Easy Air Fryer Salmon Recipe (From Fresh or Frozen)

This easy Air Fryer Salmon Recipe is perfect for making fresh or frozen salmon fillets. Make this easy recipe on busy weeknights when you just need a convenient way to get a healthy dinner on the table fast. It's also a great way to meal prep salmon for the week ahead.

When you're looking to make a hassle-free meal, cooking salmon in the air fryer is your best bet. It is my favorite way to prepare salmon, whether you're cooking frozen or fresh salmon filets, and pretty much guarantees you'll end up with beautifully cooked, flaky salmon in minutes. 

If you're looking for more easy air fryer recipes, you might like to try these Smashed Potatoes or this air fryer shrimp recipe perfect for coconut shrimp lovers, both of which would pair perfectly with air fryer salmon.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Recipe
• Air Fryer Salmon Ingredients & Equipment Needed
• Air Fryer Salmon Step by Step Instructions
• Expert Tips & Tricks
• Easy Air Fryer Salmon Recipe (From Fresh or Frozen)

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• It is easy. Make the perfect cooked salmon every time whether you are using fresh or frozen salmon fillets. 

• It is convenient. The convenience of air fryer recipes paired with minimal prep time & simple ingredients needed make this the perfect easy recipe for weeknight meals or for your weekly meal prep.

• It is healthy. Salmon is a wonderful source of healthy fats and protein & makes for a simple, delicious meal.

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Air Fryer Salmon Ingredients & Equipment Needed

Salmon Fillets. This recipe will teach you how to cook both fresh and frozen salmon fillets. I personally prefer to buy wild-caught salmon & would recommend that over farm-raised fish if it is available in your grocery store. The reason I will always choose wild-caught over farm-raised fish is because it not only generally has a better flavor, but it is richer in nutrients, has been exposed to less toxins & contaminants, and is free from synthetic pigments. 

Olive Oil. I like using a high quality olive oil or garlic infused olive oil, but you can also use avocado oil or your favorite cooking spray for greasing the air fryer basket.

Salt, black pepper & seasonings. I always add salt & pepper to my salmon fillets, but you can add simple seasonings like garlic powder, paprika, italian seasoning, lemon juice with lemon pepper seasoning for lemon pepper salmon or taco seasoning & lime juice if you want to make salmon tacos.

Optional: Add a drizzle of honey with a bit of dijon mustard for a delicious honey dijon salmon. You can also use maple syrup or brown sugar instead of the honey.

Air Fryer Salmon Step by Step Instructions

From Frozen

1. Prep. Prepare your air fryer basket for cooking by using your favorite cooking spray, olive oil or avocado oil to grease the basket. If your air fryer requires preheating, pre heat to 375 degrees fahrenheit. 

2. Cook.  Place the salmon skin side down inside the basket. Place the basket into your air fryer set for 375 degrees f and cook for 5 minutes. 

3. Season. After 5 minutes, remove the air fryer basket & season your fillets with salt, pepper and any other seasonings you like. 

4. Continue Cooking. Place the basket back into the air fryer and cook for another 3 minutes at 375F. Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the salmon, so you may need to add on another minute or two for thicker fillets. To check the salmon's doneness use an instant read thermometer after cooking; 120-130 degrees fahrenheit is the recommended internal temperature for wild caught salmon which usually takes between 7-9 minutes to achieve. 

From Fresh

1. Prep. Prepare your air fryer basket for cooking by using your favorite cooking spray, olive oil or avocado oil to grease the basket. If your air fryer requires preheating, pre heat to 375 degrees fahrenheit. 

2. Season.  Place the fresh salmon fillets skin side down inside the basket & season your fillets with salt, pepper and any other seasonings you like.

3. Cook. Place the basket into your air fryer set for 375 degrees f and cook for 7-9 minutes.  Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the salmon, so you may need to add on another minute or two for thicker fillets. To check the salmon's doneness use an instant read thermometer after cooking; 120-130 degrees fahrenheit is the recommended internal temperature for wild caught salmon which usually takes between 7-9 minutes to achieve (7 minutes for medium, 9 for more well done). 

Expert Tips & Tricks

• Invest in a meat thermometer. For best results when cooking salmon it is helpful to have an instant read thermometer handy so you do not over cook the salmon. The easiest way to ensure a perfectly cooked, flakey salmon fillet everytime is to test the internal temperature of the salmon after about 7 minutes of cooking fresh fish or about 8 minutes of cooking frozen. For wild caught salmon, you want the internal temperature to be between 120-130 degrees fahrenheit, 145 for farm raised.

• Make a delicious honey dijon sauce by mixing a bit of honey, dijon mustard and coconut aminos in a small bowl. Drizzle it over the fresh salmon fillets before cooking or if you are making frozen salmon fillets you can drizzle it on top after cooking for 5 minutes. 

• Meal prep salmon so you have it on hand all week long. You can store it in an airtight container in the fridge up to 5 days.

• Use leftover salmon for easy lunches like Salmon Caesar Salad, salmon tacos, or make salmon sushi bowls with white rice, nori, cucumber & avocado.

Did you have a chance to make this recipe? If so, please leave me a 5 star rating and review below. I always love and appreciate hearing from you!