These easy Air fryer Salmon Bites are marinated in a glistening teriyaki sauce and air fried until crispy edges are formed and the insides are tender and flaky. These little bites are a great twist on your everyday salmon whether as an appetizer or a main dish!
Need more easy seafood recipes to try? This Maple Soy Salmon and this California Roll in a Bowl recipe.
Table of contents
Easy Teriyaki Salmon Bites
This air fryer salmon may be bite-sized, but they come with a big flavor! If you’re looking for a healthy and delicious salmon dish, this quick and simple recipe is going to become a fast favorite.
Salmon cubes are marinated in a sweet and sticky teriyaki sauce made with soy sauce, honey, garlic, and your favorite teriyaki sauce, then air fried until crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy a low carb, delicious meal full of protein.
The Asian-inspired flavors create a taste explosion and the best part is, it’s all made with simple ingredients and the air fryer does most of the work!
Ingredients/shopping list
- Salmon filets: I use a 1 lb atlantic salmon filet for this recipe. You can use more if you plan to make extra batches. Remove the skin and cut them filet into 1-inch cubes.
- Teriyaki sauce: Use your favorite kind of sauce, whether it’s store-bought or homemade. It’s a sweet and sticky delicious condiment frequently used for marinades, glazes, and dipping sauces.
- Olive oil: Helps to blend the ingredients of the sauce. The oil will also help to brown the outside of the cubes.
- Soy sauce: Adds an extra layer of umami flavor to the marinade. It’s frequently used in many Asian recipes and sauces for flavor and color.
- Honey: A little assurance for extra sweetness and stickiness!
- Garlic powder and ground pepper: Just a bit of seasoning is all you need to complement the other ingredients.
Variations/ Substitutions
1. Use low-sodium soy sauce, if you prefer, or Tamari or coconut aminos to keep it gluten-free.
2. A sprinkle of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for some heat.
3. Adjust this recipe each time you make it and swap out the marinade for simple seasonings like Cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, lemon pepper seasoning, or simple salt, and pepper.
4. Add a little brown sugar, honey or maple syrup.
5. Drizzle with a little lemon juice or lime juice.
How to Make this Salmon Recipe
This recipe will come together in a few easy steps. As long as you can skin your salmon, you can make these salmon chunks!
See below for tips on how to skin a salmon filet.
Step 1: Chop the skinned salmon fillets into 1 inch cubes.
Step 2: In a small bowl, combine teriyaki sauce, olive oil, soy sauce, honey, garlic powder, and pepper. Mix well.
Step 3: Marinade the salmon for 10-15 minutes, either by adding the cubes to the bowl, or brushing each cube, layered on a tray, with some of the sauce and let it sit.
Step 4: As the salmon marinates, preheat the air fryer to 350° F. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and then place the seasoned salmon pieces into the basket in a single layer, making sure not to overlap the pieces.
Step 5: Cook for 6-8 minutes, pausing to shake or flip the pieces halfway. Once the salmon is cooked through, top them with sesame seeds and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy air fryer salmon bites as an appetizer with little toothpicks and extra dipping sauce on the side or toss them on top of a salad.
Make a salmon bites bowl with cooked rice and steamed broccoli, snow peas, and carrots for a complete meal. Or serve them with mashed potatoes and roasted or grilled veggies.
Use these little salmon bites in a wrap for salmon tacos loaded with toppings and a creamy sauce like yum yum sauce!
The possibilities are endless and here are a few more side dish ideas that are my family’s favorites:
- Coconut Rice
- Cauliflower Rice Pilaf
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
- Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
- Easy Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing
- Roasted Green Beans with Almonds
Can I make these in the oven instead?
Definitely! Place marinated salmon bites onto a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake at 400° F on the top rack for 15 minutes, and flip them halfway.
Tips
- Thaw salmon first if it’s frozen. although it’s easier to cut the salmon into cubes while it’s still slightly frozen.
- Cut them into uniform-sized pieces so they all cook evenly and thoroughly at the same time.
- Overcooked salmon will turn out dry so test your salmon for doneness by using a thermometer. It should read between 110° F and 145° F, depending on your preference.
- Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper liner for easy cleanup.
FAQ’s
All you’ll need is a clean cutting board, a sharp knife, and a kitchen towel (or paper towel).
First, pat it dry and lay it on the board skin side up. Grab a bit of the skin on one end of the filet and use your knife to gently slice the skin away from the flesh. Use a towel to grip the skin if you need it.
As you continue to evenly and gently slice under the skin down the filet, pull away the skin as you go. Discard it or keep it and fry it with a bit of oil and salt for crispy salmon skin!
Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They can be enjoyed cold right out of the fridge too!
Pop them back in the air fryer or the oven until warmed through. If you have just a few, feel free to use the microwave instead.
If you like this recipe, please leave us a comment and rate the recipe below. You can also find us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram!
Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Ingredients
- 1 lb salmon filets
- 2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- ½ tablespoon honey
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
- Remove skin from salmon using a sharp knife
- Chop salmon fillets into 1 inch cubes1 lb salmon filets
- In a medium bowl, add the teriyaki sauce, olive oil, soy sauce, honey, garlic powder and pepper and blend together well.2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, ½ tablespoon honey, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- Add the salmon to the marinade for 10-15 minutes while oven is preheating.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350° F. Place the salmon pieces into the basket in a single layer. (do not overcrowd. cook in batches if necessary)
- Cook for 6-8 minutes or salmon is cooked through. (Shake the basket half way through cooking).
- Top with sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclosure
Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
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Sue
Very easy! Very yummy! I always hold my breath when using my air fryer because I have had such mixed results. This turned out perfectly. Crispy and so tasty!
Elle R
Great recipe! Thanks for sharing. I cook them for about about 6 minutes flipping halfway through and then put on broil high for 2 minutes to get a little crispier. I pair them with white rice and steamed broccoli and some yum yum sauce on top. So great!
Hannah
Can you let the salmon marinate longer than the 15 mins?
Sherri
You sure can! I haven’t gone more than 2 hours though
Jackie
Delicious!!! We will do it again.
Paula
Excellent (and easy) recipe! Thanks for sharing! I usually have to talk my husband into having salmon but this recipe has changed all that. I cooked the salmon bites on parchment paper, in my oven, on air fry setting (400*).
Linda M
Was parchment paper on a baking pan or used just parchment paper? I haven’t used my air fryer in my oven
Vivienne Heaney
Your recipe for air fryer salmon bites sound yum will make them sometime
Tonya
Just made these and they are delicious! This is a perfect quick, easy and tasty recipe. I added crushed red pepper flake for a little heat to complement the sweet and they were a huge hit! As a previous commenter mentioned, I cooked the first half at the suggested temperature and then raised the temp to 400 as well. Perfection! Thanks for the recipe.
Kelly Trice
I made these for me and my husband and LOVED them over rice with avocado and a homemade spicy mayo sauce with cucumbers. I did cook then at 400 instead though and they came out nice and crispy!! So delicious