Air Fryer Salmon Bites

Try this fool proof method for cooking perfectly succulent salmon every time. Teriyaki glazed Air Fryer Salmon Bites stay juicy and tender on the inside as they cook in the air fryer. Coated in a tasty teriyaki glaze, they make a great snack, appetizer, or easy weeknight dinner that’s ready in under ten minutes.

Here in our house, we try to cook fish or seafood at least once a week. Sometimes I’ll bake salmon in the oven with a little dill and lemon, but we prefer to make Simple Cast Iron Salmon, it’s so moist and delicious.

Smoked Salmon is so delicious and versatile, especially in Smoked Salmon and Caper Arancini. These tasty appetizers are one of my favourite salmon recipes to make for the holidays, special celebrations, and dinner parties.

Air Fryer Salmon Bites

Welcome to the first recipe post of 2023, dear readers! I hope this year will be full of joy, good health, and great food for you all. I’m especially excited to help you make that last part come true. While I don’t believe in resolutions, or ‘new year, new you’ mantras, I do believe in great food.

This Air Fryer Salmon Bites recipe is a great way to kick off a new year of great eating. It checks off so many boxes on my list of what makes a great meal. Firstly, these crispy salmon bites are delicious. The teriyaki glaze contains honey which caramelizes on the outside of the salmon as it cooks. The magical combination of caramelized honey, ginger, and garlic accents the salmon perfectly.

Secondly…if you want moist (yeah, I said it) MOIST salmon, cook it in an air fryer! Salmon is so easy to overcook (as my husband likes to point out) but somehow after 5 minutes in an air fryer, it melts in your mouth. It’s pure magic.

Lastly, like most air fryer recipes, these easy salmon nuggets take almost no time to prepare and cook. If you have a jar of Honey Teriyaki Sauce in the fridge, it takes even less time. At 400 F, the salmon bites take 5 minutes to cook. You can eat them on their own, as an appetizer or high protein snack or serve them with rice and veggies for a quick meal.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Salmon Bites

The main seasoning in this recipe comes from Teriyaki sauce. While there are many brands of this popular Japanese condiment available at most grocery stores, I prefer to make my own.

• Salmon Fillet
• Olive Oil
• Soy Sauce
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• Teriyaki Sauce
• Honey
• Garlic Powder
• Sesame Seeds
• Green Onions

Besides the teriyaki sauce, the salmon marinade/glaze contains olive oil and freshly ground black pepper. If you use store bought teriyaki sauce, I recommend adding soy sauce, honey, and garlic powder. However, if you use my recipe for teriyaki sauce, it already contains, soy sauce, honey, and real garlic and ginger.

Black and white sesame seeds and sliced green onions are meant to be used as a garnish. They complete the dish but add no real flavour to it. You can make this recipe without them if you prefer.

How to Choose Salmon Fillets

You can use either skin on or skinless salmon fillets for this air fryer recipe. Steelhead trout is also a great option. You will need a sharp flexible knife, such as a filleting knife, to remove the skin before cutting the salmon into uniform pieces.

To choose the freshest salmon fillets, you’re going to get up close and personal with the fish. Firstly, give the fish a sniff. Go on, follow your nose. The fish should smell only faintly fishy or salty sweet like the ocean, and nothing more. If it is overly fishy, leave it at the store.

Next, give the fillet a poke, if people aren’t already staring at you for fish sniffing. Press the fillet with your finger; if the flesh springs back, then it’s fresh. If your fingerprint stays, put it back.

Next, choose salmon fillets that are a bright pink coral, or deep red colour with nice marbling (depending on the variety). The fillets should also look nice and moist, and not dried out or sticky.

Finally, look for any obvious signs of trauma. These may or may not include brown spots on the belly flesh or skin. Inspect the fillet for obvious ‘gaping’; the issue that occurs when the cut edges of the fish begin to separate from each other.

How to Make Air Fryer Salmon Bites

If you are using skin on salmon fillets, start by removing the skin with a sharp flexible knife. Next, slice the salmon into uniform one-inch cubes and set them aside on a plate.

If using store-bought teriyaki sauce, mix the olive oil, soy sauce, freshly ground black pepper, honey, and half teaspoon garlic powder with the teriyaki sauce in a small bowl. If you are using my Honey Teriyaki Sauce recipe, simply mix it with the olive oil and half teaspoon black pepper.

PRO TIP: Double the sauce to use as a dip or drizzle sauce.

Pour the teriyaki mixture over salmon and use a silicone brush to completely coat the salmon cubes with the teriyaki mixture.

Preheat air fryer to 400 F then spray the basket with cooking spray BEFORE arranging the salmon cubes in the fryer basket. Preheat air fryer to 400 F then spray the basket with cooking spray BEFORE arranging the salmon cubes in the fryer basket. Ensure that there’s plenty of space around each piece to cook salmon evenly.

Air fry salmon for 5-7 mins, or until the salmon reaches your preferred doneness, flipping the salmon pieces halfway through the cook time. Remove from air fryer basket and serve warm.

What is the Right Temperature for Cooked Salmon?

Cooking time will depend on how you prefer your salmon to be cooked. It also depends upon the model and style of your air fryer. This recipe was tested with a Cosori 5.8-quart basket style air fryer.

For rare air fried salmon (not recommended), the internal temperature ranges between 110 °F to 115 °F. Medium rare will have an internal temperature 115 °F – 120 °F while anything over 145 °F is over done. At that temperature the salmon is dry and chalky.

The ideal cooked salmon temperature for most people is 120 °F to 125 °F, or Medium.

Serving Storage and Reheating Instructions.

To serve the air fryer salmon nuggets, garnish them with white and black sesame seeds and chopped green onions. Drizzle more teriyaki sauce over the salmon, if desired. For a complete meal, serve with vegetables over rice or alongside creamy garlic butter mashed potatoes. 

Store the salmon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. Reheat in the air fryer for a few minutes, watching closely so the salmon doesn’t overcook.

If you make these Air Fryer Salmon Bites, please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Pinterest for my latest recipes. Also, if you do make this recipe, please tag me on Instagram, I’d love to see what you guys are making! Thank you so much for reading my blog.