Marinated Air Fryer Salmon

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This Marinated Air Fryer Salmon recipe is a delicious quick and easy air fryer meal. Seasoned in a tangy soy sauce and mustard marinade, it’s quick to prep and make.

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Full Recipe/Instructions are available in the 
recipe card at the bottom of the post. 
You can find important tips/tricks in the
blog post.

If I could give you one more reason to love your Air Fryer, then I think this is it! Perfectly cooked salmon in your Air Fryer each and every time. I’m a huge fan of making this Crispy Air Fryer Fish recipe, but now I’ll have to add this marinated salmon recipe to the list.  

I bet you’re wondering, why make salmon in your Air Fryer? Well, here’s why. This recipe is fast, hands-off, and results in tender flakey salmon.

The air fryer cooks this salmon dish perfectly each and every time for a tasty, healthy, and simple weeknight dinner. This recipe is so fuss-free and the clean-up is so easy. It’s great for a healthy low-carb dinner, and it’s one that the whole family will enjoy.

If you don’t have an air fryer, no worries, you can bake this salmon in the oven too.

Be sure to try my Air Fryer Salmon Patties and Easy Teriyaki Salmon too!

How to make Marinated Salmon in your Air Fryer

Gather your ingredients. You’ll need 4 salmon fillets and the marinade ingredients.

Place soy sauce, dijon mustard, brown sugar, and minced garlic in a bowl and whisk to combine.

Pour marinade over salmon. Use a Gallon food storage bag for marinating to gently swish the marinade over all the fish or use a container and roll the fish in the marinade, making sure each piece gets fully covered. Place fish in the refrigerator and marinate for 20-30 minutes.

Remove fish from the refrigerator. Prepare the Air Fryer basket by spraying the basket with oil. You can also use an air fryer parchment paper liner.

Cook salmon in your Air Fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 7-12 minutes. Make sure the salmon is not touching so that the air has a chance to flow around it. 

Once done, remove and serve with your favorite sides.

How long can you marinate salmon?

I find that 20 minutes is enough time for the salmon to take on the flavors of the soy sauce marinade. Because this marinade is not acidic, you can let it marinate for up to 24 hours. Seafood is very delicate, so marinades with acid, such as lemon juice, shouldn’t be marinated for too long as they can start to break down the flesh.

Can you make this recipe without an air fryer?

This is hands down my favorite method of cooking salmon, but you can marinate the salmon and then either pan fry it or oven-cook it at 400F for 12 to 15 minutes.

Can you use frozen salmon?

I prefer to use fresh salmon fillets, but you can use frozen if you have those to hand. If you have thinner fillets, the cooking time will need to be reduced. If using frozen, thaw the fillets thoroughly before marinating and cooking.

Best Salmon to use in the Air Fryer

There are many kinds of salmon and all do well in the air fryer. Do note that farmed Atlantic salmon, a fattier cut of salmon can withhold longer cook times in the air fryer. If cooking wild salmon with less fat, like sockeye salmon, lower the cooking time and degrees to ensure the salmon does not overcook and dry out.

What do you serve it with?

This marinated air fryer salmon makes for one tasty and easy weeknight meal. Serve it up with salad, veggie, or potato side dishes for a full dinner. Try it with Kale Rice or these Air Fried Baked Sweet Potatoes, or try it with some of these other favorites:

• Creamy Dill Potato Salad
• Quinoa Avocado Salad
• Buttery Instant Pot Green Beans and Potatoes
• Roasted Cauliflower and Sweet Potato

Feel free to mix this up a bit and season the salmon with my fish seasoning.

Recipe Notes and Tips

• If cooking salmon with the skin on and you want crispy skin, do not use a parchment liner. Just grease the grates and add the salmon.
• Your salmon is done if the thickest part of the fillet flakes easily with a fork. When in doubt, check the temperature with a quick read thermometer. The USDA recommends the internal temperature f cooked salmon should reach 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
• If cooking the salmon for 7 minutes, your salmon will be flakey, tender, and moist and be about medium doneness. Cook longer if you prefer your salmon a bit firm.
• Depending on the thickness of your salmon fillets, the cooking time may vary. Decrease the cooking time for thinner fillets.

More Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fried Coconut Shrimp with Thai Chili Dipping Sauce
• Perfect Air Fryer Steak with Garlic Herb Butter
• Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
• Air Fryer Crab Cakes
• Air Fryer Lobster Tails

Originally published March 26, 2019. Updated with new photos and additional helpful tips.

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