Honey Garlic Air Fryer Salmon

Name: Honey Garlic Air Fryer Salmon
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 3 tbsp soy sauce; 1/2 tbsp toasted sesame oil; 1 tbsp rice vinegar; 1 tbsp olive oil; 2 tbsp honey; 2 cloves garlic, finely minced; Four 6 ounce salmon fillets (1 1/2 pounds total); 2-3 scallions, thinly sliced

posted by Alex Aldeborgh, RD on Feb 28, 2022 (last updated 4/7/22) 2 comments »

Jump to Recipe·★★★★★5 from 1 review

This air fryer salmon is marinated in a delicious honey garlic sauce before you cook it in your air fryer. It’s perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and cooks up super fast. This will be your new favorite way to prepare salmon!

Plate with four air fried salmon fillets topped with scallions with a silver fork

Ever since we got an air fryer, it has become our most used kitchen appliance. As a Registered Dietitian, I love how easy it is to prepare delicious, healthy food in the air fryer. We’ve had air fryer smashed brussels sprouts, air fryer carrot fries, and even air fryer blended baked oatmeal!

This honey garlic salmon in the air fryer is a delicious way to enjoy salmon. The honey garlic marinade is simple to make and requires just a handful of ingredients. After the salmon has soaked up the marinade, it cooks up quickly in just about 10 minutes.

This recipe is dairy free and serves four people.

Ingredients in honey garlic air fryer salmon

Here is everything you need to make this salmon air fryer recipe:

Salmon (fresh, skin on) – four 6-ounce fillets
Honey
Garlic
Soy sauce
Sesame oil
Rice vinegar
Olive oil
Scallions, for garnishing

Kitchen tools needed

To make it, you need an air fryer. It’s helpful to have a shallow ceramic or glass baking dish for marinating the salmon. Whenever you cook fish, I also recommend having a food thermometer on hand to ensure it reaches a safe internal cooked temperature of 145 degrees F.

Honey garlic air fryer salmon ingredients measured out on a wooden backdrop

How to make honey garlic air fryer salmon

First, whisk together the marinade ingredients: soy sauce, olive oil, sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, and minced garlic.
Place salmon fillets skin side down in a shallow ceramic or glass baking dish. Let the salmon marinate for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.
Transfer the salmon to your air fryer tray or basket, skin side down.
Cook in the air fryer for 8-11 minutes until salmon reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F with a food thermometer.
Serve salmon garnished with sliced scallions.

Salmon fillets marinating in a white baking dish on a grey backdrop

How to cook salmon in an air fryer

Air fryers cook salmon by continuously circulating hot air around the salmon, cooking it quickly and evenly. This also helps it get a nice crispy exterior. Cook salmon in an air fryer by placing salmon fillets skin side DOWN in your air fryer basket or tray.

If you use an air fryer toaster oven (like the one I have), place the air fryer tray on the lower rack in your air fryer. This helps ensure the top doesn’t burn as it cooks. You can cook salmon in the air fryer at 400 degrees F.

Ensure even cooking in the air fryer by:

Choosing similar sized pieces of salmon to cook.
Not overcrowding the air fryer tray or basket. If you have a smaller air fryer, you may need to cook in two batches.
Spreading out the salmon filets evenly, so they are equally spaced out from each other.

Cooked salmon filets in an air fryer tray

How long to cook salmon in the air fryer

Cook time will depend on the thickness of your salmon fillets. The salmon should be done cooking between 7 and 12 minutes, with thicker pieces taking longer.

You can check doneness by ensuring a food thermometer reads 145 degrees F when you insert it into the thickest part of the salmon. The salmon flesh will be opaque and flake easily when you fork into it.

How to store and reheat cooked salmon

Store cooked salmon in an airtight container in your fridge for up to three days.

Reheat it in your air fryer at 300 degrees F for 10 minutes, or until the salmon is warmed through.

What to serve with salmon

Salmon is a versatile entree dish that pairs well with so many sides! Try this honey garlic salmon recipe with:

Salmon nutrition benefits

Salmon is incredibly nutrient dense and is a great food to include regularly in your diet if you enjoy it! Three ounces of Atlantic salmon provides:

17 grams of protein
1.5 grams of heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA and EPA
172 mg phosphorus (17 percent of your daily needs)
422 mg potassium (12 percent of your daily needs)
31.4 mcg selenium (45 percent of your daily needs)

Salmon is one of the best dietary sources of heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids. These fats are essential in our diet because our bodies do not produce them. The American Heart Association recommends consuming fatty fish like salmon twice a week for heart health benefits, which includes reduced risk of stroke and reduced inflammation (1).

Let me know if you love this recipe by leaving a comment or star rating below, and check out Instagram and Pinterest for more healthy lifestyle inspiration. Thanks for stopping by!