if you can find one. If your grocery store only has salmon with skin, use a sharp knife to cut the skin off before making this recipe.

All the ingredients needed to make air fryer salmon bites.

To make the marinade, you’ll need olive oil, honey, soy sauce, paprika, and garlic powder. Honey and soy sauce make the perfect combination of salty and sweet. Paprika and garlic powder give the marinade an extra burst of flavor, and olive oil ties everything together.

Top Tip

If you have sesame oil on hand, I highly recommend adding a teaspoon or two to the marinade. This is optional, but it really enhances the flavor. I also recommend garnishing the dish with scallions (a.k.a. green onions).

Mixing the marinade for air fryer salmon bites.

The only special equipment you need to make this recipe is your air fryer. Other than that, you’ll just need a sharp knife and a cutting board to cut the salmon, and a mixing bowl to toss the ingredients together.

Preparation

Start by cutting your salmon into bite-sized pieces using a sharp knife. Then you’re going to make your marinade. In a medium mixing bowl, mix all of the marinade ingredients. Add the salmon to the bowl and mix it with the marinade until all of the pieces are coated.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the salmon marinate in the fridge. I recommend letting the salmon marinate for at least 15 minutes, and no more than three hours.

Cooking

Preheat the air fryer to 400℉. Spray the basket with cooking spray and add the salmon bites in a single layer. Using the air fry setting, cook the bites for 7 minutes. When they’re done, they will be cooked through in the middle and slightly charred on the edges.

Seven minutes might seem like a short cook time, but don’t worry, you won’t end up with raw fish. Since the salmon is cut into small pieces, it doesn’t take much time for it to cook through.

When done, the internal temperature of the salmon should be at least 145°F.

Remove the salmon bites to a serving plate and let rest for just a minute or two before serving. Since they’re not full-sized meat, they don’t need a longer resting time.

Air fryer salmon bites cooked to perfection in an air fryer.

Serving Suggestions

One reason why I love these salmon bites is because they’re so versatile! They can be served by themselves as an appetizer, or used as a building block for a healthy meal. Here are some of my favorite ways to serve them:

As an appetizer: If you are serving your salmon bites as an appetizer, try dipping them in teriyaki sauce, sweet chili sauce, or spicy mayo.
As a main dish: To turn these salmon bites into a well-rounded meal, serve them over rice with some roasted or steamed veggies.
In a salad: Salmon bites are the perfect addition to almost any salad!
In tacos: Taco Tuesday just got a whole lot tastier! Try stuffing your salmon bites in tortillas with cabbage slaw and mango salsa.

A plate of air fryer salmon bites with dipping sauce.

Storage & Reheating

Leftover salmon bites can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. To reheat them, pop them back in the air fryer at 350℉ for about 3 minutes or until heated through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can air fryer liners be used?

Though I’m normally not a fan of air fryer liners, most can work with this recipe. For best results, make sure the liners used allow the air to circulate through the bottom of the basket.

Can the recipe be doubled?

Yes, but it’s important to remember that the salmon bites need to be in a single layer and not crowded together. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to do multiple batches.

Do they need to be flipped or turned?

Generally no. That’s one of the benefits of using an air fryer. However, if you use a liner that blocks the circulation of air from the bottom, you may get better results by tossing the bites halfway during cooking.

Can smoked paprika be used?

Absolutely!

Can these be made spicy?

They sure can! Add about ¼ tsp cayenne to the mix for a touch of heat.

You gotta try…

The air fryer is such an ideal appliance for making salmon recipes. We’ve got several delicious salmon recipes you should try. Check these out!

Best Damn Air Fryer Salmon: Our most popular salmon recipe by far. Easy to make and a winner with everyone!

Air Fryer Blackened Salmon: We add some bold spices (not too spicy though) for some great New Orleans flavor.

Asian Air Fryer Salmon: With a great combination sweet and spicy, this one is a must try.

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