Tender, flaky salmon filets cooked to perfection in your air fryer. With just a few simple ingredients and easy prep, this recipe is on your plate in less than 15 minutes.
Seriously, 15 minutes in real time. How amazing is that? We can get a healthy, protein-rich salmon filet faster that waiting in the drive-thru of a fast-food restaurant!
Our air fryer has become such a huge part of our daily meal routine. We absolutely love it! It’s really the perfect kitchen appliance and one of our most frequently used. When it’s screamingly hot in the summer the air fryer makes us quick and healthy (or decadent) meals in the blink of an eye.
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Why I love this recipe?
Many air fryer recipes use breading. Not for this recipe, no breading is needed! We’ll just add some simple seasonings, place the salmon filets in the air fryer and let the air fryer do it’s magic. Cooked to perfection and the flavor is awesome.
Ingredients
Our salmon is prepared with just a little melted butter brushed over the top of the filets, then we add some fresh ground black pepper, garlic powder, paprika and a little salt. Yep, that’s it! We like to use coarse ground black pepper directly from the pepper mill. But any ground black pepper will do. You can also choose to use smoked paprika vs. regular paprika. Smoked paprika has a very earthy, smoky flavor that makes salmon sing and dance.
Preparation
For this recipe, we like to place aluminum foil down in the basket or on the tray of the air fryer. Then, give it a little spray with some non-stick cooking spray. Salmon skin (if using skin-on filets) really likes to stick, so the foil helps with cleanup. No worries, it won’t affect the outcome of the recipe.
Brush the top of the salmon filets with butter and add the seasonings.
Cooking
Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 390°(F). Starting with a preheated air fryer is important as it helps give the salmon a nice color on top. After preheating, in it goes at 390°(F) for 10 minutes for 6-ounce filets. If your filets are bigger, you can adjust the time accordingly and add a minute or two. When the time is up, the salmon filets will have a beautiful caramelization on top and will easily flake apart with a fork. The internal temperature should be at least 145°(F) when measured in the thickest part of the salmon with an instant-read thermometer. This is the key to making great salmon. Using an instant-read thermometer will be your best friend for cooking in general.
Ready to Serve
Once the cook time is complete your salmon filets are ready to serve immediately. Squeeze some lemon juice over the fish to add a nice, delicious vibrancy to the taste. You can also add some parsley flakes or fresh dill. Salmon pairs perfectly with fresh asparagus. You can cook the asparagus right alongside the salmon in the air fryer. Just cut off the woody ends, add a little olive oil and salt, and add to the air fryer after 2 minutes. The asparagus will cook a little faster than the fish so adding it after 2 minutes helps for everything to come out perfectly done together.
A Salmon a Day, Will Keep Your Omega-3 Fats in Play!
As we all know, salmon isn’t only delicious – it’s deliciously good for you! One of the big health benefits is in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosatetraenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). And as a basic rule of thumb, most health officials recommend that healthy adults get between 250-1,000 mg of EPA and DHA combined a day.
And that’s where our buddy the salmon filet comes into the picture.
Omega-3 fatty acids are considered “essential,” which means they have to come from what we consume.
So, grab a couple of servings of salmon a week, and your body will say, “Thank you! We appreciate the lower blood pressure and decreased risk factors for disease!”
You’re welcome, body. You’re welcome.
Storage and Reheating
Keep your cooked salmon fillets in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
The best way to reheat is… your air fryer!
Just lightly oil your air fryer basket, and set the temperature to 350°(F). Give it a few minutes to get good and hot, and place your cooked salmon on it. Air fry it for 3-5 minutes, or until warmed through. Voila! Perfectly awesome reheated salmon that’s still as moist as when you cooked it the first time!
What about the microwave?
Some people are fans of microwaving salmon, but here’s the thing… First, the salmon gets dry because microwaves heat things up from the inside out. And second, if you’ve ever worked where there’s a break room and had a coworker microwave fish, you know that the microwave method is a little – shall we say – odiferous. And nobody wants to subject their kitchen or their appliances to that!
Side Dish Suggestions
When it comes to side dishes, this salmon is practically a blank canvas for anything you want to plate it with. It’s totally full of flavor on its own, so it’s not shy about any side dish trying to get a little reflected limelight.
So, bring it on Instant Pot Parmesan Ranch Potatoes! Welcome to the party Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes! Roasted asparagus is the perfect recipe to accompany our air fryer salmon recipe, so check out our Air Fryer Asparagus!
Peppers and zucchini also make a wonderful and easy side dish.
The more the merrier when it comes to a delicious and gorgeous weeknight dinner!
Dessert Ideas
When it comes to ending our healthy, flavorful, and let’s face it – just generally awesome – salmon dinner, we like to enjoy a little dessert too.
We think that our Summer Fresh Burst Fruit Salad rounds out the meal in a fresh and eye poppingly stunning way. Speaking of “eye popping” and “beautiful,” have we talked about our Red Velvet Cupcakes? Oh, yeah. Whip up a batch of these to end your noteworthy salmon meal and have everyone give you high fives and fist bumps.
In short, give our Best Damn Air Fryer Salmon a shot on a busy weeknight, and spread the love around with some tasty sides and desserts.
You’ll be very, very happy with yourself!
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely yes! Salmon in one of those meats which do not require thawing prior to cooking. For best results, we recommend running the salmon filet under cold water to remove any frost or ice crystals. Then pat dry with a paper towel. Now you will have a good surface with which to apply the seasonings. For more information see our full post on defrosting salmon.
For details on making the salmon in the oven, see our Best Damn Oven Baked Salmon recipe.
Either is just fine. For 6 ounce filets the cooking time will be the same regardless of skin on or off.
For this recipe, you do not need to flip the salmon. Place it on the air fryer basket or tray, skin-side down (if using with skin), and just let it cook. No flipping required.
Yes indeed. Best way is to put double wrap in plastic freezer bags. Make sure to squeeze as much air out as possible. Store in freezer for up to 4 months.
You might also like…
Best Damn Oven Baked Salmon: Don’t have an air fryer? No worries, make this awesome, top-rated salmon in the oven with our simple recipe.
Air Fryer Asian Salmon: This one is so good! We take fresh salmon filets, add some simple, Asian-inspired ingredients for a vibrant, delicious salmon you’ve got to try to believe.
Best Damn Air Fryer Blackened Salmon: With deep, bold, vibrant flavors, this air fryer blackened salmon is sure to excite the taste buds. Made with all simple ingredients, this Cajun cuisine favorite is on your plate in under 15 minutes.
PrintRecipe
Best Damn Air Fryer Salmon
- Total Time: 15 min
- Yield: 2 servings
Description
Seasoned to simple perfection, these air fryer salmon filets are buttery, flakey, and absolutely delicious. The perfect meal for your air fryer.
Ingredients
- 2 salmon filets (6oz each, skin or no skin is fine)
- 1 tbs butter (melted)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika (regular or smoked)
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp kosher salt (or any coarse salt)
- Lemon slices, fresh dill or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Brush tops of salmon filets with melted butter.
- Mix together paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Generously sprinkle the mixture over the top of the filets.
- Add foil to bottom of air fryer basket and spritz with a little cooking spray . Preheat at 390°(F) for 5 minutes.
- Place salmon, skin side down on foil. Set air fryer to “air fry” setting at 390° (F) for 10 minutes.
- Check for doneness. Internal temp should be 145° (F) and fish will easily flake with a fork.
- Serve and enjoy with fresh lemon!
Notes
Substitute butter with extra virgin olive oil if desired
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Category: Seafood
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Amy Diane says
Best damn salmon recipe ever!!!! I. Use it ALL the time! Thank you for this simple yet superb recipe!
Karen Hogan says
This is the best salmon recipe I’ve ever used. The title of this article is appropriate. The salmon was juicy and perfectly cooked. Sometimes I don’t like fresh salmon. This recipe totally changed my mind. I’ll be using this recipe from now on.
Lynnita says
Very tasty. Mine was perfectly cooked in 6 min!
Abbie says
Delicioso !!!
Lauren says
Made this with frozen salmon and made it taste never frozen! I opted to cook it with a slice of lemon on it in the air fryer too… delish! Very easy and quick weeknight meal.
Anita M says
I made this tonight and I loved it! It was a perfect blend of spices and the salmon had a buttery taste too. This is my new go to recipe!
Cathy Williams says
Had this for supper tonight. So easy and delicious! Good thing I only cooked one piece of salmon, I would have eaten both pieces! Did fresh broccoli in the IP and leftover coconut ginger rice warmed in the microwave. Very satisfying meal. BTW love your IP pulled pork… only one I’ll make!
RecipeTeacher says
Excellent! Sounds like a great meal. I’m glad you like the pulled pork too. 🙂
Kristie says
Oh my goodness, first time making salmon with this recipe and it was AWESOME!!!!!!;
BrendaCarterMaxwell says
Excellent recipe . Thank you!This is now my go to recipe for Salmon! I’ve made it many times!
Barb M says
Absolutely delicious! I did not have fresh lemon but used lemon concentrate. Dill weed. So good! Thank you!!
Natalie says
My husband and I really enjoyed this easy Air Fryer Salmon. Spices always on hand, just buy the freshest wild salmon available.