If you’re looking for a quick, easy, and delicious way to cook salmon, air fryer salmon is the answer!
Put away that regular sautéed salmon; this Sweet & Spicy Air Fryer Salmon is guaranteed to be your new go-to dish! Combining the sweet taste of brown sugar with the zing of chili pepper flakes and get ready to wow your family with this flavor-packed entrée.
This air fryer recipe perfectly makes tender, crispy, and flavorful salmon in just 10 minutes. With minimal effort, you can enjoy a nutritious dinner with minimal cleanup, and Perfect for weeknight dinners. If you like the air fryer recipe, check this Easy Air Fryer Meatballs .
Reasons to Love this Recipe:
- It is a quick and easy dish that comes together in 10 minutes.
- Moist, tender on the inside, crispy sweet, and spicy on the outside.
- Not only is it full of flavor, but it’s also packed with Omega -3 fatty acids.
- Air fryer uses very little oil, making it a healthier way to enjoy fish! So don’t wait any longer – let’s get air frying.
Is Salmon Good for Weight Loss?
Salmon is one of the most nutritious foods on the planet! Consuming Salmon frequently can help you lose weight and keep it off, and it also helps maintain a healthy brain and body. Research suggests that exercise and a diet high in fish oil can help reduce your waistline! (1)
Sweet & Spicy Air Fryer Salmon Ingredients:
- Salmon fillet: Any of these types of salmon will work: Atlantic Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Sockeye Salmon, or King Salmon. (You can try and see for yourself which one you prefer!)
- Salt and black pepper to taste.
- Brown sugar or honey: Adds that touch of sweetness.
- Sweet paprika.
- Fresh minced garlic.
- Red chili flakes: adds spiciness to this recipe, so feel free to adjust your heat level.
- Extra virgin olive oil.
- Fresh parsley.
- Lemon juice.
How To Make Air Fryer Salmon?
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F.
- Cut the salmon fillet into even pieces. Line them into aluminum foil (for easy cleanup). Pat your salmon filets dry with a paper towel and Sprinkle salt and black pepper on both sides of the salmon.
- Make the rubbing sauce. In a small bowl, mix all the ingredients, then rub the salmon on both sides.
- Cook. Place the salmon with the aluminum foil in the air fryer. And cook for 10 minutes until flakey with a fork.
What Is the Best Air Fryer Temp for Salmon?
- I have tried cooking salmon at different temperatures, and while cooking at a high temp, such as 400°F, it still works, but you can run into the risk of overcooking it. That’s why I stick with a lower temperature of 375°F (190 °C) to ensure the salmon is extra moist and not overcooked.
- Keep an eye on the temperature and timing. Air fryers cook differently, so check on the salmon after 8 minutes to avoid overcooking.
- The USDA recommends cooking fish to an internal temperature of 145°F (62.8°C). When it reaches an internal temperature of 125°F – 130°F, I usually take it out of the air fryer and let it sit for a couple of minutes until it reaches the desired temperature for moist, not-overcooked salmon. As with most proteins, Salmon’s internal temperature rises after you stop cooking it.
Fresh Vs. Frozen
There is no doubt that fresh anything has more appeal and usually packs better flavors. The same is true for salmon, but fresh salmon is hard to come by, especially if you are not living in a coastal area. Also, the difference in flavor is not huge because frozen salmon is usually flash-frozen, which means it’s frozen on the ship right after it’s caught to preserve freshness!
Skin On Vs. Skin Off
It all depends! Salmon skin helps protect the fillet from the pan’s heat, cook the salmon more evenly, and retain its delicious juices. If you don’t like the skin, you can easily remove the skin right off once it’s baked and you’re ready to serve. But in recipes like this one (Where you rely on spices to get the most flavor out of your salmon), I used skin off because I prefer to rub the spices on both sides of my fillet and instead used parchment paper to line my baking sheet.
If your fillet has its skin on, you can still rub the spices on the skin side. Get a sharp knife and make a 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 4 cm) long cut almost 0.5 inches (nearly 1 cm) deep. Then start rubbing the spices in just as you would the skinless side!
What to serve with Air Fryer Salmon?
- Salad.
- Sautéed vegetables.
- Pasta.
- Rice. Turmeric Yellow Basmati Rice, Egyptian Rice With Vermicelli Noodles.
How to Store and Freeze?
- Storing: Store the leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: Make sure your salmon is completely cool before freezing. Remove the skin, then top it on parchment paper in an air-tight storage container to prevent it from sticking to the sides. It usually stays good for consumption for 45 days. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight when you are ready to use it.
- Reheating: The key to successfully reheating your salmon (to prevent it from drying out) is low and slow, either in the microwave or oven.
Check Out More Recipes:
15 Minutes Spicy Shrimp Recipe
Baked Salmon | Easy, Fast And Healthy
Egyptian Pan-Seared Tilapia (15 Minutes)
Oven Baked Shrimp | Middle-Eastern
Sweet & Spicy Air Fryer Salmon
Course: DinnerCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy4
servings5
minutes10
minutes191
kcal15
minutesThis Sweet and Spicy Air Fryer Salmon is guaranteed to be your new go-to dish! Combining the sweet taste of brown sugar with the zing of chili pepper flakes and get ready to wow your family with this flavor-packed entrée.
Equipment
Air Fryerhttps://amzn.to/45EywWx
Ingredients
1 pound 1 salmon fillet, skin-off
1 teaspoon 1 salt
1/4 teaspoon 1/4 black pepper
2 tablespoons 2 brown sugar or honey
2 cloves 2 minced garlic
1 teaspoon 1 sweet paprika
1 teaspoon 1 red chili flakes
1/2 1/2 freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons 2 extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon 1 freshly chopped parsley
Directions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Line the air fryer with aluminum foil.
- Cut the salmon fillet into even pieces. Season it with salt and black pepper on both sides.
- In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, paprika, minced garlic, red chili flakes, lemon juice, olive oil, and chopped parsley.
- Rub the salmon fillet with that mixture on both sides. Place them in the aluminum foil in the air fryer. (Easy cleanup:))
- Cook for 8-10 minutes, until golden and crispy or until flaky with a fork. And enjoy!
Recipe Video
Notes
- Season right before baking. Seafood seasonings can cause it to lose its moisture quickly (Mainly because of Salt). That’s why I prefer to season my Salmon right before cooking.
- Turn off the air fryer 30 seconds to 1 minute earlier. As I mentioned above, salmon will continue to cook as it rests. So taking it out 30 seconds to 1 minute earlier is a sure way to prevent overcooking!
- This recipe works for skinless and skin on Salmon. (If you want to rub the spices on the skin side. Get a sharp knife and make a 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 4 cm) cut almost 0.5 inch (almost 1 cm) deep. Then start rubbing the spices in just as you would do the skinless side.
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