Crispy Air Fryer Salmon Bites
These 20-minute crispy Air Fryer Salmon Bites are about to become your new favorite way to cook salmon! A quick smoky spice rub, 8 minutes in the air fryer, and you have perfectly crispy, caramelized bites that work in bowls, salads, pastas, or straight out of the air fryer. Works well for meal prep too.
“True story: the first time I made these, my son and I stood over the air fryer and ate them straight out of the basket. We couldn’t even stop to put them on a plate!” – Rachel Tiemeyer
Why We Love This Recipe
- Fast: 10 minutes of prep and 8 minutes in the air fryer. Done in under 20 minutes.
- Incredible flavor and texture: The spice rub has a secret weapon (more on that below) that gives the outside a lightly caramelized, smoky crust while the inside stays tender and flaky.
- Incredibly versatile: Serve them in rice bowls, over salads, tossed with pasta, or with a dipping sauce on the side. The options are endless.
- Great for meal prep: Make a batch on Sunday and use them in lunches all week. They taste great hot or cold!
- Packed with protein: Each 6-ounce serving of salmon delivers around 32 grams of protein plus plenty of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
- Allergen-Friendly: Gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free! You can also swap chicken in for the salmon if that’s not your jam.
Ingredients Needed
Here’s everything you need for this salmon bites recipe:
Ingredient Notes
- Salmon: Skin-on or skinless both work. Just remove the skin before cutting into bites. Buy salmon that’s already thawed and skinless to save time.
- Smoked paprika: We highly recommend using smoked paprika rather than regular paprika here. It gives the bites a deeper, smokier flavor that really makes this recipe. Spanish or Hungarian paprika can also be substituted.
- Brown sugar and cornstarch: These are what make the exterior crispy and caramelized. Don’t skip or substitute them.
- Cayenne pepper: This adds just a subtle kick. Reduce or omit it for a milder version that kids will love.
- Oil: Any neutral oil works here. Avocado oil (my personal favorite), olive oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil are all fine.
Tips We Learned While Testing This Recipe
This recipe went through multiple rounds of testing in our kitchens (including as part of our Bang Bang Salmon Bowls recipe), and a few things made a real difference.
1. Don’t skip the brown sugar and cornstarch.
These two ingredients are the secret to a crispy exterior. The cornstarch creates a light crust and the brown sugar gives the outside that slightly caramelized, smoky edge. Early tests without them produced bites that were cooked but soft and under-flavored. Don’t leave them out!
2. Pat the salmon very dry before seasoning.
This is the key to getting the spice blend to stick and helping the exterior crisp up in the air fryer. A quick pat-down with a paper towel makes a noticeable difference.
3. Air fry in two batches and watch your second one.
1 1/2 pounds of salmon is too much to fit in a single layer. More importantly, the second batch cooks faster because the air fryer is already hot from the first round, so check it a minute or two early to avoid overcooking.
4. Salmon bites are forgiving.
Unlike a big fillet, salmon cut into small bites stays surprisingly moist even if slightly over the recommended temperature. Don’t stress if a few pieces cook a little longer than planned!
How to Make Air Fryer Salmon Bites
The full printable recipe is at the bottom, but here’s a quick overview…
What to Serve With Air Fryer Salmon Bites
One of the best things about this air fryer salmon bites recipe is how versatile it is. Here are some of our favorite ways to use them:
Dipping Sauces:
In a Bowl:
Our favorite way to use these bites is in our Bang Bang Salmon Bowls. Rice, fresh veggies, creamy bang bang sauce, and these crispy bites on top. It is seriously so good.
Over a Salad:
These bites are a fantastic protein topper for any green salad. Try them over a simple cucumber and avocado salad with a drizzle of Asian Sesame Salad Dressing or Honey Dijon Dressing (you can take it either direction).
Tossed with Pasta:
Add these to our Creamy Lemon Pasta or even simple Butter Noodles for an easy, protein-packed weeknight dinner. Bonus: Use whole wheat noodles for extra fiber.
How to Meal Prep Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Consider meal prepping this protein at the beginning of the week and using it like this:
- Make a full batch (1 1/2 pounds) on Sunday and divide into individual containers with rice and prepped veggies for 4-5 ready-to-go lunches.
- Store your preferred sauce separately and drizzle over just before eating. Like I mentioned, we love it with Bang Bang Sauce or Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce, but Homemade BBQ Sauce would be great too.
- These taste great cold straight from the fridge. No reheating required!
- If you’d prefer them warm, air fry on the reheat setting for 1-2 minutes.
Storage Tips
- Store cooled salmon bites in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- To keep multiple batches warm while cooking, place the first batch on a baking sheet in the oven at 200°F until the second batch is done.
- Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes to bring back the crispy exterior.
- Tastes great cold too. No reheating needed if you’re using them in a meal prep bowl.
Whether you dip them, bowl them, or eat them straight out of the air fryer like we do, these bites are worth making on repeat. And if you haven’t tried them in our Bang Bang Salmon Bowls yet, that’s your next move!
Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika (sub: paprika)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil (Sub: any neutral oil (vegetable, canola, olive, etc.))
- 1 1/2 pounds salmon (skin removed)
Instructions
- Prep Salmon Bites: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, cornstarch, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and cayenne pepper. Cut the (skinless) salmon into 1-2 inch pieces and pat dry with a paper towel. Add the salmon and oil to the spices and gently toss until evenly coated.
- Air Fry: Arrange salmon bites in the basket of an air fryer in a single, even layer, with a little space between pieces (you will likely need to do this in two batches). Air fry at 400°F for 8 minutes, shaking at least once during the cook time, until crispy on the outside.
- Serve: Serve hot with a dipping sauce like Bang Bang Sauce or Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce.
Notes/Tips
- Spanish or Hungarian paprika can be substituted for the smoked paprika, but we highly recommend using smoked paprika for this recipe.
- Keep batches warm in the oven at 200°F until ready to serve.
- Store cooled salmon bites in an airtight container or Ziploc bag in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- If you’re cooking multiple batches of salmon in the air fryer, keep in mind that later batches may cook faster since the air fryer is already thoroughly preheated—so check for doneness a bit earlier to avoid overcooking.
- These salmon bites pair great with salads, rice, pasta, roasted vegetables, and much more! They’re a great option for meal prep and can be enjoyed hot or cold.
Nutrition
Photos and video by Whitney Reist from Sweet Cayenne.
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