Perfect Air Fryer Salmon Recipe

Introducing the most perfectly cooked and easy-to-prepare salmon you will ever eat. The air fryer works magic on this healthy fish. Dinner is on the table in less than 30 minutes!

Somehow I always feel bad for those people who claim to not love salmon. It’s such a healthy food and an easy (and super delicious!) way to enjoy dinner. I feel like maybe the non-salmon lovers have experienced some sort of over-cooking situation that turned them off? That’s my only guess. 🙂

I freaking love salmon, but it did take me a while to learn how to not cook it to death. There’s definitely a sweet spot where it must come out of the oven or it is past its prime. Once it reaches that stage, there’s no going back.

Which is why it is so perfect to cook it in the air fryer! That way you don’t have to be in charge of knowing exactly when to take it out of the oven. Your trusty little appliance will beep at just the right time! Seriously, you guys. I promise you that I 100% mean this. This salmon? It is the best EVER. I’ve eaten many many platefuls of the orange-fleshed fish in my life, but never one as tasty as this.

HOW TO MAKE SALMON IN THE AIR FRYER

Lightly spray the basket of an air fryer and place two 6-ounce salmon fillets inside. Season salmon with a light sprinkling of salt and pepper. Place 2 tablespoons of butter on the top of each fillet. Squeeze juice from a slice of lemon over salmon and place one on top of each fillet.

Set air fryer to 400 degrees F and cook salmon for 13 minutes.

When cooking time is up, remove from air fryer and enjoy immediately with your favorite side dish!

RECIPE NOTES

• An alternative to using butter in the recipe is to drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the top of each salmon filet and rub it over the surface.
• Make sure your fillets have the same thickness so they cook the same.
• The cooking time for this recipe assumes the fillets are 1 1/2 inches at their thickest spot. For 1-inch fillets, air fry at 400 degrees for 9 minutes. For 2-inch fillets, increase time to 15 minutes.
• It’s better to undercook than overcook, especially with a delicate food like salmon. If you find that your fish is not fully cooked in the center, pop it back into the air fryer for a couple minutes.
• I love cooking this protein with super simple seasonings like salt and pepper. Feel free to add other seasonings before cooking such as paprika, garlic or onion powder or ginger.
• For an added touch of spunk, consider rubbing a small amount of soy sauce or brown sugar over the tops of the fillets before adding the pats of butter.

DELICIOUS HEALTHY SIDE DISH OPTIONS

Check out a few of my favorite easy, healthy sides to accompany your salmon!

• Roasted Green Beans with Parmesan This is my favorite way to prepare and enjoy fresh green beans! Just 4 ingredients required to make this perfect, healthy side dish. This recipe is easy to make and you can’t imagine how delicious it is! Great for holidays or weeknight meals.
• Vegetable Rice Summer Salad is absolutely perfect for small or large gatherings. Great as lunch, a party food or a side to dinner. It is colorful and packed with delicious flavor and textures and perfect for any occasion!
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes are an easy and delicious side for any meal! They taste better than regular French fries and are a great healthy lunch, snack or side dish. Whole30 compliant, too.
• Roasted Butternut Squash and Apples The best way to prepare these two foods together is in the oven! The apples and cinnamon add a touch of sweetness. This delicious side dish goes great with any meal!
• Cauliflower Mushroom Rice Replace rice with this veggie-packed Cauliflower Mushroom Rice side dish. It’s easy to make and prepared in 15 minutes. Packed with flavor and texture plus this recipe also complies with the Whole30 program!
• Egg Roll In A Bowl Enjoy the ingredients inside an egg roll minus the carbs and calories. This Egg Roll Bowl is great as an easy dinner or salad. Done in 20 minutes and supremely delicious!
• Grilled Cabbage Steaks Take grilled cabbage to the next level by making cabbage steaks! Top them with shaved Parmesan cheese, bbq sauce or just a simple pat of butter. Serve alongside any summer meal for the absolute perfect healthy side dish!
• Roasted Vegetables are super easy and results in a deliciously crispy, flavorful side dish. This recipe will turn veggie haters into veggie lovers! Swap out vegetables in this recipe for any you might have on hand, such as cauliflower, zucchini, mushrooms or onions.