Looking for a quick, delicious protein? This Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon bowls are ready in under 20 minutes! With a sweet caramelized crust, the salmon turns out juicy and flavorful without any long marinating.
Use store-bought teriyaki sauce or homemade. Perfect for wraps, bowls, or salads!
Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon
Salmon lovers, you’ll adore this recipe for its simplicity and incredible flavor.
Pair it with some of my favorite sides, like this Crunchy Cucumber Carrot Salad for a light brunch, Cilantro Lime Rice or Cauliflower Rice for a low carb option.
For similar salmon bites try my Tender Salmon Bowl, Salmon Avocado Salad or Salmon Patties.
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How Long to Air Fry Salmon?
The cooking time for air-frying salmon depends on the type of salmon you’re using.
- Farm-Raised Salmon (like Atlantic or farmed King Salmon) has a higher fat content, making it more forgiving and able to handle longer cook times without drying out. These thicker, fattier cuts can be air fried for a bit longer.
- Wild-Caught Salmon (like Coho or Sockeye) tends to be leaner and thinner, meaning it can overcook more easily. If you're using wild salmon, opt for shorter cook times and check for doneness early.
🍖 I share a lot of air fryer recipes, from pork ribs, vegetables to Korean BBQ chicken you can easily find a quick healthy dinner or a side dish.
Ingredients
- Salmon fillets - Fresh salmon works best, but thawed frozen salmon is a good alternative. Choose center-cut fillets for even cooking.
- Soy Sauce - Adds rich umami flavor to the teriyaki sauce. You can use regular or low-sodium soy sauce. Tamari or coconut aminos are excellent subs if you're gluten free.
- Garlic & ginger - Essential aromatics for a bold, aromatic flavor to the marinade.
- Honey & brown sugar - These give the sauce a sweet, caramelized glaze as the salmon cooks. If you don't have brown sugar you can use just honey instead.
- Cornstarch - To thicken the sauce. If you don't have it, tapioca or potato starch can be a good alternative.
- Sesame seeds & scallion - Toasted sesame seeds and thinly sliced scallions add a final touch of texture and flavor.
📋 You can find the full ingredient list in the Recipe Card below the article.
How to Cook Teriyaki Salmon in Air Fryer
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Make the Teriyaki Sauce: In a small saucepan, combine the soy sauce, ¾ of the water, minced garlic, grated ginger, honey, and brown sugar. Place the saucepan over medium heat and whisk until the sugar dissolves and the mixture starts to thicken.
- Prepare the Cornstarch Slurry: In a separate bowl, mix the cornstarch with the remaining cold water to create a slurry. Add the slurry to the saucepan, whisking constantly until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- Marinate the Salmon: Place the salmon fillets in a shallow dish or resealable plastic bag. Pour the teriyaki sauce over the salmon, ensuring it's fully coated. Seal the bag or cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes (up to 1 hour) to marinate.
- Air Fry the Salmon: Remove the marinated salmon from the fridge and place it in an air fryer-safe dish. Air fry the salmon at 400°F for about 12 minutes, or until flaky and cooked through.
- For a caramelized glaze, brush some reserved teriyaki sauce over the fillets during the last 2-3 minutes of cooking.
- Garnish and Serve: Carefully remove the salmon from the air fryer. Garnish with sesame seeds and thinly sliced scallions. Serve hot over steamed rice or alongside your favorite side dishes.
🌡️ How to know if salmon is cooked? Salmon is cooked when it is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. The internal temperature should reach 145°F to be safe to eat.
Other Cooking Methods
Stovetop Method
- Heat a pan on medium-high and sear the salmon, flesh-side down, for 4-6 minutes.
- Flip the fillets, cover the pan, and turn off the heat. Allow the salmon to sit in the pan for about 5 minutes if it’s 1 inch thick, or 8 minutes for thicker fillets (around 1.25-1.5 inches).
- Brush with extra sauce before serving.
Oven Method
Bake the salmon at 400°F for 10-14 minutes. Begin checking for doneness at the 10-minute mark, adjusting as needed.
Tips
- Use fresh salmon - Fresh salmon gives the best flavor and texture.
- Pat salmon dry - Before cooking, pat the salmon dry with paper towels for the best sear and to help the sauce stick.
- Monitor cooking time - Air frying time can vary between 7-9 minutes depending on your air fryer model.
- Marinate the salmon - Marinate flesh-side down for 15-20 minutes, but avoid marinating for more than 24 hours to prevent the salmon from becoming mushy.
- Cooking time - Air fry at 400°F for 7 minutes for medium-rare or 8-9 minutes for medium, depending on thickness.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Salmon
Air fryer teriyaki salmon is a nutritious protein that complements a variety of vegetables and sides.
I love to serve it with:
- Salads: cucumber salad, marinated cherry tomatoes or broccoli salad
- Side dishes: pickled daikon radish, air fryer zucchini chips, or cauliflower
- Rice Options: lime cilantro, yellow, steamed rice and cauliflower rice
Storage & Reheating
- To Store. Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To Reheat. Microwave for 2-3 minutes or warm in a pan over medium heat until heated through.
- To Freeze. Store cooked salmon in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Make-Ahead Tips
You can marinate the salmon in teriyaki sauce in an airtight container for 15-20 minutes.
For the best flavor, let it sit overnight. You can even prepare the salmon 2-3 days ahead of time.
Make the teriyaki sauce in advance and keep it in a separate airtight container until you're ready to cook.
How to Marinate Salmon for Air Fryer Cooking
- When marinating salmon, skip thickening the sauce initially.
- Place the fillet flesh-side down to let the meaty side absorb all the flavor.
- A quick 15-20 minute teriyaki marinade works well, but for deeper flavor, marinate the fish overnight in an airtight container in the fridge. Be sure to discard the marinade after use.
- Thicken the teriyaki sauce on the stovetop, and while air frying, brush the thickened sauce over the salmon for a shiny, sweet glaze.
Tip: Remember, thicker fillets will need more time to marinate and cook evenly in the air fryer.
More Air Fryer Recipes
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Recipe Card
Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon (20 Minute Dinner!)
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INGREDIENTS
- 1 pound salmon fillets, (4 pieces)
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup water, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1- inch piece of ginger, grated
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoons sesame seeds, for garnish
- 1 scallion, thinly sliced (for garnish)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a small saucepan, combine the soy sauce, ¾ of the water, minced garlic, grated ginger, honey, and brown sugar.½ cup water, 4 cloves garlic, 1- inch piece of ginger, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, ½ cup soy sauce
- Place the saucepan over medium heat and whisk until the sugar dissolves and the mixture starts to thicken.
- In a separate bowl, mix the cornstarch with the remaining cold water to create a slurry.1 tablespoons cornstarch
- Add the slurry to the saucepan, whisking constantly until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- Place the salmon fillets in a shallow dish or resealable plastic bag.1 pound salmon fillets
- Pour the teriyaki sauce over the salmon, ensuring it's fully coated.
- Seal the bag or cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes (up to 1 hour) to marinate.
- Remove the marinated salmon from the fridge and place it in an air fryer-safe dish.
- Air fry the salmon at 400°F for about 12 minutes, or until flaky and cooked through.
- For a caramelized glaze, brush some reserved teriyaki sauce over the fillets during the last 2-3 minutes of cooking.
- Carefully remove the salmon from the air fryer.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and thinly sliced scallions.1 teaspoons sesame seeds, 1 scallion
- Serve hot over steamed rice or alongside your favorite side dishes.
VIDEO
NOTES
- To Store. Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To Reheat. Microwave for 2-3 minutes or warm in a pan over medium heat until heated through.
- To Freeze. Store cooked salmon in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
ADD YOUR OWN PRIVATE NOTES
NUTRITION
Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on the products used.
Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.
Teriyaki Salmon: FAQs
Yes, you can use frozen salmon fillets! Just make sure to thaw them before marinating and cooking for the best flavor.
When air frying salmon, place the skin side down. This helps keep the fish moist and prevents it from sticking to the basket.
Depending on the thickness of the fillets, you typically need to cook salmon in an air fryer for 7 to 12 minutes.
Teriyaki salmon can be eaten on it's own or served over rice, in a salad, or a wrap. It’s also delicious with vegetables on the side!
You can marinate salmon in soy sauce for 15-20 minutes for quick flavor, or up to 24 hours for more taste. Don’t leave it too long, or it can get mushy.
Julia
enjoy this easy and delicious teriyaki salmon in air fryer.