Best Damn Air Fryer Salmon Bites

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!

Keys to Nailing This Recipe

Salmon bites cook fast, so a couple of small details make a big difference. Get these three right and every batch comes out tender in the middle with nicely charred edges.

1. Cut even 1-inch cubes — Small pieces dry out before big ones cook through. Keeping them the same size means they’re all done at the same time.
2. Don’t crowd the basket — The bites need air around them to char on the edges. Packed together, they steam and come out pale and soft.
3. Marinate at least 15 minutes — That’s enough time to season the fish. Don’t go past 3 hours, or the salty marinade starts to soften the salmon and it cooks up mushy.

How to Make Air Fryer Salmon Bites

Cutting the salmon into bites is what makes this recipe so good. When you cut the salmon into smaller pieces, you’re increasing the surface area so the fish can soak up more of the marinade. That means every single bite is salty, sweet, and seasoned all the way around.

1. Cut the Salmon

I recommend a skinless salmon fillet for this recipe. The skin doesn’t have time to crisp up in 7 minutes, so it ends up chewy. 

If your store only has salmon with skin, use a sharp knife to cut it off before cubing.

Cut the salmon into 1-inch cubes. A center-cut fillet with an even thickness makes this easier, since the cubes come out closer to the same size.

✦ Ask the fish counter to remove the skin. Most seafood counters will do it for you if you ask, and it saves you the trickiest prep step.

2. Mix the Marinade

In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the olive oil, honey, soy sauce, paprika, and garlic powder. 

The honey and soy sauce give you that salty-sweet flavor, the paprika and garlic powder add savory depth, and the olive oil helps everything coat the salmon evenly.

✦ Add a teaspoon of sesame oil. It’s optional, but I highly recommend it if you have some on hand. It adds a toasty, nutty flavor that goes great with the honey and soy.

✦ Add cayenne for some heat. About ¼ tsp gives the bites a gentle kick. If you like a bolder flavor, bump up the garlic powder a little too.

3. Marinate the Salmon

Add the salmon cubes to the bowl and toss until every piece is coated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it marinate in the fridge for at least 15 minutes and no more than 3 hours.

This is also an easy spot to get ahead. Mix everything up a couple of hours early, and all that’s left at dinner or party time is 7 minutes in the air fryer.

4. Air Fry at 400°F

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Spray the basket with cooking spray, then add the salmon bites in a single layer with a little space between each piece. Air fry for 7 minutes.

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 long to cook through. There’s no need to flip them, either. The hot air moves all the way around the bites. If you’re using a liner that blocks airflow from the bottom, give the basket a shake halfway through.

The salmon is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.

No thermometer? Press a cube with a fork. It should flake easily, and the edges should be darker and a little sticky from the honey.

✦ Adjust time for different cube sizes:  Smaller ¾-inch cubes usually need about 5 to 6 minutes, and bigger 1½-inch cubes about 9 to 10. Start checking a minute or two early.

✦ Cook a double batch in rounds. If you’re making 2 lb, cook the bites in batches so they stay in a single layer. The second batch may finish a minute sooner, since the air fryer is already hot.

5. Rest and Garnish

Move the salmon bites to a serving plate and let them rest for just a minute or two. Since they’re not full-sized pieces of meat, they don’t need a longer rest. 

Top them with sliced scallions (green onions) and serve.

Ways to Serve Salmon Bites

One reason I love these salmon bites is that they’re so versatile. Here are my favorite ways to serve them:

• As an appetizer: Set them out with toothpicks and something to dip them in, like teriyaki sauce, sweet chili sauce, or a quick spicy mayo. For the spicy mayo, just stir sriracha into mayonnaise until it’s as spicy as you like.
• As a main dish: Serve them over rice with a green vegetable. My Easy Fried Rice and Sautéed Green Beans both cook on the stove while the salmon’s in the air fryer. For a quick bowl, add sliced cucumber, avocado, and a drizzle of that spicy mayo.
• In a salad: Toss the warm bites over a bowl of greens for an easy lunch.
• In tacos: Stuff them into tortillas with cabbage slaw and Sweet and Chunky Mango Salsa.

Storage and Reheating

Fridge: Store leftover salmon bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Reheating: Pop them back in the air fryer at 350°F for about 3 minutes, or until heated through. The microwave works in a pinch, but it tends to dry the salmon out and soften those charred edges.

Leftovers: Cold leftovers are great over a salad the next day, no reheating needed.