Air Fryer Salmon Bites – Super Moist and Addictive

Yum

I’ve been loving air fry recipes lately, and these air-fryer salmon bites are my latest obsession. They use less oil, stay moist, and burst with flavors. They’re perfect for a picnic on beautiful summer days. I decided to experiment a bit and recreated a Chick-fil-A-inspired sauce to pair with these salmon bites. The result was nothing short of amazing.

Let’s dive into this easy and delicious recipe, and I’m sure it’ll become your go-to salmon recipe!

What you need

For the Salmon & Seasoning:

½ tbsp paprika powder
½ tbsp garlic powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp cayenne powder
½ tsp oregano
½ tsp onion powder
¼ cup mayo
½ lb salmon, cubed

For the Chick-fil-A Inspired Sauce:

2 tbsp mayo
2 tbsp BBQ sauce
2 tbsp yellow mustard
1 tbsp honey

For Garnish:

Parsley, chopped

How to make air fryer salmon bites

Start by cubing your salmon into bite-sized pieces. Pat them dry with a paper towel to ensure they crisp up nicely in the air fryer.
In a bowl, season the salmon with mayo, paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, cayenne powder, oregano, and onion powder.
Gently toss them to ensure each piece is well coated with the seasoning.
Preheat your air fryer to 470°F. Place the salmon cubes in the air fryer basket in a single layer, and coat them with a layer of mayo on the top.
Broil for 5-6 minutes, flip each piece, and broil for another 3 minutes. The salmon should be crispy and cooked through.
Chick-fil-A Inspired Sauce: While the salmon is cooking, mix together the mayo, BBQ sauce, yellow mustard, and honey in a small bowl.
Once the salmon bites are done, transfer them to a serving plate. Drizzle a good amount of the sauce over the top of the salmon.
Garnish with chopped parsley.

These air fryer salmon bites are perfect as an appetizer, a main dish, or even a snack.

Feel free to experiment with the sauce

If you like miso, try this Creamy Homemade Miso Mayo Dressing. It goes so well with salmon, and I promise you won’t disappoint.

Other recipes I think you might like

Creamy Homemade Miso Mayo Dressing

Gochujang Baked Salmon

Spicy Salmon Sushi Bake – The Viral Dish You Need to Try

Spicy Salmon Bowl

Tips for cooking perfect salmon in the air fryer

Prep the Salmon: to get extra firm salmon bites, coat the salmon with salt and sugar for about an hour in the fridge, wash, and pat dry before seasoning. This helps firm up the texture of the salmon, making perfect, bite-sized pieces.
Thin Mayo Coating: When air frying the salmon, make sure to coat a thin layer of mayo on the top. This not only adds flavor but also prevents the salmon from drying out when you air-fry them.
Don’t Overcrowd the Air Fryer: Arrange the salmon cubes in a single layer and avoid overcrowding to make sure even cooking and crispy edges.
Use the Broil Function: I prefer the broil function instead of the basic air fry function for this recipe. It provides a higher, more direct heat that crisps up the salmon better. I found that using the standard air fry feature overcooked my salmon, and they turned out dry, so broiling is key for those perfect salmon bites.

Air Fryer I Use

COSORI Air Fryer Pro LE 5-Qt Airfryer

What do you pair with these air-fry salmon bites?

In this recipe, I pair the salmon bites with creamy mashed potatoes. The creaminess of the potatoes complements the crispy, salty salmon perfectly.

You can also pair them with a variety of sides like roasted vegetables and rice.

For a lighter option, serve them as a snack with a fresh salad or some crunchy crudités.

I think the versatility of these salmon bites makes them a great match for almost any side dish you prefer.

There you have it! Air fryer salmon bites that are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and bursting with flavor. This recipe is perfect for those busy weeknights. Give it a try and let me know how it turns out in the comments. Happy cooking everyone!