Air Fryer Salmon Bites

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Salmon cooked to perfection in the air fryer, infused with a brown sugar, soy, garlic, and lemon marinade.

Prep Time2 5

Cook Time6

Total Time2 11

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: air fryer, bites, salmon, seafood

Servings: servings

Calories: 445kcal

Author: Sara

In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, soy sauce, olive oil, water, salt, lemon pepper and garlic powder.
Stir until the brown sugar is dissolved. Reserve 3 tablespoons of the marinade to serve with cooked salmon bites.
Pour the remaining marinade mixture into the ziplock gallon bag. Cut salmon in 1-inch chunks and place them in the bag with the lemon slices. Seal and turn to coat, then refrigerate at least 2 hours.
Place the marinated salmon in a greased air fryer basket, ensuring the pieces are evenly spaced and not touching for optimal cooking.
Cook at 390ºF for 6 minutes, shaking halfway through. Cook until salmon reaches 125-130ºF.
Serve with saved marinade and enjoy!

Pat Salmon Dry: Always pat your salmon dry with paper towels before marinating. This helps the marinade adhere better and ensures crispy, golden-brown salmon bites. Moist salmon can dilute the marinade and affect flavor.

Even Marinade Coating: Toss the salmon bites thoroughly in the marinade to ensure every piece is evenly coated, giving each bite a burst of flavor.

Uniform Sizes: Cut your salmon into evenly-sized cubes to ensure consistent cooking in the air fryer, avoiding overcooked or undercooked pieces.

Serve with Pairings: These salmon bites pair beautifully with grilled veggies, a crisp chopped salad, or cauliflower mac and cheese for a complete meal.

Avoid Overcrowding: Arrange the salmon bites in a single layer in the air fryer basket to allow air to circulate, ensuring even cooking and crispiness.

Check for Doneness: Use a meat thermometer to check that your salmon bites reach an internal temperature of 125-130ºF for perfectly cooked, tender bites.

Oven or Stovetop Option: If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake the salmon bites in the oven at 400ºF for 12-15 minutes until cooked through, or pan-sear them on medium-high heat for a crispy, golden finish.