This Sesame Garlic Air Fryer Salmon Bites recipe come together in a flash and are perfect for salmon lovers who adore crispy skin. Serve them up as an appetizer with spicy mayo dipping sauce or with side dishes for a balanced complete meal.
My Crispy Sesame Salmon has been such a hit ever since I shared it that I figured I would make an even easier version for my friends who adore air frying.
The concept behind these salmon bites is simple. We chop up salmon filets and marinate the salmon chunks in a delicious marinade. We then air fry them to juicy, crispy perfection and go to town!
The spicy mayo has just the right amount of kick, provides a lovely creamy sauce with a touch of sweetness to really round out the whole experience.
I love that these salmon bites can serve as a high-protein appetizer or snack and also double as a main dish.
For those who love crispy salmon and prefer using the air fryer, this recipe is pure gold.
Simply whip it up at a moment’s notice for quite possibly the easiest and most delicious salmon recipe you’ll ever make!
Let’s discuss the ingredients for air fryer salmon bites.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Salmon Bites:
Fresh Salmon: The type of salmon you use for salmon bites does make a difference. In my opinion, the best salmon to use for salmon bites is Atlantic salmon because it has a great deal of fat marbling and the skin always crisps up beautifully.
You can also use wild-caught salmon, particularly King salmon. Other types of salmon like coho or sockeye salmon will work too.
Just know that less fatty fish will not be as moist and flavorful as fatty fish like Atlantic salmon. If you don’t like salmon skin, buy skinless salmon fillets.
For the Marinade: Coconut aminos, sesame oil, avocado oil, fresh garlic, rice vinegar, lime juice (or lemon juice), and sea salt. This combination of ingredients makes for a sweet and tangy Asian-inspired marinade, which brings magnificent flavor to the salmon bites.
Spicy Mayo (Optional): Mayonnaise, sriracha (or red chili sauce of choice) and pure maple syrup makes a creamy sauce with a slight kick and a hint of sweetness. This sauce pairs so nicely with the crispy air fryer salmon bites! Use it for dipping or drizzling.
For Serving:
I like eating salmon bites as a bowl with steamed brown rice, edamame, and spicy mayo sauce. You can go with any toppings you enjoy, including pickled vegetables, avocado, Asian Cucumber Salad and more.
Recipe Adaptations:
- You can use liquid aminos, tamari, or soy sauce instead of the coconut aminos. If you do so, I also recommend adding one tablespoon of pure maple syrup, honey, or brown sugar to the marinade to make up for the loss of sweetness as coconut aminos are naturally sweet.
- For spicy salmon bites, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of sriracha to the marinade. You can also add a little cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
- To save time, you can easily use ½ cup of homemade or store-bought teriyaki sauce as the marinade instead of preparing the marinade recipe.
- Use olive oil instead of avocado oil if it’s what you have on hand.
- Substitute two teaspoons of garlic powder for the fresh garlic.
- Add black pepper and/or Cajun seasoning to your personal taste.
Now that we’re familiar with the simple ingredients, let’s make crispy salmon bites!
How to Make Air Fryer Salmon Bites:
If you’re making the chipotle mayo sauce, stir the ingredients together in a small bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate while you’re preparing the salmon.
Remove the salmon from its packaging and pat any excess moisture dry with paper towels. Transfer salmon to a cutting board.
Chop the salmon filet into bite sized chunks. Note: You can leave the skin on or remove it with a sharp knife. I leave the skin on because I love the crispy texture it brings to the salmon bites. Plus, the skin is where the majority of the omega 3s are.
Combine all of the ingredients for the marinade (coconut aminos, rice vinegar, garlic, sesame oil, and lime juice) in a small bowl.
Transfer the chopped salmon to a large zip lock bag or sealable container along with the marinade. Seal the bag and swish everything around until all of the chunks of salmon are coated in marinade.
Marinate the salmon for at least 15 minutes in the refrigerator, or up to 24 hours if you have more time.
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 4 minutes. Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray.
Transfer the marinated salmon cubes to the air fryer basket in a single layer (you may need to do this in two batches depending on the size of your air fryer).
Air fry at 400 for 8 to 12 minutes, or until the outside of the salmon is crispy and the bites are cooked through. Salmon is considered fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can check the temperature by inserting a meat thermometer into the largest chunk of salmon. While the salmon cooks, you can prepare any side dishes.
Serve crispy air fryer salmon bites with chipotle mayo sauce and any choice of side dishes. Steamed brown rice or white rice, edamame, green onions, sesame seeds, avocado, kimchi, pickled ginger, seaweed salad, and pickled cucumber are all great options for additions to a delicious meal.
You can make my Air Fryer Green Beans to pair with the salmon bites for a complete low carb meal. Whip up some salmon tacos if you’d like!
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Salmon bites taste best when eaten fresh out of the air fryer, as they have the best crispy, juicy texture. For this reason, I personally don’t use salmon bites as a meal prep recipe, but if you’re fine with leftover salmon, feel free to do so.
How Long to Cook Salmon Bites in Air Fryer:
At 400 degrees F, seasoned salmon bites need about 6 to 12 minutes in the air fryer.
The exact cooking time depends on the temperature of the salmon going into the air fryer (whether you have brought it to room temperature or it has been chilling in the refrigerator) and the size of the bites.
It also depends on your preference for doneness. For tender salmon bites, air fry for less time (6-8 minutes). For crispy edges, cook on the upper end of the range – about 10 to 12 minutes.
Using Salmon From Frozen:
For the best results, thaw salmon completely before using it in air fryer recipes. The reason being, thawed salmon soaks up flavor better than frozen salmon so marinating thawed salmon is more effective. In addition, the cook time will be lower when using thawed.
And that’s it! Easy air fryer salmon bites that are packed with healthy omega-3 fatty acids for a nutritious and delicious main entrée. For those who enjoy using their air fryer, this may just be your new favorite way of cooking salmon!
If you love protein bites like this, also try my Asian Air Fryer Chicken Bites or my Air Fryer Steak Bites.
Enjoy these perfectly crispy, flavorful bites of joy!
Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Ingredients
- 1 lb salmon
- 1 Tbsp avocado oil
- 3 Tbsp coconut aminos or low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 5 large cloves garlic
- 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp lime juice
- Sea salt to taste
Sriracha Mayo (Optional):
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp sriracha
- 1 tsp pure maple syrup
Instructions
- If you’re making the chipotle mayo sauce, stir the ingredients together in a small bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate while you’re preparing the salmon.
- Remove the salmon from its packaging and pat any excess moisture dry with paper towels. Transfer salmon to a cutting board. Chop the salmon filet into bite sized chunks. Note: You can leave the skin on or remove it with a sharp knife. I leave the skin on because I love the crispy texture it brings to the salmon bites. Plus, the skin is where the majority of the omega 3s are.
- Combine all of the ingredients for the marinade (avocado oil, coconut aminos, rice vinegar, garlic, sesame oil, and lime juice) in a small bowl.
- Transfer the chopped salmon to a large zip lock bag or sealable container along with the marinade. Seal the bag and swish everything around until all of the chunks of salmon are coated in marinade. Marinate the salmon for at least 15 minutes in the refrigerator, or up to 24 hours if you have more time.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 4 minutes. Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Transfer the marinated salmon cubes to the air fryer basket in a single layer (you may need to do this in two batches depending on the size of your air fryer).
- Air fry at 400 for 8 to 12 minutes, or until the outside of the salmon is crispy and the bites are cooked through. Salmon is considered fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. You can check the temperature by inserting a meat thermometer into the largest chunk of salmon. While the salmon cooks, you can prepare any side dishes.
- Serve crispy air fryer salmon bites with chipotle mayo sauce and any choice of side dishes. Steamed brown rice or white rice, edamame, green onions, sesame seeds, avocado, kimchi, pickled ginger, seaweed salad, and pickled cucumber are all great options for additions to a delicious meal.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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This was so good, it was super easy and everything came out perfect to your directions. Definitely a new go to recipe for me.
Thanks so much for sharing, Susie! I’m happy you enjoy the recipe too! 🙂
We really liked the technique and enjoyed the salmon. We did feel it needed more spice though. I was confused that the first ingredient, avacado oil, is never mentioned. Was it suppose to go in the marinade?
FYI-I tried cooking half of it in an air fryer and half in a convection oven. Air fryer gave a crispier crust.
Hi Beth! My apologies for the confusion – I realized I didn’t mention the avocado oil in the instructions, so I went ahead and fixed that – you are correct that it was supposed to go in the marinade 🙂 Appreciate you testing two cooking methods – this is super helpful to others who want to try the same! xo