How to Cook Salmon in the Air Fryer (Fresh or Frozen)

Learn how to cook salmon in the air fryer (fresh or frozen) topped with a simple and delicious sauce for added tenderness and flavor. Pair it with your favorite side dishes for a complete meal in minutes! 

Part of our Minimal Ingredient March series, salmon in the air fryer is the perfect option for an easy main course that can be paired with tasty sides for nutritious meals in minutes! 

Salmon Made Simple (and FAST!)

Have you ever wanted a homemade dinner but didn’t have the time or patience to turn on the oven? Yeah, been there. Oftentimes, this results in mindless snacking and even opting for takeout, but what if I told you there’s a better way? In fact, you can have a healthy, home-cooked dinner on the table in minutes! No, really, it’s true! 

You see, I was determined that there had to be a better way. That’s when I remembered the air fryer! If you haven’t jumped on this trend yet – here’s your sign. Seriously, they’re life-changing. In fact, I use mine to make tasty sides like asparagus, buffalo cauliflower, and sweet potato fries every week! 

However, they’re just as great for main courses, too – something even I’m guilty of forgetting about. So, when I needed dinner in a pinch, I decided to test it out and learned how to cook salmon in the air fryer. Luckily, it was super easy! In fact, I even had time to whip up my favorite mustard sauce to add even more flavor to my meal.

Wanna know the best part? It was ready in just 12 minutes! Plus, this recipe works with thawed and frozen salmon and is super versatile to fit all your needs and preferences. Even better, cleanup is a breeze, and leftovers store well for omega-rich meals throughout the week! 

Why We Love Salmon – Health Benefits 

Did you know that salmon is considered to be a superfood? For good reason, too! Not only is it a great source of high-quality protein, but it’s also rich in unsaturated fats, vitamins, antioxidants, and more!

As a result, it offers many health benefits including: (Source)

• Improved Heart Health
  
• Reduced Inflammation
  
• Improved Brain Health
  
• Healthy Skin

Nutrition Tip: Of course, salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that help reduce inflammation, but not all salmon is created equal! To get the most anti-inflammatory bang for your buck, opt for Sockeye salmon over Atlantic salmon. Get a closer look at the differences here. 

How to Cook Salmon in the Air Fryer (Video)

Video below walks you through how to air fry salmon from frozen. See instructions below or recipe card for how to air fry fresh (or thawed) salmon.

Forgot to thaw the salmon before you left for work? No worries! Learning how to make salmon in the air fryer is just as easy from frozen as it is fresh.

No matter how you choose to do it, you’ll want to make sure to whip up your mustard sauce (or sauce of choice) before you begin and preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Air Fryer instructions for fresh and frozen salmon 

Cooking Salmon From Frozen

• Once heated, spray the air fryer basket with a cooking oil spray, and add your salmon fillets, skin side down. Let it cook for 5 minutes to thaw.

• After 5 minutes, generously season your salmon with salt and pepper, and brush each filet with 2 tablespoons of sauce.
  
• Air fry your salmon for an additional 5 -7 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fillets.
  
• Let your salmon rest 5 minutes before serving. 

Pro-Tip: For extra crispy skin, place the salmon in the air fryer skin side up for the first 5 minutes. 

Cooking Fresh Salmon (or Thawed)

• Generously season your salmon with salt and pepper to taste.
  
• Once heated, spray your air fryer basket with a cooking oil spray, and add the salmon skin side down.
  
  

• Air fry for 3-4 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fillets. Then, brush each filet with 2 tablespoons of sauce. Air fry again for another 5 – 7 minutes.
  
• Let your salmon rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Note: For both fresh and frozen versions, you’ll know your salmon fillets are fully cooked when they are slightly opaque and flaky, and their internal temperature has reached 140-145 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Can I Air Fry Salmon with the Skin?

Yes! Follow the same directions, depending on whether you’re using fresh or frozen salmon, and enjoy!

Seasonings & Sauces

Obviously, I used mustard sauce for this air fryer salmon. However, feel free to use whatever you like best! For example, if you prefer to stick with sauces, try using Roasted Red Pepper Sauce, Chipotle Mayo, or Herb and Garlic Aioli. Or, for a super simple meal, add your favorite herbs and seasonings instead.

What to Serve with Air Fryer Salmon 

The great thing about learning how to make air fryer salmon is that it pairs perfectly with pretty much any side dish you can think of! Some of my favorites include: 

• Slow Cooker Dairy Free Mashed Potatoes
• Air Fryer Squash
• Three Herb Tomato Zucchini Salad
• Steamed Artichokes

How to Cook Salmon in the Air Fryer (Fresh or Frozen)

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★★★★★

5 from 7 reviews

• Author: Lindsay Cotter
• Total Time: 9 -15 minutes
• Yield: 3 fillets 1x
• Diet: Gluten Free

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Description

Learn how to cook salmon in the air fryer (from fresh or frozen) in minutes for a omega-rich meal full of flavor the whole family will love!

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

Quick Mustard Sauce: (see notes substitutes)

• ½ – ⅔ cup real mayo or hummus (adjust to desired thickness)
• ¼ cup dijon mustard
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ – ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• Optional: ¼ teaspoon ground mustard
• ¼ cup olive oil
• Optional: 1 teaspoon dried herbs (chives, parsley, dill, etc.)
• 1–2 Tablespoons honey or agave nectar
• Kosher salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

For the Air Fryer Salmon:

• Cooking oil spray
• 3 salmon fillets (fresh or frozen) – around 6 ounces each and 1 ½ inch thick
• Kosher salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• Quick mustard sauce (above) or sauce of choice for brushing

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Instructions

For the Sauce

1. Make the creamy mustard sauce by adding all of the ingredients to the bowl of a food processor and pulsing until smooth. Set aside.

Frozen Fillets

1. Preheat the air fryer to 400° F. Once preheated, spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil spray and place the frozen salmon (skin side down) in the basket. Cook for 5 minutes (this is the “thawing” step). For frozen fillets less than 1 ½ inches thick, start with 3-4 minutes.
2. Open the air fryer basket, and generously season the salmon filets with salt and pepper. Brush each filet with 2+ Tablespoons of the mustard sauce (or sauce of choice). Close the basket, and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes. 11-13 minutes total depending on thickness of fillets
3. Check the internal temperature of the salmon, making sure it has reached 140-145° F. Air fry salmon for an additional 1 or 2 minutes as necessary.
4. Let the salmon rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Thawed/Fresh Fillets

1. Preheat the air fryer to 400° F. Generously season the salmon filets with salt and pepper to taste. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil spray, and place the salmon (skin side down) in the basket.
2. Air fry for 3-4 minutes, depending on the thickness of your filets. Thinner salmon cuts (1 inch or less) cook 3 minutes. 
3. Open the air fryer, and brush each filet with 2+ Tablespoons of mustard sauce (or sauce of choice). Close the baskets, and cook for an additional 4 to 7 minutes. 7-12 minutes total depending on thickness of fillets
4. Open the basket and check the internal temperature of the salmon, making sure it has reached 140-145° F.  Air fry salmon for an additional 1 or 2 minutes as necessary.
5. Let the salmon rest 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Sauce of choice may be substituted for mustard sauce.

Salmon can be air fried with or without the skin.  

Cooking times may vary based on the thickness of the filets and brand of air fryer. These salmon fillets were 170 grams fillets and 1 ½ inch thick. 

• Prep Time: 1 minute
• Cook Time: 8 -14 minutes
• Category: Main
• Method: Air Fryer
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 filet without sauce
• Calories: 243
• Sugar: 0 g
• Sodium: 74.9 mg
• Fat: 10.9 g
• Saturated Fat: 1.7 g
• Carbohydrates: 0 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 33.7 g
• Cholesterol: 93.5 mg

Keywords: air fryer, salmon, fish, main

Honestly, learning how to cook salmon in the air fryer is a gamechanger for meal times. It’s ready in less time than it takes to order carryout and is full of nutrients to fuel your body! If you give this recipe a try, I would love it if you let me know in the comments below! 

Cheers, 

LC