These quick and easy Air Fryer Salmon Bites are full of flavor and cook in just 6 minutes! They’re tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, and glazed with a sweet and savory marinade. Enjoy them with appetizers, dinner, or meal prep!
For more air fryer recipes, please try these ones too: Air Fryer Whole Chicken and Air Fryer Pork Chops.
Out of all my air fryer recipes, these little salmon bites are quickly becoming my favorite! This recipe is a great way to switch up my classic air fryer salmon or my baked salmon with a tasty marinade and bite-sized shape.
This salmon bite recipe also makes it perfect for little ones, since it’s easy to eat, like my garlic butter steak bites. I know this recipe will be a crowd-pleaser with the whole family and it’s perfect as an appetizer too!
Salmon Bites Ingredients
- Salmon fillet— Feel free to use any type of salmon you prefer. I used Atlantic salmon, but you can use wild salmon too. This recipe works best if you remove the skin, or buy skinless salmon fillets.
- Sesame oil — A little sesame oil adds so much flavor to the marinade.
- Soy sauce — You can either use soy sauce or coconut aminos (this one is gluten-free). Both work great! Use low-sodium soy sauce if you prefer.
- Honey — The honey helps balance all the flavors.
- Garlic — Fresh garlic is always best. I like it finely minced for marinades.
- Apple cider vinegar — A splash of apple cider vinegar adds a nice tang. If you don’t have it, you can use rice vinegar too or even lime juice.
- Green onions — Finish the salmon bites with green onion for a pop of color.
P.S.: I didn’t use salt in this recipe because the soy sauce is already salty enough.
Instructions to make Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Cut and marinate the salmon:
- First, cut the salmon evenly into 1-inch cubes.
- Then, add the marinade ingredients to a bowl and whisk until well incorporated. Set 2 tablespoons aside for basting the salmon as it cooks.
- Add the salmon cubes to the bowl with your marinade and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Air fry the salmon bites:
- Arrange the marinated salmon bites in a single layer in your air fryer basket.
- Cook at 400°F for 3 minutes, then open the air fryer and baste the salmon with the marinade we set aside earlier.
- Close the air fryer basket, and cook for 3 more minutes or until the salmon chunks are fully cooked.
Garnish and serve:
- Add sesame seeds and green onions once you finish.
- Enjoy delicious air fryer salmon bites with rice and steamed broccolini.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can make these air fryer salmon bites recipe with fresh or frozen fish! If you are using frozen salmon, make sure to thaw it completely first, preferably in the fridge overnight. If you are in a time crunch, place the salmon in a bowl of cold water until it thaws. Check the water frequently and replace it with fresh, cold water as needed.
Yes, you can easily adapt this recipe for the oven. Place the marinated salmon bites on a lined baking sheet and bake at 400°F for about 10 minutes.
Absolutely! You can make the marinade 2-3 days in advance and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.
Salmon should be cooked to an internal temperature of 125°F to 130°F (52°C to 54°C) for medium, which keeps it moist and tender. For a firmer texture, cook it to 140°F (60°C).
What To Serve with Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Make a bowl: Make a bowl with rice, hard boiled eggs, cauliflower rice, roasted asparagus, mashed potatoes or your favorite vegetables, making it a delicious and easy main dish for your busy weeknight.
Salads: These salmon bites are so good in my salmon salad.
Tacos: Add them to fish tacos, or make salmon tacos with these salmon pieces and serve with homemade guacamole on the side!
Wanna taste more? Be sure to check out my other quick and healthy salmon recipes! My Garlic Butter Baked Salmon is so delicious and easy to make. To change up your usual salmon dishes, give my Dijon Mustard Salmon a try.
Olivia’s Recipe Tips
- Cutting the salmon into equal-sized pieces is important so they all cook evenly.
- Be sure to arrange the salmon bites in a single layer. This will help get the edges nice and crispy.
- Once they’re done cooking, I let the salmon rest for a couple of minutes. This helps the juices redistribute, so the salmon bites stay moist and tender.
How To Store Leftovers
To Store: Keep leftover salmon bites in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. I always use glass containers with fish because it doesn’t hold onto smells like plastic does.
To Freeze: You can also freeze the leftovers for up to 4 months. I store them in a freezer-safe container rather than a freezer bag since they’re a little delicate.
To Reheat salmon in the air fryer: To reheat salmon in the air fryer, place the salmon bites in the basket and cook at 400°F (200°C) for 2 to 3 minutes. If they’re not fully heated, cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes.
Recipe Variations
Spice up the marinade: I like to add freshly grated ginger, red pepper flakes, black pepper, garlic powder, cajun seasoning or smoked paprika for even more flavor. You can also make the marinade with avocado oil, olive oil, teriyaki sauce, fresh lemon juice and tamari.
Other substitutes include maple syrup or brown sugar if you prefer to replace honey.
Try a different seafood: The marinade is also great with air fryer shrimp or air fryer trout!
More Easy Salmon Recipes:
- Pan Seared Salmon
- Boiled Salmon
- Blackened Salmon
- Maple Mustard Salmon
- Salmon Steak
- Or check out these other tasty salmon recipes!
More Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer Salmon Bites
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Ingredients
- 1 lb salmon skin removed
- 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
- ¼ cup soy sauce or coconut aminos
- ½ Tablespoon honey
- 2 cloves fresh garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- Green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Using a sharp knife, cut the salmon filet into one-inch cube.
- In a glass bowl, add sesame oil, soy sauce, honey, garlic and apple cider vinegar. Whisk together until smooth. Set aside 2 tablespoons of marinade to use for brushing the salmon while it cooks.
- Add the salmon bites to the marinade sauce and place in the fridge to about 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
- Place marinated salmon bites in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 3 minutes at 400°F.
- Open the air fryer and brush the reserved glaze on the salmon bites. Close the basket and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
- Serve it with rice and steamed broccoli. Enjoy!
Tips
- You may need to air fry the salmon in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer. It’s important not to overcrowd the basket.
- For easy cleanup, you can line your air fryer basket with parchment paper.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
Gwen says
Very good. I would make slightly more marinade. Since I use coconut amino I should have added salt. i also used a touch of dill.
Olivia says
Sharon says
Delicious