These Air Fryer Salmon Bites will bring excitement to your weeknight table with an explosion of fresh flavors and vibrant colors. Combining decadent Omega-3-rich salmon with a quick garlicky marinade, this fun, and interactive meal will make the entire family happy.

There’s no need to sacrifice nutrition or fresh flavors when it comes to easy weeknight meals. Using the ease of the air fryer with quality ingredients makes this something you can pull together in less than 30 minutes.

The best part is you can even do most of your prep ahead of time like cooking the rice and preparing your toppings making this truly a ten-minute meal. Just don’t forget the real fruit ice cream for dessert!

Why you will love this recipe

Easy Process - Take the guesswork out of cooking fish and let the air fryer do it for you. This is a great way to cook up salmon that is tender, succulent, moist, and never dried out. Other than the salmon the only other portion of cooking is the rice and you can even take the shortcut of using your favorite microwave brown rice for this.

Make Ahead - You can do most of your prep in advance. Have your salmon cubed and ready to go. Cook your rice and chop your veggies. That way when it’s time for dinner this comes together in ten minutes. The leftovers also make for incredible lunches for meal prepping.

Customizable - Have fun adding your favorite toppings to these bowls. It’s all about playing around with flavors and textures. Want to cut back on the carbs? Riced cauliflower and broccoli are both great options. You can play around with the ingredients for your favorite flavors and dietary needs.

Ingredients

Salmon - Salmon is one of the best sources of Vitamin B12. It’s high in protein and rich in potassium, iron, and Vitamin D. The wealth of omega-3 fatty acids promotes cardiovascular health and is linked to lowering your chances of certain types of cancer, dementia, and other cognitive diseases.
Nutiva Avocado Oil - This organic avocado oil is rich in monounsaturated fats and other nutrients. Because of avocado oils' high smoke point, it is ideal for not just sauteing but stir-frying, grilling, baking, or recipes like air fryer salmon.
Coconut Secret Garlic Sauce & Marinade - This certified gluten-free marinade is made with clean, simple ingredients. Organic coconut tree sap adds sweetness and umami. The hand-harvested sap is lightly fermented and blended with sea salt. Organic garlic powder, organic ginger powder, and organic cayenne bring savory notes with just a little heat. In addition to being gluten-free, non-GMO, certified organic, and soy free it also has 39% less sodium than other stir fry sauces.
Cucumbers - Crunchy and refreshing cucumbers are high in Vitamin K and Vitamin A.
Snow Peas - Low-calorie snow peas are packed with Vitamins C and A, iron, potassium, and magnesium. They give natural sweetness and crunch.
Shredded Carrots - Not only do carrots add beautiful color and crunch, but they give you 73% of your Vitamin A. They’re also high in fiber, potassium, and Vitamins C and K.
Cooked Brown Rice - Brown rice has a low glycemic index. The high fiber will keep you full and satiated while also being high in vitamins and minerals such as magnesium and vitamins B1 and B6.
Avocado Mayonnaise - This is the creamy base for the spicy sauce. Avocado mayonnaise contains more healthy fats than traditional mayo.
Coconut Secret Coconut Aminos - Not only is this certified gluten-free, but it has 72% less sodium than soy sauce. Made from coconut tree sap, it is lightly sweet and packed with umami. It’s also made of only two ingredients. In addition to the coconut tree sap the only other ingredient is sea salt.
Sriracha - Adds a little kick to the creamy sauce that ties this bowl together.
Sesame Oil - Adds a nutty flavor to the creamy sauce. A little goes a long way.
Ground Ginger - Adds warmth to the spicy, creamy sauce.
Garlic Powder - Adds a savory note to the sauce with a more mild flavor than fresh garlic.
Salt/Pepper
Sesame seeds

Instructions

If your salmon still has the skin, carefully remove the skin.
Cut your salmon into even-sized cubes, about 1”.
Add the salmon, avocado oil, garlic marinade, salt, and pepper to a bowl and toss to combine.
Use a pastry brush to lightly brush the bottom of the air fryer with avocado oil. Place the cubes of salmon into the air fryer and cook them for 10 minutes at 400 °F, flipping them halfway through. When you flip them, brush them with some more of the marinade.
Add all of the ingredients for the spicy sauce to a bowl and stir to combine.
To assemble your bowls, add rice to the bottom of your bowl. Top with the salmon and vegetables. Drizzle the sauce over the top.

Additional toppings

Cilantro
Sauteed shiitake mushrooms
Pickled ginger
Bean sprouts
Pickled daikon
Kimchi
Fresh jalapeno slices
Lime wedges

Equipment

Top tips

If your salmon still has the skin attached to it, you can easily remove it on your own with one of two methods. The original method is to pat your fish dry. Place the salmon skin side down onto a cutting board. Check to make sure there aren’t any pin bones. Make about a one-inch cut between the skin and flesh to give yourself something to hold onto. Using a saw motion and with the blade facing the skin work your way down towards the end of the fish.
The second way to remove the skin is to place your skin flesh side down on a wire rack fitted into a baking sheet. Bring water to a boil in either a tea kettle or a small saucepan. Stream a little boiling water over the skin of the salmon and let it sit for about a minute. You should easily be able to peel the skin off.
Farm-raised salmon or Atlantic salmon has a higher fat content than wild-caught salmon such as sockeye, king salmon, or coho. It is better to cook wild-caught salmon at 5-10 °F less while farm-raised can be cooked more. Cook what you like and always buy what looks the best.

FAQ

Can I make these Air Fryer Salmon bites vegan?

Yes. Replace the cubed salmon with cubed and pressed extra firm tofu. The cooking time will vary.

Do I have to cook the salmon in the air fry?

No, you can also sear the salmon in a skillet. Heat the skillet over medium-high with avocado oil. Add the salmon cubes and allow each side to sear for about 1-2 minutes until golden. Depending on how well you like your salmon done, aim for 135-140° F for medium-cooked salmon.

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