Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Salmon Bites are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside for the perfect bite of salmon! Serve them as an appetizer, or with side dishes for a complete meal.
If you’re a fan of crispy salmon and you haven’t tried making it in the air fryer yet, here is your sign to do so!
Quick and easy to prepare with an incredible crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside result, air frying chunks of salmon is a great way of ending up with perfect salmon every time.
These quick and easy Lemon Garlic Salmon Bites require just 10 minutes of prep time, 20 minutes of marination, and 10 minutes of cooking time. Dinner ready in 40 minutes!
That lemon garlic flavor is the perfect complement to fatty salmon!
To make the most use out of my time, I prepare side dishes while the salmon is marinating. This gives plenty of time to whip up a quick salad and/or steam up some rice.
My two most popular air fryer recipes are my Sesame Garlic Air Fryer Salmon Bites and my Air Fryer Steak Bites, so I thought it appropriate to add this lemon garlic salmon for a fresh new take!
Let’s dive right into the ingredients for this easy salmon bite recipe.
Ingredients for Lemon Garlic Salmon Bites:
Fatty Salmon: Pick your favorite kind of fatty salmon, such as King salmon or Atlantic salmon for the best results. I use King salmon that are wild-caught salmon filets.
I don’t recommend using sockeye salmon or any kind of lean fish for this recipe, unless you use more oil and air fry for less time to avoid over-cooking the fish. Less fatty cuts of fish are more sensitive to cooking times as they dry out easier.
Buy skinless salmon fillets if you aren’t into salmon skin. Otherwise, stick with skin-on salmon, as the skin is where the majority of the omega-3 fatty acids live!
Avocado Oil: Every great marinade starts with a great fat! I like using avocado oil because it has a neutral flavor and is great for cooking at high temperatures.
I don’t recommend using olive oil in this application because it burns at a lower temperature than we’re cooking.
Fresh Garlic: Garlic in its fresh form or garlic powder adds lovely flavor to salmon marinades. I like using fresh garlic cloves in this application, but you can replace them with 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
Lemon Zest: A lovely boost of citrus flavor, fresh lemon zest adds just the right level of acidity to the recipe. Be sure to cut the lemon into wedges after zesting it to use for drizzling fresh lemon juice over the cooked salmon.
Paprika and Onion Powder: Paprika adds a mild smoky flavor to salmon and onion powder brings a boost of flavor to pair with the garlic.
Sea Salt and Black Pepper: Season the fish with salt and pepper to your personal taste.
Now that we’ve covered the simple ingredients, let’s make this air fryer salmon bites recipe!
How to Make Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Salmon Bites:
Stir together the avocado oil, fresh minced garlic, paprika, onion powder, sea salt, and lemon zest in a small bowl. Set aside until ready to use.
Remove the salmon filet from its packaging, set it on a cutting board, and if need be, pat off any excess moisture using a paper towels.
Use a sharp knife to cut the salmon into bite-sized pieces. Salmon skin is more difficult to cut through than salmon flesh so you may need to run the knife back and forth several times to get through the skin, depending on the sharpness of your knife.
Transfer the chopped salmon to a sealable container or a zip lock bag. Pour in the marinade, seal the bag, and move the salmon around until it is all coated with marinade.
Marinate at least 20 minutes, up to 12 hours.
When you’re ready to cook, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 4 minutes. After the machine has finished preheating, spray the basket of the air fryer with cooking spray.
Transfer the marinated bite-sized salmon pieces to the air fryer basket and arrange them in a single layer. It is okay if the salmon cubes are touching, but avoid overcrowding.
Air fry for 9 to 11 minutes, or until salmon reaches your desired level of crisp. I air fry for 10 minutes.
Salmon is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. You can check the internal temperature by inserting a meat thermometer into one of the largest pieces of salmon.
Serve air fryer lemon garlic salmon bites with your favorite side dishes and your healthy dinner!
You can do as I do and make salmon bowls with rice, vegetables, and your flavorful air fryer salmon bites. Enjoy with a drizzle of fresh lemon juice, teriyaki sauce, or soy sauce on top.
You can serve this air fryer salmon recipe with a creamy sauce for dipping such as Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing or Paleo Chipotle Aioli.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating Instructions:
Reheat leftover salmon bites in the air fryer at 375 degrees F for 4 to 5 minutes.
I recommend reheating salmon bites in an air fryer, toaster oven, skillet, or oven rather than microwaving them.
Looking for side dish suggestions to serve with crispy salmon bites? Here are some of my top recommendations.
What to Serve With Salmon Bites:
- Coconut Lime Rice
- Tomato Bisque Soup
- Brussel Sprouts with Caramelized Onions and Bacon
- Melting Sweet Potatoes
- Mediterranean Green Bean Salad
- Italian Salad
The next time salmon is on the menu, whip up this easy recipe! I love that the salmon can be marinated in advance and cooked up after work on a busy weeknight.
A great source of protein, these tender salmon bites are a delicious way to get your healthy fats for the day while meeting your daily values of protein.
Salmon lovers, try my most popular salmon recipes!
This delicious salmon recipe is my new favorite way to cook crispy salmon in a jiffy! Drop a comment below letting me know how you serve it up!
Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Salmon Bites
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound salmon
- 3 Tbsp avocado oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp sea salt to taste
- Zest of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Stir together the avocado oil, fresh minced garlic, paprika, onion powder, sea salt, and lemon zest in a small bowl. Set aside until ready to use.
- Remove the salmon filet from its packaging, set it on a cutting board, and if need be, pat off any excess moisture using a paper towels.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the salmon into bite-sized pieces. Salmon skin is more difficult to cut through than salmon flesh so you may need to run the knife back and forth several times to get through the skin, depending on the sharpness of your knife.
- Transfer the chopped salmon to a sealable container or a zip lock bag. Pour in the marinade, seal the bag, and move the salmon around until it is all coated with marinade.
- Marinate at least 20 minutes, up to 12 hours.
- When you’re ready to cook, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 4 minutes. After the machine has finished preheating, spray the basket of the air fryer with cooking spray.
- Transfer the marinated bite-sized salmon pieces to the air fryer basket and arrange them in a single layer. It is okay if the salmon cubes are touching, but avoid overcrowding.
- Air fry for 9 to 11 minutes, or until salmon reaches your desired level of crisp. I air fry for 10 minutes.
- Salmon is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. You can check the internal temperature by inserting a meat thermometer into one of the largest pieces of salmon.
- Serve air fryer lemon garlic salmon bites with your favorite side dishes and your healthy dinner!
Nutrition
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These salmon bites are just as advertised! They’re crispy yet tender on the inside and have just the right amount of lemon and garlic flavors. I loved how easy this was to make in the air fryer! Definitely going to make it again!
I love making salmon this way too! You just can’t beat how simple it is, and the crispy outside is everything!
his recipe brilliantly solves the “healthy dinner fast” dilemma. The 10-minute cook time and minimal cleanup (no stovetop splatter!) make it perfect for busy nights, while the lemon-garlic marinade delivers restaurant-quality flavor. As someone who usually overcooks salmon, I appreciate the foolproof doneness cues. My only tweak? Adding a pinch of chili flakes for heat.
I love the idea of adding some red pepper flakes! I enjoy a little spice too, so I’ll have to try this the next time I make the recipe. Thanks for the sweet note, Daisy!
great!
These lemon garlic salmon bites look like the perfect weeknight win! The air fryer method seems genius for getting that crispy exterior without drying out the fish. I love that the marinade pulls double duty as a sauce too – definitely trying this with a sprinkle of chili flakes for heat. Any tips for adapting the cook time with thicker salmon cuts?
I like the idea of increasing the marinade for a dipping/drizzling action too! For thicker salmon filets, I would lay the salmon flat on a cutting board, and first cut rows. I would then turn those rows over and slice them in half lengthwise, thus creating thinner strips before chopping the strips into cubes. I wish I had a photo tutorial on what I mean here! Let me know if you have any other questions!