Air Fryer Salmon Bites

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: air fryer, salmon

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 5

Total Time: 10

Servings: people

Calories: 124kcal

Author: Platings and Pairings

These Air Fryer Salmon Bites strike the perfect balance between crispy, juicy, and downright delicious! Seasoned with a smoky-spicy dry rub and cooked quickly in the air fryer, they’re always a popular snack to serve at parties or a protein to top on grain bowls, salads, and tacos.

Print Recipe

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

4 6-ounce skinless salmon filets
Olive oil spray

Salmon Dry Rub:

1 Tablespoon paprika sweet or smoked
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried cayenne pepper

Chipotle Crema:

1/2 cup sour cream regular or fat-free
1 Tablespoons mayonnaise regular or fat-free
1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
2 Tablespoons adobo sauce
1/2 lime zested and juiced
1 clove garlic peeled
1/2 teaspoon cumin
Salt to taste

Instructions

In a small bowl, whisk together the dry rub ingredients.
Pat the salmon dry with paper towels and cut it into 1-inch cubes. Sprinkle the salmon with the dry rub and coat it on all sides.
Preheat your air fryer to 400-degrees.
Spray the basket with oil and add the salmon pieces, in a single layer (you may need to work in batches).
Cook the salmon for 5-7 minutes, tossing halfway through.
Meanwhile, make the chipotle crema. Add all of the crema ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Season with salt, to taste.
Serve the air fryer salmon bites with crema on the side. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Storing

Let the leftover salmon cool to room temperature, then place it in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for 2 to 3 months.

Tips and tricks

For even and fast cooking, carefully slice the salmon filets into evenly sized 1-inch cubes.
Cook the salmon bites in batches if needed. The pieces should be in a single layer in the air fryer basket with space in between each one so they crisp up and cook evenly.
You’ll know the salmon bites are done cooking when the meat flakes easily when a fork is run over them.

Variations

Miso: Instead of the dry rub, coat the salmon bites in a mixture of mirin, miso, soy sauce, brown sugar, and grated ginger, like in this Baked Miso Salmon recipe.
Hot honey: Omit the dry rub and coat the salmon bites in the hot honey sauce from my Honey Sriracha Salmon recipe.
Everything: Coat the salmon bites in everything bagel seasoning and serve with creamy chive dressing à la Everything Bagel Salmon.
Garlic butter: Season with salt and pepper, then toss the bites in seafood boil sauce before air frying.
Swap the dry rub: Coat the salmon pieces in Cajun, Creole, or Blackened seasoning, this Chicken Wing Rub, or my mild Salmon Dry Rub before air frying. Serve with remoulade sauce on the side and enjoy.

Nutrition