Air Fryer Salmon Recipe - Cookies and Cups

By: Shelly
Posted: Mar 3, 2025

This easy air fryer salmon recipe is ready in just 10 minutes! Make perfectly cooked salmon with crispy skin, and flaky, flavorful meat thanks to an effortless homemade spice rub.

Cooked air fryer salmon on a plate with a fork.

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Salmon Recipe

Simple. Cooking salmon in the air fryer is easy. Just turn on your air fryer, coat the salmon in some oil and spices, then add the fish to your air fryer basket. That’s it.
Quick. You’ll only need 9 minutes (plus 1-2 minutes prep time) to make this recipe. I often make this dish when I’m running short on time and need to make a fast lunch or dinner.
Flavorful. I like to use a simple spice rub made with pantry staples to add tons of flavor to the salmon. The spice blend is also great with chicken! 🙂
Crispy skin. One of my favorite parts is the skin, which the air fryer cooks to crispy perfection. It’s so good, especially with the spice rub.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Below are my notes on what you’ll need for this easy salmon recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card for a printable list of ingredients.

Salmon Fillets – My favorite types of salmon are Coho or Sockeye salmon. Coho has a slightly milder flavor. You can buy fillets from the store, or buy a larger piece and have it cut into smaller fillets.
Olive Oil – Keeps the salmon from sticking to the air fryer basket. A little oil also makes the outside of the salmon nice and crispy in the heat. You can also use avocado oil, if you prefer.
Seasonings – Garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, smoked or sweet paprika, salt, and pepper.

Can I Use Frozen Salmon?

Yes, but you need to thaw it first. I often freeze Coho salmon fillets for later, then when I’m ready to use them I’ll thaw them overnight in the fridge. Once thawed, just follow the recipe as directed.

Tips for Success

If you’ve never used your air fryer to cook salmon before, I encourage you to try it! Here are some final tips to keep in mind:

Cooking times can vary. Depending on the thickness of the salmon fillets and your air fryer model, the exact cooking times might vary. Most air fryer salmon is done in 9-10 minutes.
Used same-sized fillets. Try to find salmon fillets that are similar in size and thickness so that they cook evenly.
Avoid non-stick sprays. Rubbing the salmon with oil before cooking is the best way to prevent it from sticking. Do NOT use non-stick sprays on the air fryer basket. Aerosol cooking sprays, like PAM, will damage the basket coating and smoke in high heat.
Preheat the air fryer. This ensures that the salmon cooks quickly and evenly. It also gives the salmon a nice sear on the outside.
Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. If you double or triple this recipe, you’ll need to work in batches to avoid over-crowding the basket. The hot air needs to move around the salmon so that it cooks evenly.

Air fryer salmon on a plate with a bite taken out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to flip the salmon?

Nope, salmon does not need to be flipped in the air fryer. If you’re cooking salmon with skin on, place the salmon skin-side-down and leave it until the cooking time is up.

At what temperature is salmon done?

Salmon is done cooking when it reaches 145F at the thickest part of the fillet. You can use an instant read thermometer to check the temperature.

Serving Suggestions

I like to serve this salmon with a salad, mashed potatoes or roasted veggies on the side. This rainbow crunch salad is fantastic with salmon. You can also serve something like garlic bread pasta or creamy caesar pasta.

Storing and Reheating Extras

Refrigerate. Let the salmon cool completely, and then store it airtight in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Reheat. Warm the salmon in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or enjoy leftover salmon cold. To reheat salmon in the air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 350ºF and then warm the salmon for 3-4 minutes or so, until hot throughout.

Description

This easy air fryer salmon recipe comes together quickly and makes flaky, flavorful salmon fillets you can serve with many different sides.

• 4 (5- ounce) salmon fillets
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 teaspoon dry oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

Preheat your air fryer to 400ºF. This will help your salmon cook evenly.
Prep the salmon: In a medium bowl, pour the olive oil over the salmon fillets. Sprinkle the spices on top and use your hands to ensure both sides of the salmon fillets are evenly coated with the oil and spice mixture.
Cook the salmon: Place the fillets in the basket of your air fryer, skin side down, and cook for 9-10 minutes, checking at the 9-minute mark. The salmon is done when it’s light pink and flakes easily.
Serve. Add a salad, mashed potatoes, or even some creamy pasta on the side.