Y’all, let’s talk about making salmon in the air fryer. In under 20 minutes, you can get your hands on this tender, flaky, and flavorful Air Fryer Salmon with a Honey Garlic glaze that is slap your mama good! We’re mixing up a little honey, some soy sauce (or tamarind if you’re going gluten-free), and garlic to create a glaze that’ll make your taste buds dance. Just sprinkle some seasoning on those salmon filets, pop ’em in the air fryer, and let it do its thing. I’m tellin’ ya, it’s super straightforward! So much so, that it’s pretty much impossible to mess up – I promise you’re gonna end up with the most mouth-wateringly moist and perfectly cooked air fryer salmon every. single. time.
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It’s been a long week y’all, and I am tired. I simply do not have the energy for long ingredient lists and lots of whisking. So, I’m calling on my trusty air fryer to take care of things with this simple n’ delicious air fryer salmon recipe. I always keep salmon in my freezer. I’ll pick up an extra pack at the grocery store and tuck it away for nights like tonight. In this recipe, the air fryer cooks the salmon so quickly without any of the oven preheating, and with zero skillet messiness like when you pan-fry it. Not only does the salmon get flaky and perfectly cooked but the honey garlic glaze is SO finger-lickin’ good, you’ll hardly believe it. You’ve just gotta try it for yourself, boo!
The Heart & Soul Of Air Fryer Salmon
Cuisine Inspiration: American
Primary Cooking Method: Air Frying
Dietary Info: High-Protein, Gluten-Free (if using gluten-free soy sauce), Low-Carb
Key Flavor: Sweet and savory with a hint of garlic
Skill Level: Beginner, baby!
Sweet Spots
- Healthier Cooking: The air fryer ensures that your salmon gets a fantastic texture without the excessive oils, making your meal healthier while still indulgent.
- Quick and Convenient: Forget the oven wait times – air frying speeds up the process, delivering perfect salmon fast and fresh on your plate, ideal for busy lifestyles.
- Flavorful Glaze: The honey and soy sauce create a delightful glaze, giving the salmon an exquisite balance of sweet and savory that’s neither too overpowering nor too subtle.
- Minimal Prep Work: With just a few ingredients and virtually no prep work, this air fryer salmon recipe takes the hassle out of cooking fish. It’s perfect for beginners or those who want delicious meals without the fuss.
- Versatile Pairing: This air fryer honey garlic salmon works beautifully with a variety of sides, be it vegetables, grains, or salads, allowing you to complete a balanced meal with ease.
Ingredients To Make Air Fryer Salmon
- Salmon Filets: You can use just about any kind of salmon you’d like. I prefer to use 6-8 ounce Atlantic salmon filets but sockeye or coho are also delicious options!
- Honey: The better the quality of honey you use, the tastier the salmon will be. Honey adds an irresistible sticky sweetness and a slightly floral taste. If you don’t like or have honey, use maple syrup instead!
- Soy Sauce: I know you might assume soy sauce will impart a distinctly Asian-style flavor to this salmon but you shouldn’t. Soy sauce adds salt, depth of flavor, and an umami-like quality to this recipe. For a gluten-free version, you can use tamari. Coconut aminos is also a fun healthy twist!
- Garlic: I prefer to fresh grate the garlic – it releases all the flavor and creates a sort of paste that coats the salmon more evenly.
- Salt & Pepper: Everything needs salt and pepper so don’t skimp out here! If you wanna add some kick, throw a little cayenne into the mix.
How To Make Air Fryer Salmon
Step 1: Mix The Honey Garlic Glaze
- Add honey, soy sauce, and garlic or garlic powder to a small bowl.
- Whisk them together and set aside.
Step 2: Season And Cook The Salmon Fillets
- Pat dry the salmon filets and season each with salt and pepper.
- Line your air fryer basket with foil and place the salmon filets in it.
- Evenly pour the glaze over the top of the fillets.
- Replace the lid on the air fryer and cook until flaky and tender. This will depend on your air fryer, so check along the way!
Step 3: Serve The Fillets With The Glaze
- Carefully remove the salmon from the air fryer and serve with the remaining sauce in the foil. It’s great to pour over the fillets!
Tips For Making The Best Air Fryer Salmon
- Do the Fork Test: Once your timer dings, don’t just take it at face value. Give that salmon a gentle nudge with a fork to see if it flakes easily – that’s your golden ticket to knowing it’s cooked just right.
- Always Use Foil: Y’all, don’t even think about skipping out on lining that air fryer basket with foil! It’s not just about making cleanup easier, it also keeps all that heavenly glaze right where you want it – on your salmon, not burnt to the bottom of your air fryer.
- Place the Garlic Well: If you’re going the extra mile with minced garlic (and you should, ’cause it’s worth it), make sure it’s snuggled up around the salmon, not sitting on top to avoid burnt-flavored salmon.
- Give the Fillets Some Room to Breathe: Overcrowding leads to uneven cooking, so give those salmon filets their space. My air fryer fits just two at a time, so if I want to cook more filets, I do it in batches.
Popular Substitutions & Additions
- Go for the Dry Rub: Not feelin’ a glaze? Mix up your favorite dry rub! Think a blend of paprika, brown sugar, a pinch of cayenne, and whatever else tickles your fancy. Rub it generously on the salmon before cooking for a crust that’s packed with flavor.
- Cajun Kick: If you’re all about that spice, season your salmon with a hearty sprinkle of Cajun seasoning before cooking. It’ll give your fish a nice, spicy Southern kick that’s perfect for those who like to turn up the heat.
- Maple Mustard Glaze: Mix up a glaze of equal parts maple syrup and mustard for a sweet and tangy variation. This combo brings a whole new level of flava!
- Herb-Infused: Before cooking, top your air fryer honey garlic salmon with a mix of fresh herbs like dill, parsley, and thyme for a fragrant and earthy flavor profile, and a pop of color.
What To Serve With Air Fryer Honey Garlic Salmon
- Rice: Jazz up your salmon with some rice on the side. Dirty rice, jollof rice, or Jamaican rice and peas all make for tasty partners that’ll soak up any extra glaze and add a hearty touch to your meal.
- Veggie Sides: Lighten up with steamed veggies like broccoli, asparagus, or green beans. A little seasoning and olive oil and you’ve got a colorful, healthy side that complements the salmon’s richness perfectly.
- Mashed Potatoes: Oh honey, you can’t go wrong with a side of mashed potatoes. Whether you’re all about classic buttery mash, garlic mashed potatoes for extra flavor, or sweet potato mash for something different, they’re all winners with this air fryer salmon recipe.
- Sweet Finish: End on a light note with something sweet like a key lime pie or a lemon sorbet. Just the right touch to wrap up a fantastic meal!
How To Store & Reheat Air Fryer Salmon
To maximize the life of your air fryer salmon, store any leftovers in shallow airtight containers or wrap them in heavy-duty foil, and pop them in the fridge.
Reheating salmon in an air fryer is easy. All you gotta do is place the salmon in the air fryer basket, set the air fryer to 360 degrees F, and reheat the salmon for 3-5 minutes. You can also reheat it in the oven set to 350 degrees for about 5-10 minutes. However, I’d recommend first wrapping it in foil to prevent dryness!
How Long Will Air Fryer Salmon Last In The Fridge?
Properly stored, your salmon will remain fresh and flaky in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Can I Freeze Honey Glazed Air Fryer Salmon?
Yes! Cooked salmon can be frozen as long as it’s stored properly. To store it, wrap each individual piece of salmon in plastic wrap, then tuck them away in a freezer-safe bag or airtight plastic container. It will keep for approximately 4-6 months in the freezer. When you want to enjoy a fillet again, thaw it out in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for a couple of hours, and reheat.
Frequently Asked Questions
No need to remove the skin before cooking – just lay the salmon in the air fryer skin side down. The skin actually helps to keep the salmon moist as it cooks and makes it easier to handle and serve.
You don’t have to. The air fryer does a great job of circulating hot air around the salmon, ensuring it cooks evenly on all sides without the need for flippin’.
Absolutely! If you’d prefer to bake your salmon, preheat your oven to 400°F and add the fillets to the direct center of a large piece of greased or non-stick foil with enough on the sides to fold over when baking. Spoon the honey garlic glaze over the top of the salmon, then fold the sides of the foil, and bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until it flakes easily with a fork. Then, change your setting to broil, uncover the foil and place salmon under the broiler for about 2 minutes, or until golden and glazed.
This simple weeknight Air Fryer Salmon is deliciously healthy and super easy to throw together! It’s made with less than 5 ingredients, which means less mess, less time, and more time doing whatever the heck you want. Boo, this is the kind of recipe that makes you feel like a kitchen wizard, even on your busiest days – so go ahead and whip it up!
More Salmon Recipes
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Air Fryer Salmon
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 salmon filets 6-8 ounces each
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce or tamari for gluten free
- 4 garlic cloves, minced or 1 tsp garlic powder
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, and garlic or garlic powder. Set aside.
- Pat dry the salmon filets and season each with salt and pepper.
- Line your air fryer basket with foil. This will help with cleanup later. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees for 3 minutes.
- Place the salmon filets into the air fryer basket and evenly pour the glaze over the top. Make sure if using minced garlic that the garlic stays around it and not on the top as it will have a tendency to burn. Close your air fryer and cook for 4-8 minutes, or until cooked through. This will depend on your air fryer so check along the way.
- Carefully remove the salmon from the air fryer and serve with the remaining sauce in the foil. It’s great to pour over the filet!
Notes
- Do the Fork Test: Once your timer dings, don’t just take it at face value. Give that salmon a gentle nudge with a fork to see if it flakes easily – that’s your golden ticket to knowing it’s cooked just right.
- Always Use Foil: Y’all, don’t even think about skipping out on lining that air fryer basket with foil! It’s not just about making cleanup easier, it also keeps all that heavenly glaze right where you want it – on your salmon, not burnt to the bottom of your air fryer.
- Place the Garlic Well: If you’re going the extra mile with minced garlic (and you should, ’cause it’s worth it), make sure it’s snuggled up around the salmon, not sitting on top to avoid burnt-flavored honey glazed air fryer salmon.
- Give the Fillets Some Room to Breathe: Overcrowding leads to uneven cooking, so give those salmon filets their space. My air fryer fits just two at a time, so if I want to cook more filets, I do it in batches.
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I know this is better in the air fryer, but can it be done in an oven also?
Oh absolutely! Just bake at a high temperature.
this was great and sooo easy to make! i didn’t have garlic so i used some umami seasoning and nutritional yeast and it came out great. i also used low sodium soy sauce since that’s what i had. loved it, and especially how easy it was to prepare. simple and easy doesn’t have to be boring or plain
So so glad you enjoyed this.
This recipe sounds fabulous and so easy! I do have one correction though. I believe you meant tamari, not tamarind instead of soy sauce.
Can’t wait to try another one of your foolproof recipes!
Oops! Thanks for catching that!
That seasoning was the best. The cook timE was way off for our air fryer. It actually took an additional 15 minutes.
So sorry it took some extra time, each Air Fryer is different.