Can you bake air fryer salmon in the oven instead?

Yes! It will be slightly less crispy on the exterior, but it works really nicely with this recipe. For best results I'd put the sheet pan on an oven rack that is closer to the top / heating element. Here's a picture of the salmon baked in the oven:

Can you make this air fryer salmon without the brown sugar?

Yes, but you'll get a different result with flavor and texture. The main differences are that a) it won't be as sweet, obviously, and b) it's much less caramelized. Here's a photo of the salmon made without brown sugar:

Can you make this without the cornstarch?

Yes. When you leave out the cornstarch, the salmon pieces will be missing some of that golden, crispity exterior, but it can still turn out really well without it. Here's a photo of the salmon made without cornstarch:

What sauces work well with air fryer salmon?

Sauce lover here! I'm so glad you asked. My favorite sauces for this air fryer salmon are the basil sauce , romesco , tzatziki , honey mustard , aji verde , an avocado based sauce like the magic green sauce , and the gochujang sauce (listed in the notes section here ). If you don't want to make a sauce, this is also 5-star with a drizzle of hot honey over the top! The spices on this salmon make it a really amazing pair with so many recipes and sauce combinations. *happy dance*

Where do you buy thick boneless skinless salmon filets?

Here in the Twin Cities, I have found thick, boneless, skinless filets from Target, Trader Joe's, Cub Foods, and Kowalski's.

Can I use frozen salmon?

Yes, but for this recipe I would recommend completely thawing the salmon first, and then cutting it as directed. You'll also want to pat it with paper towels to ensure it's dry enough for the spices to stick well to the surface of the salmon.

Can I use salmon with skin?

Yes. I like to cube the salmon, so I prefer to cut the skin off so these eat more like salmon bites and you can just pop them right in your mouth. :) If you prefer a single filet of salmon with skin on the bottom, that's fine - you can use these same spices to rub the top surfaces of your filet of salmon and cook it skin side down in the air fryer. I would just increase the cook time to about 9 minutes total to ensure doneness through the middle.

How long does leftover salmon stay good in the fridge?

Technically, cooked salmon will be good in the fridge for about 3 days. But I find that, with this salmon in particular, it has the best taste and texture within 24 hours. (And for this recipe, we almost never have leftovers anyway! ha.) If you're eating this salmon as leftovers, I'd actually encourage you to consider eating it cold. Yes, I'm serious! Reheating the salmon will dry it out further and it's just always a bit sad. Team Cold Salmon! Toss it on a salad, dip it in some sauce, smash it on a bagel with cream cheese. Yum!

Should I marinate the salmon?

I prefer to NOT marinate the salmon for this recipe. The longest amount of time I've marinated the salmon for with the spices on it was about 3 hours in the fridge, and I didn't feel like it added to the overall flavor. The cornstarch also doesn't do great with a longer marinating time. If you do want to prep ahead, I'd suggest cutting up your salmon, mixing your spices, and then waiting until right before to toss it together.

Do you need to flip the salmon in the air fryer?

No flipping necessary! It will get crispity and golden on all sides all on its own. Just make sure they're spread evenly and not piled on top of each other in the air fryer.

What air fryer do you use?

I use a Cosori brand air fryer and love it! My exact size and color are sold out, but this one is about the same (just a tiny bit bigger). (affiliate link)

Ridiculously Good Air Fryer Salmon Recipe

Name: Ridiculously Good Air Fryer Salmon
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 13 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb. salmon (see note 1); 1 tablespoon brown sugar; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/2 teaspoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon cornstarch; 3/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt (or 1/2 teaspoon table salt); 2-3 teaspoons avocado or olive oil

Description

This air fryer salmon is TOO GOOD. Crisped and golden on the outside, buttery and juicy on the inside, and made in 15 minutes start to finish.

Ingredients

Units Scale

1 lb. salmon (see note 1)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon cornstarch
3/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt (or 1/2 teaspoon table salt)
2–3 teaspoons avocado or olive oil

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Prep the salmon: Remove the skin from your salmon, if it has skin. Pat with paper towels so the surface is mostly dry. Cut your salmon into cubes, 1 to 2 inches each (see photo).
Prep the spices: Mix the spices together in a small bowl.
Toss salmon with spices: Toss your salmon cubes in the spices and oil – I usually use my hands to mix it all together.
Air fry the salmon: Place your salmon pieces in the air fryer (I just dump them right in) and spread them out a bit so they’re not laying all over each other. Air fry at 400 degrees for 8 minutes!
You’re Done! Yum! At this point it should be textured and golden on the outside, and juicy and delicious on the inside. When you press each piece with a fork, they should easily flake / slip apart with a buttery, juicy texture inside. (You can do 6-7 minutes if you prefer more of a medium doneness.)

Notes

Note 1 on Salmon: I prefer to buy boneless, skinless salmon in a nice thick piece so it can easily be cut into cubes. I usually find boneless, skinless salmon filets at Trader Joe’s, Target, and many other grocery stores. If you’re at a more boujee grocer with a seafood counter, you can also ask them to remove the skin and even cut it into cubes before packaging it for you. This amount of spice mix will work for anywhere from 1 to 1.5 pounds of salmon (if you’re closer to 1.5 pounds it will be less thoroughly coated and you may want to add a bit more salt when it’s done / after you taste it).

Note 2 on Brown Sugar: If the brown sugar is dry or clumpy, break it apart with your hands or with a fork so that it mixes more easily with the other spices and coats the salmon more easily.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Air Fryer
Cuisine: American

Keywords: air fryer salmon, salmon recipe, easy salmon recipe