Air Fryer Salmon Bites are so quick and easy to make and there are so many different ways to serve them. These salmon nuggets take just 7 minutes to cook in the air fryer, and they are perfect on rice with a sticky teriyaki sauce. Protein packed, speedy and versatile!
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We are obsessed with cooking salmon in the air fryer. If you haven't tried our Air Fryer Salmon, then give it a try as it comes out perfect every time.
These salmon cubes are little bite sized pieces and great for putting on salads or mixing into rice or noodles.
Cooking salmon bites in the air fryer means they come out perfectly cooked every time. No burning, just crispy edges with a fall apart flakey middle - not to mention perfectly seasoned. My kids loved them too and they call them "salmon nuggets".
Just 3 ingredients is all you need to make these salmon bites - salmon, oil and seasoning. There are lots of different options for the seasoning below. Air Fryer Salmon Bites are a great addition to weekly meal prep too.
Looking for more salmon recipes? Why not try our quick Salmon and Cream Cheese Bagel, tasty Smoked Salmon Pasta, easy Salmon Muffins, comforting Smoked Salmon Risotto or our impressive looking Salmon Maki.
Check out our list of incredible salmon recipes, for more salmon meal ideas.
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Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Salmon - Use skinless and boneless salmon fillets. If they come with the skin still on, then you can carefully use a sharp knife to slice the skin off. Take a look at this article if you need help with removing the skin from salmon. If using wild salmon, please note that this can get dry quicker in the air fryer.
- Oil - We used olive oil.
- Paprika - This is the only seasoning we added, and not only does it add a lovely smoky flavour, but it gives the salmon cubes a vibrant colour. More on seasoning options below.
- Salt and pepper - Generously season.
Variations
We kept it simple with just a little paprika and salt and pepper on these. However, you can marinade them in a sauce and then cook them in that for extra flavour.
We love our Healthy Teriyaki Sauce as it is packed full of flavour, and lovely and sticky too. Mix all the ingredients for the sauce together and then add the salmon cubes. Mix them around until coated and then put in the fridge for 30 minutes before cooking as normal.
If you didn't want a sauce, then you could still just add some seasoning, but mix it up a bit. Instead of paprika, add some Cajun seasoning or Fajita Seasoning.
For something a little more indulgent, you could coat them in melted butter mixed with some fresh garlic and lemon juice. SO good.
How to Make Air Fryer Salmon Bites - Step by Step
- Step one: In a bowl, add the salmon, oil, paprika, salt and pepper.
- Step two: Mix well to coat all the salmon chunks.
- Step three: Put the coated salmon chunks into your air fryer. Arrange in a single layer with space in between. Cook at 200°C for 4 minutes.
- Step four: Turn the chunks over and cook for a further 3 minutes.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Salmon Bites
We added a sprinkling of sesame seeds on top of ours, but if you can find it, then Furikake seasoning is amazing on these air fryer salmon bites. It's a combination of toasted sesame seeds, nori, salt and sugar and the flavour is amazing.
We love using these to make our Salmon Rice Bowls - it makes such a delicious, quick and easy and nutrient dense meal and we can adapt it to make it kid friendly too. You can also use them to make our Sticky Salmon Stir Fry.
Salmon and noodles is an obvious combination and such a quick and easy meal. Why not put these on top of our Soy Sauce Noodles or Chilli Garlic Spicy Noodles?
We would quite happily just enjoy these as a snack though, and they don't last long around our kids. If I manage to get any, then I love them on a simple salad.
Extra Tips
- If you have to remove the skin from your salmon fillets, don't waste the skin as you can put it in the air fryer for a minute to crispy up. A delicious and nutrient dense snack.
- To make clean up a lot easier (especially if you are cooking it in a sauce) then add a silicone liner to your air fryer and cook the salmon on that.
- You may need to cook the salmon bites in batches depending on the size of our air fryer basket.
- Make sure that the salmon cubes are in a single layer and not overlapping to ensure even cooking and that the air can circulate and get them nice and crispy.
- For really crispy salmon nuggets, then preheat your air fryer for 2 minutes first.
- Make sure to take the salmon out of the air fryer as soon as your air fryer has finished, otherwise the heat inside will continue to cook the bites and they will become dry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use frozen salmon, but you will have to make sure that it has thawed in the fridge overnight before cutting it into cubes.
These are best eaten fresh, however if you do have any leftovers then they can be kept in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. You can reheat them in the air fryer for a couple of minutes until heated through.
No, we do not recommend freezing these because they can become dry when defrosted.
More Air Fryer Fish Recipes
If you've tried this air fryer salmon recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
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Recipe
Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Ingredients
- 240 g (8.5 oz) of Salmon - cut into 2cm/1" chunks
- 1 tablespoon of Olive oil
- 0.5 teaspoon of Paprika
- 1 pinch of Sea salt
- 1 pinch of Ground black pepper
Instructions
- Put all of the ingredients into a bowl.
- Mix well to coat all the salmon chunks.
- Put the coated salmon chunks into your air fryer. Arrange in a single layer with space in between.
- Cook on the Air Fry setting at 200°C/400°F for 4 minutes.
- Turn the chunks over and cook for a further 3 minutes.
Recipe Video
Recipe Tips
- If you have to remove the skin from your salmon fillets, don't waste the skin as you can put it in the air fryer for a minute to crispy up. A delicious and nutrient dense snack.
- To make clean up a lot easier (especially if you are cooking it in a sauce) then add a silicone liner to your air fryer and cook the salmon on that.
- You may need to cook the salmon bites in batches depending on the size of our air fryer basket.
- Make sure that the salmon cubes are in a single layer and not overlapping to ensure even cooking and that the air can circulate and get them nice and crispy.
- For really crispy salmon nuggets, then preheat your air fryer for 2 minutes first.
- Make sure to take the salmon out of the air fryer as soon as your air fryer has finished, otherwise the heat inside will continue to cook the bites and they will become dry.
Nutritional Information
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The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Kim says
Absolutely loved these Air Fryer Salmon Bites! Quick, flavorful, and incredibly versatile. They're my go-to protein option now, they go so well with my salads. So impressed with the ease and taste!
Sara Welch says
Enjoyed this for dinner last night and it was a savory success! Turned out perfectly tender and juicy with the right amount of crisp! Easily, a new favorite recipe!
Chenee says
I loved these! I served them over rice last night with some stir fried veggies. So easy and so delicious!
Casey says
I've never heard of salmon nuggets, but these look really good. I'm excited to try them!
Nathan says
I adore this recipe, salmon is my favorite kind of fish and this is the perfect weeknight meal! So quick and easy but also flavorful and satisfying. I'll be making this one again for sure!