Salmon in the Air Fryer

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 ninja foodi salmon with dry rub or your favorite brand of air fryer? 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. It’s mind blowing!! Find this and many other air fryer recipes post. (post may contain affiliate links present)

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.

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. We have directions for fresh, thawed, and frozen salmon as well. Yes that is totally possible to do without defrosting ahead of time.

Ingredients and Notes

• Salmon filets with skin ideally so it stays as moist as possible should be a size that fits into the basket
• Brown sugar is the base to the rub that makes it sweet with a richer flavor than using the white variation
• Garlic powder we like but onion powder would be an alternative
• Butter makes everything better, dairy free substitutes are fine too
• Salt and pepper to taste at the end you may want but typically it isn’t needed

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.

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.

How long does it take to cook salmon in an 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.

For non breaded fish this step isn’t necessary. If there is no skin on your piece, then flip and cook other side for 7 minutes. For this piece there isn’t any flipping involved. Just check for doneness and continue cooking 2 more minutes at a time until it is perfectly cooked.

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!

What side dishes go with fish?

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.

Ninja Foodi Option

Mix seasonings together listed, or use our dry rub recipe. Place fillet on a cutting board, pat dry with paper towels and rub flesh generously seasoning blend. Spray air fryer basket with non stick spray and put piece with skin side down inside. Cut butter into thin slices and put on top evenly across top of fish.

Close and air fry for 13 – 15 minutes cook time at 400 degrees or until fish is flaky and as done as you desire. You can use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature so it doesn’t over-cook. 125 F is ideal for farm raised and at least 120 F for wild pieces Serve air fried salmon with side dish and eat immediately for best texture and taste.

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.

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.