You are going to love how easy it is to make Air Fryer Baked Salmon. You only need a few ingredients and less than 20 minutes to make this healthy fish dish. Serve your baked salmon with your choice of vegetables and fresh lemon for a delicious meal.

air fryer Salmon served with broccoli and lemon.

The air fryer is one of my favorite gadgets to help make healthy food fast (see all my air fryer recipes). You can cook almost anything faster and most efficiently than using your regular kitchen oven.

And, this method for cooking salmon in the air fryer is one of my very favorite easy weeknight meals.

Contents hide
1 Air Fried Salmon Benefits
2 Ingredients
3 Recipe Steps
4 Recipe Tips
5 Recipe FAQs
6 More Easy Air Fryer Recipes You Might Like
7 Don’t Miss These Salmon Recipes!
8 Air Fryer Baked Salmon (Cooked From Fresh)

Air Fried Salmon Benefits

  • You can make it in just 7 minutes (about 20 minutes total including prep time).
  • Serve your perfectly-cooked air fryer salmon recipe on a salad, alongside steamed veggies, or mixed-up in a healthy Buddha bowl.
  • Salmon is a heart-healthy source of fat, protein and micronutrients. One 3-ounce fillet contains 17 grams of protein and is a natural source of Vitamin D. It’s an excellent way to pack in nutrients without the excess of calories.

Ingredients

ingredients for air fryer salmon.
  • Salmon fillets are a firm, flaky fish that won’t fall apart in the air fryer. You can aim to buy fillets that are the same size so they cook evenly, however don’t stress over this too much. Just serve the thinner salmon filets to those who prefer it more well done. For this recipe, use fresh salmon or defrosted frozen salmon (don’t use frozen fish unless it has been fully defrosted).
  • Olive oil will allow the spices to adhere well to the salmon as well as crisping up the outside. You just need a little olive oil (you can also use avocado oil).
  • Spices like sea salt, garlic powder, and black pepper will give the salmon just the right amount of flavor.
  • If you prefer you can use your favorite spice mix such as lemon pepper, old bay, or a sweet and smoky rub.
  • Lemon to squeeze onto the hot salmon just before diving in. Citrus especially lemon pairs so well with Salmon and a fresh squeeze will add loads of flavor.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredients and measurements.

Recipe Steps

This is such an easy recipe! Let me show you how.

how to make salmon in the air fryer.

To make this simple recipe, you only need a few ingredients and a few simple steps.

Step One

First, you’ll need 2-3 salmon fillets (look for wild-caught versions as the most sustainable option).

If you have frozen fillets, be sure to defrost them first in the refrigerator for the perfect salmon. They should be completely thawed before you cook them in the air fryer.

You should also pre-heat your air fryer at this point (not all devices require pre-heating, so check your air fryer’s instruction manual to see if yours requires it).

Step Two

Next, place the pieces of salmon in a shallow container or on a flat surface and pat them dry with a paper towel. This will help the seasonings stick to the salmon while it cooks.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Step Three

Brush the tops of the salmon with a little bit of olive oil.

Sprinkle on the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Repeat on the other side.

Step Four

Spray the basket of your air-fryer with nonstick cooking spray.

Lay the salmon flat in the air fryer basket (skin side down) and set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Set the cook time to 7 minutes.

cooked salmon fillets in an air fryer.

When the cooking time is up, serve the salmon straight out of the air fryer, with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Salmon cooked in the air fryer goes great with Air Fryer Roasted Baby Carrots, Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli, or Air Fryer Green Beans!

I hope you agree that these Air Fryer Salmon Fillets are your new favorite easy dinner.

cooked salmon fillets on a serving dish with lemon slices.

Recipe Tips

  • You can cook skinless salmon fillets, if you prefer.
  • Forgot to defrost your salmon? Try this recipe for Air Fryer Frozen Salmon.
  • For crispy skin, you can cook the salmon skin-side up, but you may need to reduce the overall cooking time.
  • If your salmon fillets are thicker than 1 1/2-inches, increase the cooking time to 10 minutes. If they are thicker than 2 inches, increase the cook time to 12-14 minutes.
  • This recipe is very versatile. I used simple ingredients but you can feel free to use chili powder, soy sauce (or coconut aminos), brown sugar, or your favorite seasonings.
  • Store any leftover salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • If you forgot to defrost your salmon, try my recipe for Instant Pot Salmon & Potatoes instead!

Recipe FAQs

Is this salmon recipe healthy?

Salmon is part of a healthy balanced diet, especially if you purchase wild-caught salmon. Salmon is considered a fatty fish because it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. See my entire clean eating food list for everything you need to buy for healthy eating and great recipes.

What temperature should cooked salmon be?

Fish is considered fully cooked when its internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a meat thermometer or an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the salmon to be sure.

Can you put aluminum foil in the air fryer?

You can put foil in most air fryers, but you should read the instruction manual since there are so many different types and brands of air fryers. Also, for this recipe, you don’t really need foil since there will be very little excess oil.

How do you add flavor to salmon?

There are so many flavorful salmon recipes out there. This recipe gives flavor to the salmon from the garlic powder, salt, pepper, and fresh lemon.

Can I cook the salmon fillets from frozen?

Yes, but you’ll need to increase the cooking time from 7 minutes to 14 minutes. Flip the salmon once during the cooking process and use a thermometer to ensure the salmon reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F before serving.

two plates of air fried salmon dinner on a tabletop.

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes You Might Like

Or, see my entire index of gluten-free air fryer recipes.

Don’t Miss These Salmon Recipes!

Costco Stuffed Salmon (Copycat Recipe)

Salmon Salad with Mayo

Salmon Stir-Fry With Vegetables and Sauce (Gluten-Free)

Keto Canned Salmon Salad

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

And, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!

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air fryer salmon with lemon

Air Fryer Baked Salmon (Cooked From Fresh)

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 2 reviews

Print Recipe

You are going to love how easy it is to make Air Fryer Baked Salmon. You only need a few ingredients and less than 20 minutes to make this healthy fish dish. Serve your baked salmon with your choice of vegetables and fresh lemon for a delicious meal.

  • Total Time: 17 minutes
  • Yield: 2 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 wild-caught salmon pieces, about 6 ounces each (most air fryers can fit up to 3–4 salmon fillets)
  • 1/2 teaspoon olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 1 lemon, sliced (optional, for serving)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. 
  2. Remove the salmon fillets from any packaging and place them in a shallow dish. Pat both sides dry with a paper towel.
  3. Then, use a brush to lightly coat the tops of the salmon with the oil. Sprinkle each filet with the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Repeat on the other side.
  4. Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray and place the salmon (skin side down) in the basket. Set the time to 7 minutes.
  5. When the cooking time is up, remove the salmon from the basket and serve hot.

Notes

  1. Not all air fryers require pre-heating. Check the manufacturers’ guide to see if your model of air fryer needs to be preheated.
  2. If you want to be sure that the salmon is cooked through, you can use an instant-read thermometer. The internal temperature should read 145°F.
  3. You can double or triple this recipe depending on how big your air fryer is. Try to keep the salmon fillets from overlapping too much while cooking to ensure they get cooked evenly. 
  4. If your salmon fillets are thicker than 1 1/2-inches, increase the cooking time to 10 minutes. If they are thicker than 2 inches, increase the cook time to 12-14 minutes.
  5. You can cook the salmon from frozen, but you’ll need to increase the cooking time from 7 minutes to 14 minutes. Flip the salmon once during the cooking process and use a thermometer to ensure the salmon reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F before serving.
  6. Store any leftover salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 piece of salmon
  • Calories: 128
  • Sugar: 0.6 g
  • Sodium: 357.4 mg
  • Fat: 5.2 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.9 g
  • Carbohydrates: 1.9 g
  • Fiber: 0.1 g
  • Protein: 19.1 g
  • Cholesterol: 43.4 mg

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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition. She is a top wellness and food blogger with over 5 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.