Easy Frozen Salmon in Air Fryer

This frozen salmon in the air fryer is such an easy and quick option for a busy night or when you're just looking for an easy night of cooking. Whether you've cooked hundreds of things in your air fryer, or you're brand new to air frying, this recipe is for you.

I've pretty much been loving everything about my air fryer lately. Air fryer teriyaki chicken bites, air fryer smashed potatoes, air fried apples, and air fryer turkey burgers; you can cook pretty much anything in the air fryer.

What To Love About This Recipe

• Convenient and easy - Frozen salmon takes roughly 12 minutes to cook in the air fryer, so you have yourself a healthy and flavorful protein in no time!
• Flavorful - This salmon is made using a super simple garlic and honey marinade, but there are other flavor variations to try as well.
• Crispy texture - The hot air circulation from the air fryer results in a crispy exterior while leaving a soft, flaky interior.
• Dietary needs - Gluten free, dairy free, low-carb, Paleo, and as always clean eating. Pretty much fits any dietary choice/need.

Ingredient Notes

A complete list of ingredients and the amounts can be found in the recipe card below. Specific notes and substitutions are listed here.

• Frozen salmon - You can buy various types of salmon, with sockeye and Atlantic being the most common. Sockeye salmon are smaller with thinner fillets and is richer in flavor. Atlantic salmon are thicker and with a milder flavor. Both work well for air fryer frozen salmon.
• Coconut aminos - Coconut aminos is a soy, wheat, and gluten free (and healthier) alternative to soy sauce . However, you can easily use soy sauce if that's what you have (or even tamari.)
• Paprika - You can use regular or smoked paprika; opt for smoked paprika if a smoky flavor is your thin

Clean food tip: With all animal protein sources, I prefer they come from the way nature intended. Both for health and environmental reasons, so I use wild-caught salmon. Both wild-caught and farm-raised are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, but wild-caught has higher amounts. Most farm raised are also given feed that contains dye to give salmon the bright pink color, while wild-caught are naturally pink from their diet. In addition, some farm raised salmon are also given antibiotics.

Variations

• Pesto - Brush some pesto on the salmon before or after cooking. Cooking with the pesto will create a nice flavorful crust on the outside.
• Teriyaki salmon - Brush some homemade teriyaki on the salmon halfway through cooking and again once it's fully cooked for even more flavor.
• Dijon mustard - Add a tsp. of Dijon mustard to the honey and coconut amino glaze.
• Lemon slices - Top the salmon filets with thing slices of lemon while they are cooking.
  

How to Cook Frozen Salmon in the Air Fryer

Just a few quick steps and your frozen salmon is ready in no time!

Step 1: Preheat air fryer to 390-degrees F. Place frozen salmon fillets in the air fryer basket, skin side down, and set timer for 12 minutes.

Step 2: While the salmon is cooking, whisk together the honey, coconut aminos (or soy sauce), garlic, and paprika.

Step 3: Halfway through cooking time, remove basket from air fryer and brush marinade over each piece of salmon. Return basket to air fryer and continue cooking.

Step 4: Continue cooking until salmon is fully cooked, about 12 minutes total.

Note: The cooking time will vary depending on how thick your fillets are. I always use sockeye salmon, which are thinner, so 12 minutes is perfect.

Expert Tips & Notes

Be cautious with timing: Salmon can easily overcook in an air fryer, so it's essential to monitor the cooking time closely, especially if your fillets are thinner.

Use evenly sized pieces of salmon. This will help so that all pieces cook at the same time.

Make sure to preheat the air fryer before adding the salmon.

How Long Should I Cook Frozen Salmon in Air Fryer?

Just like steak, some people like their salmon more well-done than others. Some like it medium-rare, while some like it well done. According to the USDA, fish should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145-degrees F. This would result in a well done piece of salmon.

So, if under-cooked salmon weirds you out, you can cook until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the fillet reaches 145-degrees F. Once salmon reaches close to this temperatures, a white substance known as albumin will be released from the fish. If you see this starting to appear, you know your salmon is fully cooked (it's totally safe to eat this!)

For salmon that is more on the medium side, cook until it reaches about 125/130 degrees. It's important to note that the salmon will continue to cook by about 5 degrees as it rests outside of the heat. Take this into consideration when cooking to desired temperature.

And if you don't have a meat thermometer, simply take a fork and test for flakiness. If the fish flakes easily with a fork, it's cooked through.

Recipe FAQs

Serving Suggestions

With fried rice - Skip the chicken in my chicken fried rice and add this salmon instead.

Add to pesto pasta - Cook up your favorite noodles and toss with my kale pesto and top with salmon.

Make a salad - Add to a Mediterranean Bowl, swap the chicken for salmon in this BLT salad, add to this kale and butternut squash salad or Asian slaw, or make a classic Caesar salad with this salmon.

Storing and Reheating

Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge and will stay fresh for up to 3 days. You can eat leftovers cold or warm up in the microwave or again in the air fryer.

More Air Fryer Recipes

Eat Clean.Be Healthy!
-Sara