Salmon in the Air Fryer

Our salmon in the air fryer with dry rub comes out amazing! With a sweet glaze on top, cooking fish this way is easy and a healthy dinner you’ll love. Make with a fresh fillet with skin for the best result.

Have you tried cooking a salmon filet in your air fryer yet? I was hesitant at first. It is one of my favorite foods and wasn’t so sure it would come out tender like we love it. BUT it’s mind blowing!! Find this and many other air fryer recipes post.

OH MY was this a hit at my house the other night. Using our great baked salmon with dry rub and altering to this method, you too can make amazing fish in a Ninja Foodi or Cosori hot air machine now too. Use any brand you have on your countertop and the directions are just the same.

Ninja Foodi Salmon

You can steam it using our pressure cooker salmon instructions or air fry it using the ones below, this one takes just a while longer. You see when making Ninja Foodi recipes you have two options. With this one you’d use the lid that is attached which will make it a bit crispy on the edges.

How Long to Cook Salmon in Air Fryer

Typically if you cook salmon at 400 degrees for 10 minutes it is a good beginning. I suggest checking it at this time. Open basket and spray the fish on the side that is facing up if you want the outside super crispy.

You want a nice fresh Salmon filets with skin ideally so it stays as moist as possible should be a size that fits into the basket.

Made with Frozen Salmon

Ideally you’ll want to buy a nice fillet. Fresh is always best but if you need directions on how to cook frozen salmon in air fryer we have that too. In order to get the same taste you would have to cook halfway thru, add dry rub to the top and continue.

Dry Rub

There is a ton of flavor in our salmon dry rub recipe that is sweet and savory so no need for sauce after it is done.

Brown sugar is the base to the rub that makes it sweet with a richer flavor than using the white variation. No need to pack it when measuring. Garlic powder we like but onion powder would be an alternative to add more of a pop of yum and salt and pepper are the basics.

To make it super moist and not dry out you will need a few pats of Butter, dairy free substitutes are fine too but you may want to add a pinch more salt with that.

Substitutions

You could use a dairy free alternative for butter, Country Crock has a great vegan variety. Seasonings are up to you but this mixture is simple, sweet and savory. Before this, our favorite method was this smoked salmon recipe which is still incredible. If we don’t want to wait hours and hours though, this is a close second.

A bit like our oven fried fish method, you need no oil to cook this either. Since there is no breading it won’t have a crunchy outside texture. The inside will be flaky and tender just as you’d want it.

Should you cook skin side up or down?

You should leave skin side down. Even you don’t like to eat that part it is vital to keep it moist. AND you can make fish skin chips with it after it is peeled off too which is not only delicious but super healthy too with the Omega 3s you want.

How do you know when salmon is done?

Air fryer salmon recipe ideal temp when done is 125 degrees F. It will change from translucent (red or raw) to opaque (pink) as it cooks. After 10 minutes of cooking a whole fillet, check for doneness. Take a sharp knife to peek into the thickest part. If the meat is beginning to flake, but still has a little translucency in the middle, it is done.

That is what I look for in our best baked salmon recipe too. It should not however, look raw. If it is cooked too long the meat can start to turn grey. (you don’t want that) The whole process of prepping and cooking will take approximately 30 minutes start to finish. Cooking in an air fryer has been a game changer for us!

Side dishes

Grilled, steamed, or air fryer vegetables. Flaky fish like tilapia, salmon and flounder are probably our favorites. Air fryer baked potatoes always make a great side dish no matter how you prepare them: roasted, fried, or mashed potatoes loaded with toppings are a must for dinner here. 

Serve with some Butter noodles, on the top of my girls’ list as far as side dishes go. Salad and Ninja Foodi rice are a given for almost every meal.

How to save leftovers

Storing leftover salmon is easy. Just put inside of an airtight container, or we use gallon freezer bags. Once you have your piece(s) inside make a small opening at the zipper closure and suck the air out. This will ensure it stays as moist as possible in the refrigerator until you’re ready to eat it.

Other fish recipes you’ll love

Instant Pot fish and vegetables cooked together is a favorite. That is just one of our pressure cooker fish recipes out there. Then try our air fryer fried shrimp another night. We have a bunch of other air fryer fish recipes here too.