Air Fryer Salmon Bites (Printable Version)
Crispy sweet-savory salmon bites air-cooked for a quick and flavorful dish.
# What You Need:
→ Salmon
01 - 1.1 lb skinless salmon fillet, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1/2 tsp salt
04 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
05 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
→ Honey Garlic Glaze
06 - 3 tbsp honey
07 - 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce (use gluten-free if needed)
08 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
09 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
10 - 1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger (optional)
11 - 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water
→ Garnish
12 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or chives
13 - 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
02 - Toss salmon cubes with olive oil, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika until evenly coated.
03 - Place salmon pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until salmon is cooked through and edges are lightly crisp.
04 - Combine honey, soy sauce, lemon juice, garlic, and ginger in a small saucepan over medium heat; bring to a simmer.
05 - Stir in cornstarch slurry and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until glaze thickens. Remove from heat.
06 - Transfer cooked salmon to a large bowl. Pour warm glaze over salmon and gently toss to coat evenly.
07 - Arrange glazed salmon bites on a serving plate. Garnish with chopped parsley or chives and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- They're done in under twenty minutes, which means you can actually pull off something restaurant-quality on a random Tuesday.
- The honey garlic glaze hits that perfect sweet-savory balance that makes people ask for the recipe before they've finished chewing.
- Air frying means minimal oil, maximum flavor, and a crispy exterior that would take twice as long in a traditional pan.
02 -
- Pat your salmon completely dry before air frying—any excess moisture will steam the bites instead of crisping them, and that's the whole point.
- Don't skip shaking the basket halfway through cooking; it's the difference between evenly cooked bites and some that are overdone while others are barely warm.
- Make your glaze while the salmon cooks so you can toss everything together while the bites are still hot and the glaze is still loose enough to coat everything evenly.
03 -
- Cut your salmon into uniform cubes so they cook at exactly the same rate—rough chunks mean uneven doneness.
- Don't skip the cornstarch slurry; it's what makes this glaze actually stick instead of sliding right off the salmon.