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.
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 flaky 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!
A Quick Glance at the Ingredients
Ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions are on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Salmon - I use salmon filets. You can buy them pre-cut, or buy a large filet and slice it into portions.
- Marinade Base - soy sauce, Dijon mustard, Brown sugar
- Aromatics - minced garlic, green onions
How to make Marinated Salmon in your Air Fryer
Step 1: Gather your ingredients. You'll need four salmon fillets and the marinade ingredients.
Step 2: Place soy sauce, dijon mustard, brown sugar, and minced garlic in a bowl and whisk to combine.
Step 3: Pour marinade over salmon. Use a 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 the fish in the refrigerator and marinate for about 15-20 minutes.
Step 4: Remove fish from the refrigerator. Prepare the Air Fryer basket by spraying it with oil. You can also use an air fryer parchment paper liner.
Step 5: 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 fish.
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 400°F 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 withstand longer cook times in the air fryer. When cooking wild salmon with less fat, such as sockeye salmon, reduce the cooking time and temperature to prevent overcooking and drying out.
What do you serve it with?
This marinated air fryer salmon makes for one tasty and easy weeknight meal. Serve it up with a salad, veggies, or potato side dishes for a complete dinner. Try it with Kale Rice or these Air Fried Sweet Potatoes, or try it with some of these other favorites:
- Creamy Dill Potato Salad - a nice spin on a classic potato salad. We love this as a side.
- Quinoa Avocado Salad - this is such a refreshing side dish.
- Roasted Cauliflower and Sweet Potato - A classic vegetable side dish. I add rosemary, salt, and pepper for an added layer of flavor.
Feel free to mix this up a bit and season the salmon with my fish seasoning.
Tanya's Recipe Notes and Tips
- If you're cooking salmon with the skin on and want crispy skin, avoid using 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 that the internal temperature of cooked salmon reach 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- If cooking the salmon for 7 minutes, your salmon will be flaky, 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
I have so many air fryer recipes on the site, but here are a few of my most popular:
- Air Fried Coconut Shrimp with Thai Chili Dipping Sauce - a delicious appetizer resulting in crispy shrimp.
- Perfect Air Fryer Steak with Garlic Herb Butter - I love cooking steak this way. It comes out perfect everytime.
- Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs - the flavor of these is incredible.
- Air Fryer Crab Cakes - these crab cakes are so tender and come out great in the air fryer.
- Air Fryer Lobster Tails - another recipe that comes out perfectly cooked in the air fryer. I like to top these with a little garlic butter.
I hope you love this air fryer salmon recipe as much as we do. If you have tried this or any other recipe on my blog, please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below! Your feedback is invaluable and helps us grow. I appreciate your support!
Marinated Air Fryer Salmon Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
- Whisk soy sauce, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, and minced garlic in a bowl. Pour over salmon fillets, making sure all fillets are covered. Refrigerate and marinate for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove salmon filets from marinade and place in greased or lined Air Fryer basket.
- Air fry for 7-12 minutes on 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove from Air Fryer and top with chopped green onions. Enjoy 🙂
Nutrition
Video
Notes
- 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 flaky, 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.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Originally published March 26, 2019. Updated with new photos and additional helpful tips.
Paul Monteiro says
Love salmon will make
Michael Presnar says
I made this exactly as the recipe instructed. My wife loved it! Her mother is a salmon fan, so she sent her the recipe. So nice to cook a dinner for the family and have them say it’s a keeper!
Tanya says
That's so awesome Michael! Thanks so much for letting me know. So happy to hear you all liked the recipe.
Mary says
I have been making salmon this way since I discovered your recipe four years ago. I have served it to many people who "don't like salmon". Everyone loves it! Thank you for sharing your delicious recipes with us!
Tanya says
Thank you so much, Mary! So glad everyone loves this recipe 🙂
Kather says
This is so good! And so easy! Even my picky son who “doesn’t like fish” asks me to make this!
Tanya says
Thanks so much, Kather! So happy you both liked the recipe 🙂
Karen Bona says
Very easy recipe with simple ingredients which I love. Liked the slightly sweet taste in marinade. 7 minutes and done perfectly. Will definitely make again. Color was real pretty too.
Tanya says
Thanks so much, Karen! So happy you liked the recipe 🙂
Mary says
I make this for my family every week.I have had three different guests over for dinner who won't eat seafood because it's "too fishy",but they love this salmon after tasting it. They have all asked for the recipe.
Tanya says
Hi Mary, Thank you so much for making and sharing the recipe 🙂
Tricia Galey says
I made this for the first time tonight. It is a delicious and light marinade, it didn’t overpower the salmon flavor. However, I did use coco amino instead of soy sauce.
Mary McManus says
@Tricia Galey, thank you for the suggestion. I had to Google coco amino & was pleased to find it's lower in salt content than soy sauce. I will be ordering this condiment & give it a try.
Rebecca says
I’ve been following Tanya for over a year now and have loved most of the recipes I’ve tried. BUT this recipe is one of my new faves! This was so super easy and quick enough for a weeknight dinner. Roast some baby potatoes and steam some asparagus and it’s a meal in about 35 minutes. My other favorite is the perfect air fryer steak with garlic herbed bitter! Thank you Tanya for such easy and delicious recipes!!! Makes my tummy happy!!!
Tanya says
Thanks Rebecca! Love the sides you paired it with!
Mary Palmer says
I made this for dinner tonight and my family loved it! A little crispy char around the edges and so moist on the inside. The flavor is very good!
Tanya says
Thanks Mary! So glad you liked the recipe 🙂
Mary E Schuster says
This salmon was absolutely delicious!! I was a little worried about so much soy sauce and removed the salmon from the marinade a little too early but still got the flavor. Next time I will marinate it longer. Thanks Tanya!!
Crys says
Great video. What air fryer make/model is this?
Tanya says
It's the Bella Pro 5.3qt. I'm not sure if they still make them anymore but I loved this air fryer before I gifted it away.
Michelle says
Can you use salmon without skin?
Tanya says
Yes you can 🙂
Joy says
This looks delish! Can you use frozen salmon fillets?
Tanya says
You can...but I would defrost first just so that marinate can soak up a little.
Linda G. says
I am receiving my new Ninja air fryer in a few days. I am eager to try this recipe! Thank you for offering it, Tanya.
Emerald says
I made this recipe today & I forgot to take a picture of it; I must say , the raving about this recipe is all true. Amazingly delicious & am not a salmon lover but this recipe will definitely have me eating more fish . Thank you so much
Tanya says
You're so welcome Emerald. Salmon is my all time favorite fish 🙂