Air Fryer Salmon
This air fryer salmon recipe is the secret to getting a healthy dinner on the table in under 15 minutes. It’s extra moist with a gorgeous outer crust, and the spiced Dijon mustard topping makes it taste like a million bucks.
While I love my baked salmon or pan seared salmon (they’re classics for a reason), this air fryer salmon really hits the spot if you’re looking for the easiest salmon recipe possible. And honestly, it’s foolproof – you’ll cook up the most perfect salmon filet, ever. I’m talking succulent insides, with a crust that’s actually crispy (like my air fryer chicken wings).
The only nuance with cooking salmon in the air fryer is that you can only cook two salmon filets at a time (at least in my air fryer, yours may be different). Otherwise, it’s really a hands-off recipe once you add the seasoning on top (which also doesn’t require any measuring or prepping, you can just eyeball it). In other words, it’s the easiest weeknight dinner idea you’ve been looking for.
Here’s What You Need
If you’re a die-hard fan of my Dijon baked salmon, you’ll go head over heels for this recipe. Each filet is lathered with Dijon mustard, and complemented with spices like paprika and garlic powder for a spiced touch. It’s not hot or spicy, just insanely flavorful.
- Salmon: Choose your favorite type of salmon – king, coho, or sockeye. You could also use steelhead trout! And keep reading for tips on fresh versus frozen salmon.
- Dijon Mustard: The mustard keeps the top moist and adds that special oomph in flavor. You could also use stone ground mustard for added texture!
- Spices: I’m using a blend of sweet paprika (though you could also use smoked paprika), garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
Fresh vs Frozen Salmon
There’s always the debate between fresh and frozen salmon. Honestly, they’re both great options!
- Fresh salmon: From my experience, I’ve found that salmon (and other types of seafood) are best bought from a local fishmonger. But I know not everyone has access to a local fish shop. If that’s the case with you, don’t fret, frozen salmon is also great!
- Frozen salmon: If you’re unsure about the fish “on ice” at the market, frozen salmon is the next best thing. Frozen salmon is typically flash frozen on the boat right after they’ve been caught, which helps to preserve their freshness.
How To Cook Salmon In Air Fryer
The steps in this salmon recipe are pretty straightforward. But I did want to make a note about the spices. Although there’s measurements written out for each one, I’ve found that shaking them straight from the spice bottle had the best results for an evenly coated crust. Where as sprinkling with a measuring spoon created clumps on top – which you don’t want.
Prep the salmon. Set the air fryer to 400℉ (200℃), then pat your salmon filets dry with a paper towel. Don’t skip this step as this will help the seasoning to stick better!
Add the mustard. Evenly spread half a tablespoon of mustard onto each salmon filet. A brush or the back of a spoon is an easy way to schmear it into one thin layer.
Add the seasonings. Sprinkle each spice straight onto the salmon filet. Just eyeball it to match the measurements in the recipe, but it doesn’t have to be exact. I normally start with salt and pepper, then coat generously with garlic powder and paprika. Finish with a quick spray of olive oil on top to keep the salmon filet moist.
Air fry. Add two salmon filets to the air fryer and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until flaky with a fork. Then repeat with the remaining two salmon filets.
Tips For The Best Air Fryer Salmon
- Don’t rinse salmon with water. Just like chicken, the FDA recommends not to wash raw fish. It can increase the risk of contamination by accidentally spreading onto other surfaces in your kitchen.
- Keep an eye on timing. All air fryers cook differently when it comes to temperature. Some cook hotter, some cook lower. So make sure to check on the salmon at around 8 minutes to prevent it from burning on top. It’s always best to slightly undercook the salmon and add more time as needed, than to accidentally overcook it.
How To Store Leftover Salmon
If you store it correctly, salmon can be a great meal prep item for the week. And yes, you can even freeze it for later! Here’s a few ways to store salmon.
- For storing: If you’ve got a few filets leftover, they’ll keep for up to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container.
- How to freeze: Make sure your salmon is completely cool before freezing. Then top it on parchment paper in a storage container to prevent it from sticking to the sides. Reheating salmon can be tricky since it’s already cooked. So the key here is to reheat it low and slow, either in the air fryer, microwave or oven, to prevent it from drying out.
Air Fryer Salmon Recipe Video
Need some visual guidance on how to use an air fryer and cook salmon in one? Watch my step-by-step video below!
The Best Salmon Recipes
Are you a big salmon fanatic like I am? Well, I’ve got quite the list of salmon recipes for you to try.
- Slow Roasted Salmon with Fennel and Orange
- Grilled Salmon Steaks with Mustard Chive Sauce
- Smoked Salmon Frittata
- Salmon Patties
- Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs
If you’ve got an air fryer, you already know what’s up. If not, if may be time to invest in one and give this air fryer salmon a go. I’d love to hear what you think of this recipe in a comment below!
Air Fryer Salmon (in 15-Minutes!)
Ingredients
- 4 (6-ounce) salmon filets
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- olive oil spray
Instructions
- Add the mustard. On each salmon filet, spread one teaspoon of mustard evenly in a thin layer.
- Add the seasonings. Sprinkle each of the individual spices straight onto the salmon filet. It doesn't have to be an exact measurement. I start with salt and pepper, then coat generously with garlic powder and paprika. Finish with a quick spray of olive oil on top to keep the salmon filet moist.
- Air fry. Add two salmon filets to the air fryer and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until flaky with a fork. Then repeat with the remaining two salmon filets.
This was amazing! I think the mustard seasoning mixture would also be good on chicken breasts!
Absolutely!
After smearing with mustard I like to shake on old bay seasoning. Thank you for this recipe.
Made this super easy recipe for lunch while listening to a meeting. It is very good. I added a salad to go with it and some Kombucha to wash it all down.
Glad you loved this air fryer salmon Ana!
This was so simple to make and was absolutely delicious! Even my incredibly fussy 4 year old gobbled it up and even asked for seconds! Thank you for another healthy and easy recipe!
Would you have to defrost the salmon if frozen? I have thinner pieces of sockeye in the freezer.
For the best results, I’d say thaw your salmon overnight in the fridge. That way you won’t have to thaw it in the air fryer, season it, then add it back in. This process requires a longer cooking time!
I just made this recipe for dinner. It was delicious and just perfect! The salmon came out perfect, with a crispy crust and very soft and juice inside! And the seasoning was very flavorful. Since the salmon I used was a little bit thick, it took about 15 minutes in the air fryer to cook. I’ll definitely be making it again! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
Happy to hear your salmon turned out perfectly Roberta!
This looks delicious! Can you please elaborate on what setting to use on the air fryer? Thanks for the recipe! (:
Set the air fryer to 400℉ (200°C).
I am also wondering what “mode” setting you used–, bake, air crisp, air fry, or max crisp? I have Ninja Foodi Flip oven and I was trying to decide which would be the best mode. I’m pretty new to baking salmon and as expensive as it is, I really want to be sure I don’t ruin it!
I used the air fry mode!
Definitely quick and easy! We usually grill our salmon, but this was much better than the grill. I would have thought cooking salmon in the air fryer would dry it out, but it was the opposite! It was very tasty. I had about 4 oz pieces of sockeye so I lowered my temp to 390 and watched them carefully past 5 minutes. They took about 7 minutes. I have the Ninja Foodi for reference.
I think you have a mistake in your nutrition information. It says 68 calories per serving.
Thanks for catching that! Just made the adjustment :)
Do you have defrost/thaw frozen salmon prior to air fry? Or can you place frozen salmon into air fryer? Thank you for clarifying!
For the best results, I’d say thaw your salmon overnight in the fridge. That way you won’t have to thaw it in the air fryer, season it, then add it back in. This process requires a longer cooking time!
This recipe was so quick, easy and delicious -definitely a keeper!! My family all loved it!
I was going to make salmon for dinner the same night I saw your recipe so I tried it. This is the best salmon I have ever made! Thank you!!!
Yay! Glad you enjoyed this recipe Mel :)