Air Fryer Salmon is the quickest and easiest way to cook juicy, flaky salmon. The mouthwatering lemon Dijon glaze takes this air fryer salmon recipe over the top. It’s simple yet memorable, and there’s no marinating required.
You’ll have perfectly cooked salmon in 10 minutes, ready to serve with your favorite side dishes.
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We love using the air fryer to cook everything from Air Fryer Chicken Wings to Air Fryer Baked Potato. Who doesn’t love having dinner ready in a fraction of the time? Check out the video below to see how easy it is to make perfect salmon in the air fryer.
Air Fryer Salmon Video
Watch Natasha cook perfect salmon fillets in the air fryer in minutes. This recipe is fast and easy enough for weeknights, with tons of flavor.
Air Fryer Salmon Recipe
What makes this recipe truly special is the glaze. The lemon Dijon glaze we use for this recipe is based on the wildly popular Baked Salmon with Garlic and Dijon, adapted to the air fryer. Zesty fresh citrus and tangy mustard paired with salmon is a match made in heaven. The speediness of the air fryer makes it slightly crisp on the edges and so juicy in the center.
The air fryer is always saving our bacon on busy weeknights (sometimes literally, in the case of Air Fryer Bacon!). It’s also versatile and pairs well with so many sides. See more serving options below.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Salmon
Below is an overview of what you’ll need to make juicy air fryer salmon. Please refer to the full recipe details in the recipe card further on.
- Salmon – You can buy 4 smaller, pre-portioned salmon fillets, or one large fillet and cut it into four.
- Olive Oil – Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil for the glaze.
- Dijon – Creamy Dijon mustard compliments the rich salmon flavors and balances the acidity.
- Lemon – You’ll need the zest and juice from a fresh lemon. Be sure to zest the lemon before juicing it.
- Seasoning – Garlic powder, freshly cracked black pepper, plus fine sea salt.
- Parsley – For optional garnish.
Pro Tip:
Some wild-caught salmon filets are leaner and thinner and will cook faster. Farmed salmon or wild Alaska king salmon is often thicker with a higher fat content, which can take slightly longer to cook but is more forgiving if slightly over-cooked.
How to Cook Salmon in Air Fryer
Even if you’re new to air frying, this simple salmon recipe is perfect for beginners. Here’s how easy it is:
- Add Salmon to the Air Fryer – Oil the basket of your air fryer, then add the salmon fillets. Make sure they’re arranged in a single layer with enough space for the air to circulate.
- Glaze – Next, whisk together the lemon Dijon glaze ingredients. Gently brush the glaze over each fillet.
- Cook – Air fry the fillets at 400ºF for 7-10 minutes. The exact time will vary depending on the thickness of the fillet and your air fryer model (see my tip below).
- Serve – Plate the salmon and sprinkle over some lemon zest and lemon juice. You can also slice up an additional lemon and chop up fresh parsley to use as a garnish.
Common Questions
For this recipe, we don’t preheat. The air fryer cooks the salmon so quickly that we skip this step.
You can use skin-on or skinless salmon for this recipe. We prefer skinless salmon, so that’s what we used.
We have and love both; either one will cook this salmon perfectly. The toaster oven style cooks a little faster, about 7-8 minutes, while a basket style will take closer to 10 minutes.
Salmon is done when you can flake it with a fork and the internal temperature reaches 145ºF on an instant-read thermometer at the thickest part of the salmon filet.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Salmon
This easy salmon recipe is effortless enough for weeknight dinners, and “fancy” enough to serve when we entertain. Serve it with:
- Veggies – Baked Broccoli, Roasted Cauliflower, or Roasted Asparagus.
- Rice – Enjoy a healthy dinner of salmon served over a bed of fluffy White Rice.
- Pasta – pair this salmon with Baked Feta Pasta or a simple Pasta Primavera.
- Potatoes – Salmon is delicious paired with Garlic Mashed Potatoes or Roasted Potatoes.
Make-Ahead
Air fryer salmon is great to make ahead and perfect for easy meal prep. Here’s how to store your cooked salmon and leftovers:
- To Refrigerate: Store your salmon fillets airtight in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: Cooked salmon can be stored frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost the salmon in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- To Reheat: Salmon can be reheated either in the air fryer, in the microwave, or in the oven. Gently warm the fish until heated all the way through, then serve.
Prepare to be blown away by how easy it is to cook perfect salmon in the air fryer. You’ll never want to cook it any other way!
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Whenever dinner is time-sensitive and we still want something healthy and homemade, the air fryer is our go-to. Cooking will take a fraction of the time as baking (these Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are proof). If you loved this easy air fryer salmon recipe, wait until you try these other quick and easy meal ideas:
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Roasted Air Fryer Potatoes
- Baked Potatoes in Air Fryer
- Crispy Air Fryer Bacon
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Air Fryer Salmon Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 salmon filets, 6 oz each, from a 1 1/2 lb filet
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/2 tsp dijon mustard
- Zest from 1 lemon, reserved to garnish
- 1 tsp lemon juice, plus lemon wedges to serve
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- Parsley, to garnish, optional
Instructions
- Grease the bottom of your air fryer basket with cooking spray or brush with oil to prevent sticking. Arrange salmon filets in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- In a small bowl, stir together the oil, dijon, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Brush the mixture over the top and sides of each filet. Air fry at 400ºF for 7-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the filet and the type of air fryer you have. Air fry until the internal temperature reaches 145ºF on an instant-read thermometer.
- Transfer cooked salmon to a platter, grate lemon zest over the salmon and squeeze lemon juice over the top to serve. Serve with lemon wedges to squeeze more juice if desired.
Nutrition Per Serving
Natasha Kravchuk
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
I love watching you and that the recipes are easy to follow and make!!! No surprise ingredients I’ve never heard of or not in my spices and I have a lot!! You and your husband keep up the great work’n
I’m so glad, Judy! Thank you.
We have never been disappointed with any cooked/prepared food type using your happy and entertaining recipes. Furthermore, Air Frying has been the catalyst for my enjoyment in the kitchen. I’m doing your dijon glaze salmon tonight and I know it will be a winner. Thank you Natasha, for I am a big fan of what you do with food. Sincerely, Gary L McDonald
You’re so very welcome, Gary! Thank you for sharing that with me!
I made this recipe the other night and it was the best recipe I have ever tried for salmon. I am brand new to the world of air fryers, but I took the plunge and cooked this recipe in my new air fryer. Honestly, I can’t even come close to telling you how amazing this was. It cooked perfectly and the flavor was spectacular. Now I am going to look up more air fryer recipes. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Hi Maureen! I’m so glad you loved it. Thank you for sharing.
Made this tonight for the first time. Amazing recipe super easy. Everything I make of Natasha’s is never a fail. Thank you again for another great recipe Natasha! Can’t wait for your cookbook which I already preordered. 🥰
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Karyn!
Another great flavorful recipe, Natasha. We use it once a week. After my first try (with exact recipe proportions), I brushed the fillets with 1 Tbsp of melted butter, mixed with 1/4 tsp dry Dillweed, before removing from the air fryer. I found that the dill added to the initial flavor. And, as with pan-searing, the butter kept it moist and didn’t eliminate the wonderful crust. My salmon was perfect at 8 minutes. Also, I used the same recipe for Cod, Haddock and Catfish fillets. You just have to adjust cooking times, with an instant read thermometer.
Yum! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Robert! I’m so glad this was a hit!
Made it per the recipe and it turned out awesome. Thank you
So glad to her that, Roberto!
Ive been trying different recipes to make simple but delicious salmon, and finally found it. Love this recipe, it’s now my go-to.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, CF!
I made this last night for dinner and it was FANTASTIC! It was quick and easy and so tasty. This is my new favorite way to make salmon.
I also preordered your cookbook.
Thank you for your great comments and feedback, Karen. Great to know that you loved this recipe! I’m excited for your to see my cookbook, I hope it’s October already.
Did you know that the air fryer that you recommend has been recalled? I had bought this one because of your recommendation and now I don’t know what to do with it. Just thought I’d let you know.
Hi Janet! Yes, that’s unfortunate. I had a post on my Facebook page about this recall, in case you missed it, HERE is the link. You will need to contact COSORI.
Hey Janet, I also have that air fryer, LOVE IT, I went with the link Natasha shared for the recall, and I got my new one yesterday already, so I’d def recommend looking into that info!
I love salmon and really like your recipes they are always so good everything that I have tried has been so delicious. Thank you again for all your hard work and yummy food.
You’re welcome, Larry! I’m glad you love the recipes. 🙂
Thanks for this air fryer recipe. As with my other “new gadgets” this mostly sits on the counter as modern art. The recipe is delicious and air frying takes less than half the time of oven baked. Looking forward to more of your air fryer recipes.
Hi Jim! So glad you love the recipe, thank you for sharing.
So easy to make and loaded with flavor. Thank you! We loved it.
I’m so glad you loved it, Lauren! That’s so great!
So easy, and so tasty with the fresh lemon! I’ll be making salmon this way often!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Kara! Thank you for your excellent review.
I have been using your fantastic salmon with dijon and garlic recipe for a while now, in fact I cook all my fish this way. We love it so much that we make it just to create left overs I use raw salmon and whatever white fish on hand, and use the sauce in a very light roux to make fish pie. Thank you so much for this great addition to my repetoire.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Llynn!
I love the glaze used in this air fryer salmon! It was incredibly delicious and flavorful. Surely gonna make this again!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Sharina!