These Air Fryer Breaded Salmon Bites are moist, tender and incredibly flaky on the inside, with a perfectly seasoned panko crust that's light, golden and crisp. Think of them as elevated salmon nuggets that you just can't stop eating! What I love about this recipe is that you don't need to set up any messy breading stations with flour and eggs. All you need to do is toss the salmon cubes in oil and a little soy sauce, roll them in seasoned panko crumbs and air fry. From prep time to air fried, they take just 25 minutes! Pair them with rice and broccoli for an easy meal, or serve them up as an appetizer with your favorite seafood dip.
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Breaded salmon bites on repeat
I'm not kidding when I say this salmon has been on repeat lately. I've had it four times in the last week and I'm still craving it!
Salmon is usually on the menu in our house about once a week, and it's typically air fried (like this spicy air fryer salmon recipe) as it creates a perfect crispy texture without the mess or lingering smell of pan frying.
Last week, inspired by my recipe for breaded air fryer chicken bites, I decided to change things up and make a breading for our usual salmon bites. I kept things simple by skipping the usual flour and egg breading stations and tossed the salmon bites directly in a mix of panko crumbs and my favorite seasonings.
The bites turned out perfectly! The panko crumbs created a light and crisp coating, and the salmon stayed tender and moist. I was so happy with the result, I went right back to the store for more salmon so I could photograph the recipe for you immediately. You seriously need this in your dinner rotation!
Ingredient notes
- Salmon - You'll need 2 salmon fillets (one pound of salmon in total), with the skin removed and cut into 1.5 inch cubes. I normally buy the large fillet of salmon at Costco that has the skin already removed. (Pro tip: I cube up the large fillet, vacuum seal it in dinner size portions and freeze it. This makes it easy to thaw and make the salmon bites for a quick dinner).
- Oil - Whether I'm breading salmon or not, I always add a thin coating of oil to help keep it moist under the high heat of an air fryer. I used olive oil, but you can also use avocado oil or canola oil.
- Soy sauce - This is totally optional, as it's just ½ teaspoon, but a little goes a long way, and I like the depth of flavor it adds to salmon.
- Seasoning - We're using my tried and true seasoning combo of Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and salt. (I most recently used this combo as seasoning for my air fryer pork medallions recipe).
- Panko crumbs - These are not your typical breadcrumbs with a sand-like texture. They are light, flaky and crispy, and my favorite for making breading.
Helpful tips before you get started
- Spray oil. Before air frying, I usually give the tops of the salmon bites a light spritz of oil. This helps the panko crumbs stick and crisp up even more.
- Be careful not to overcook. Salmon bites cook quickly, so they can dry out quickly too. I recommend using a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer. The salmon bites should be air fried in a single layer so they cook quickly and evenly. My air fryer is 5.8 quart, and it can fit about twenty 1.5 inch salmon cubes.
- Uniform size. Cut the salmon into the same size cubes so they air fry at the same rate. If the cubes are smaller, they will air fry faster.
- No need to shake basket. The salmon bites cook evenly without shaking the basket. If it looks like they're browning too much on one side, use tongs to flip them over. I usually don't shake the basket as this shakes off some of the panko crumbs.
How to make breaded salmon bites in the air fryer
This recipe comes together quicker than you might think!
Frequently asked questions
I always use an instant read thermometer to check for doneness. The USDA recommends cooking salmon to 145F, while Canada recommends 158F. I usually cook it to 158F, so it takes about 9 minutes in the air fryer. For 145F, check the salmon after 7 minutes.
I prefer panko crumbs as they don't absorb as much of the oil that's on the salmon and they produce a crispier texture than regular breadcrumbs.
I usually reheat them in the air fryer at 350F for 4-6 minutes. This will crisp up the breading again as it softens when stored in the fridge. Be careful not to leave the salmon in the air fryer for too long as it will dry out.
More air fryer recipes with crispy panko breading
If you make this recipe, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments below!
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📖 Recipe
Crispy Air Fryer Breaded Salmon Bites
Ingredients
- 1 pound (454 g) salmon, about 2 fillets, skin removed and cut into 1 ½ inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon soy sauce
- ⅔ cup (40 g) panko crumbs
- 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- spray oil
Instructions
- Place the salmon cubes in a large bowl. Whisk together the oil and soy sauce, drizzle over the salmon and gently toss together until well coated.
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together the panko crumbs, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and salt.
- Coat each piece of salmon in the panko mixture, rolling it around to get all sides.
- Spray the air fryer basket with oil (to prevent the salmon from sticking). Place the breaded salmon pieces in the basket in a single layer and lightly spritz the tops with oil.
- Air fry at 400F for 7-9 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145F (or higher if that's your preference - see note #1).
Notes
- Be careful not to overcook. Overcooked salmon equals dry salmon. The USDA recommends that salmon is cooked to 145F. In Canada, the recommended safe temperature is 158F. I recommend using a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer. The salmon bites should be air fried in a single layer so they cook quickly and evenly. My air fryer is 5.8 quart and it can fit about twenty 1.5-inch salmon cubes.
- Uniform size. Cut the salmon into the same size cubes so they air fry at the same rate. Smaller pieces will air fry faster.
- No need to shake basket. The salmon bites cook evenly without shaking the basket. If it looks like they're browning too much on one side, use tongs to flip them over. I usually don't shake the basket as this shakes off some of the panko crumbs.
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Nutrition Facts per Serving
Disclaimer
Nutrition information is an estimate only and will vary depending on the substitutions made and the brands used.
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