Air Fryer Salmon Recipe

A chunk missing from salmon on a plate with potato and squash - square

This air fryer salmon is made simply with just a few key ingredients that produce mouth-watering results. Crispy on the outside and flakey on the inside in just 10 minutes!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword air fried salmon, air fryer salmon, salmon

Prep Time 2

Cook Time 9

Total Time 14

Servings servings

Calories 248kcal

Author Elaine Benoit

Equipment

air fryer vortex pro

Ingredients

2 filets salmon (frozen but thawed or fresh)
1 teaspoon kosher salt (I don't measure, just spinkle some on)
1 teaspoon garlic powder (I don't measure, just spinkle some on)
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (I don't measure, just spinkle some on)

Instructions

Get out your air fryer. If you have the tray type like I do, remove. If you have the basket type, leave it in. Preheat the oven to 370 degrees Fahrenheit and set the cook time to 9 minutes.
Take a paper towel and blot the salmon to dry it. Place the salmon on the tray with a plate below it.
Take your fingers and pinch some kosher salt between them and sprinkle over the salmon. Use as much as you like.
Liberally spinkle garlic powder and smoked paprika on the salmon.
Once the air fryer comes to temperature, add the tray of salmon in the oven. If you have the basket type, add the seasoned salmon in it.
No need to flip the salmon if you have my type of air fryer. If you have the basket type, flip after 4.5 minutes.
Plate
Eat
Smile
Enjoy

Notes

Helpful tips

Whole Foods sells high quality salmon. Even though I like sockeye salmon, I prefer their frozen, farm-raised Atlantic salmon because it's not only sustainable but it's also ethically raised, without growth hormones or antibiotics, and it can be traced from farm to store.
If you are using frozen salmon, take it out of the freezer in the morning and defrost it in the refrigerator.
No need to add olive oil to the salmon before air frying. Just pat dry the fillets, add the salt and spices, and you are good to go.
Whenever you season meat or fish for the air fryer, place the tray either on a plate (pictured below) or a jelly roll pan to catch any overflow juices and/or seasonings.
My air fryer does not have a basket, it has trays. This salmon recipe will work with either type of air fryer. The only difference is that during preheating, you leave a basket in but you take trays out.
One of the best things about my air fryer is almost never having to flip the food. The tray allows for awesome air flow.
I don't usually use a meat thermometer to see if the salmon is done, but if you like, stick it in the thickest part of the salmon and it is done when the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

Nutrition