Air Fryer Salmon Recipe

Name: Air Fryer Salmon Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 14 min
Total time: 19 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder; 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/4 teaspoon cumin; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/8 teaspoon onion powder; Pinch of cayenne pepper; 1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil; 2 salmon fillets (4 ounces each), skin on

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Enjoy crispy and tender salmon every time with this Air Fryer Salmon Recipe. You need just a few ingredients and less than 20 minutes from start to finish!

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but salmon is a go-to in our house. So I’m always looking for new ways to prepare it. And since I’ve been using my air fryer quite a bit lately, it made sense to try cooking salmon fillets in it.

Side view of a crispy air fried salmon fillet on a plate with rice and kale.

The fillets turned out perfectly crispy, tender and flakey. All the things you want in a delicious piece of salmon. I made it with a spicy coating that created a crispy layer on top of the salmon. If you’re not into spicy, that’s okay. You can change up the spices or just reduce the amount you use.

I’ll still prepare salmon in my trusty cast iron pan from time to time, but air fried salmon has secured a place in our dinner rotation!

Ingredients for air fryer salmon

Fresh salmon fillets
Extra virgin olive oil
Chili powder
Smoked paprika
Cumin
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Cayenne pepper
Salt

Collage of four images showing how two salmon fillets are seasoned and air fried skin side up in the air fryer.

How to cook salmon in the air fryer

Prepare your spice mixture.
Brush the top of the salmon with oil and coat the top with the spice mixture. Make sure to press it into the salmon flesh so it sticks.
Spray the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray. Place the salmon in the air fryer basket and air fry on 400F for 12-14 minutes. (No need to flip the salmon).

Ways to serve salmon

Pair it with rice or quinoa and a kale caesar salad.
Add it to a cold pasta salad or green salad.
Enjoy it in this salmon quinoa bake recipe.
Use it in place of cod fish in these air fryer fish tacos.
Cut it into pieces and add it to this lemon garlic pasta.

Overhead view of air fryer salmon fillets on two plates along with kale and rice.

Frequently asked questions

Should you cook salmon skin side up or down?

Most recipes call for cooking salmon with the skin side down as it protects the delicate salmon flesh. I’ve tested it both ways for this recipe, and since the spicy coating on the flesh acts as a bit of a protective barrier, this recipe works either skin side up or down. My preference is skin side up as it results in a crispier top on the salmon. Just note that it is easier to overcook your salmon this way.

Should you air fry salmon with the skin on or off?

I like to leave it on because it helps keep the salmon together while it cooks. Also, some people enjoy eating the crispy salmon skin. And for those that don’t like the skin, it’s easy to eat around it.

How long do you cook salmon in the air fryer?

While some people prefer their salmon done to varying levels of doneness, I prefer my salmon fully cooked, which requires 12-14 minutes in the air fryer at 400F. This is for fillets that are roughly 1-inch thick. If your fillets are thinner or thicker, you will need to reduce or increase the air frying time accordingly.

What temperature should salmon be when it’s cooked?

If you’re not sure if the salmon fillets are cooked, you can use a digital thermometer to check the internal temperature. It should read 145F in the thickest part of the salmon.

Can you air fry frozen salmon?

If you’re salmon is frozen, I suggest letting it thaw in the refrigerator first. If you air fry it from frozen, the seasoning will not stick to the frozen salmon flesh as well and it will take longer to cook.

Up close view of crispy air fryer salmon on a plate with a kale and rice, with another plate of the same in the background.

Additional recipe tips

Make sure you press the spice mixture into the flesh of the salmon fillets to ensure it sticks. A little bit will fall off when you place it in the air fryer basket, but that’s okay.
To ensure your salmon fillets cook evenly, you should choose fillets that have the same thickness.
This recipe is on the spicy side, but you can change up the combination of spices to make it a little less spicy.
This recipe was made in a 2.75 quart Philips basket-style air fryer. Depending on the size, brand and model of your air fryer, you may need to adjust the temperature and cook time slightly.
The Philips is a smaller capacity air fryer, so I was only able to air fry two fillets at a time. You can double the recipe if you have a larger capacity air fryer or you can air fry the salmon in two batches.

Other air fryer recipes

More air fryer seafood recipes

If you make this easy salmon recipe in the air fryer, I would love to hear what you think in the comments below.

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