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Honey Garlic Marinated Air Fryer Salmon

This air fryer honey garlic salmon recipe is truly next level.  The sweet and savory marinade enhances the flavor of the fish wonderfully.  This easy recipe creates an amazing dish that is perfect for weeknight dinners. 

Piece of cooked salmon on fork in forefront and a plate containing the salmon filet and asparagus in the background.

Making salmon in the air fryer has become one of my favorite things to do.  It’s super fast and pretty much foolproof.  There’s no fussing around with a skillet trying to carefully flip the salmon over without breaking it into pieces. 

Trust me, the air fryer is the best way to go.  You will have an effortless healthy meal on the table in no time by cooking your salmon in the air fryer. 

Why you will love it

  • Easy to prepare 
  • Full of flavor 
  • Perfect for busy weeknights

Marinating salmon is one of the best techniques used to prepare it. The honey garlic marinade used in this recipe enriches the salmon with multiple layers of complementary flavors.  

In a nutshell, with this recipe you’ve got one of the best ways to flavor salmon combined with (in my opinion) the best way to cook salmon.  

What you need to make it

  • Salmon – We used fresh Atlantic. 
  • Honey – Adds the perfect hint sweetness to the salmon.
  • Soy Sauce – This flavor works so well with garlic and honey. 
  • Lemon Juice – Adds the citrusy freshness that compliments seafood so well.
  • Garlic Powder – Gives the salmon a delicious savory punch
  • Old Bay Seasoning – Trust me on this one!
Five separate small ingredient bowls containing garlic powder, soy sauce, lemon juice, honey and old bay seasoning surrounding a plate containing 4 fresh salmon filets.

Substitutions and Suggestions

  • Use low-sodium soy sauce to help control the amount of salt in your finished dish.
  • The salmon skin is removed in this recipe, however the recipe works for skin on salmon filets as well.
  • We used garlic powder as opposed to minced garlic to avoid the garlic being burned as the salmon cooked in the air fryer.

How to make marinated salmon in the air fryer

Prepare the marinade in ziplock bag or marinade bag.

Add salmon pieces to the bag and gently massage the marinade into salmon pieces. Be sure to coat salmon well with the marinade.

Set aside and allow to marinate on the counter for 30 minutes. 

Air fry salmon for about 7 – 8 minutes depending on your preferred level of doneness. 

Marinated air fryer salmon comes out tender, flaky and flavor infused every time.  You can’t fail with this recipe! 

Top tips for making salmon in the air fryer

  • Do not place the salmon back inside of the refrigerator while marinating. Allow the salmon to come to room temperature as it marinates to ensure even cooking.
  • Be sure not to over cook. Salmon becomes tough and dries out if over cooked.
  • The salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork. Check the thickest area of the salmon filet when checking for doneness.

FAQs

How long does it take to cook salmon in the air fryer?

I have found that the sweet spot for air fryer salmon is about 7 minutes. This all depends on your preferred level of doneness. This of course is the amount of time it takes for fresh salmon to cook.

Can you cook frozen salmon in the air fryer?

Yes, you can however, for this recipe the salmon is marinated so it would be best to thaw the salmon before marinating and cooking.

What goes with air fryer salmon?

This air fryer salmon pairs wonderfully with my creamy and delicious cajun tartar sauce. You may also want to try one of these great options as a side dish:

Green Beans
Asparagus
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Seasoned Jasmine Rice

Salmon filet on a plate next to asparagus spears topped with melted parmesan cheese, garnished with lemon wedges.
Piece of cooked salmon on fork in forefront and a plate containing the salmon filet and asparagus in the background.

Honey Garlic Marinated Air Fryer Salmon

This air fryer honey garlic salmon recipe is truly next level.  The sweet and savory marinade enhances the flavor of the fish perfectly.  This easy recipe creates an amazing dish perfect for weeknight dinners.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Air Fryer Salmon, Honey Garlic Salmon
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Marinating time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 33 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 236kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Air Fryer

Ingredients

  • 1 lb salmon cut into 4 equal pieces
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp old bay or seafood seasoning
  • 2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tsp lemon juice

Instructions

  • Add garlic powder, old bay, soy sauce, honey and lemon juice to a ziploc bag.
  • Place salmon inside ziploc bag and gently massage marinade into salmon.
  • Set bag with salmon aside and allow to marinate for 30 minutes.
  • Remove salmon pieces from bag and set aside. Discard marinade.`
  • Pre-heat your air fryer to 400 degrees for 3-5 minutes.
  • Once air fryer has completed pre-heating, add filets to air fryer basket and allow to cook for 7 minutes.
  • Remove salmon from air fry basket and serve warm.

Notes

  • Do not place the salmon back inside of the refrigerator while marinating. Allow the salmon to come to room temperature as it marinates to ensure even cooking.
  • Be sure not to over cook. Salmon becomes tough and dries out if over cooked. If you would like to air fry your salmon longer than 7 minutes you can, but I would not recommend any longer than 10 minutes. 
  • The salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork. Check the thickest area of the salmon filet when checking for doneness.

Nutrition

Calories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 340mg | Potassium: 615mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 46IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg

By on October 8th, 2022

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