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air fryer salmon - featured image

Air Fryer Salmon: Best 5-Ingredient Weeknight Dinner


  • Author: angela_woods
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Description

A quick and easy air fryer salmon recipe featuring a sweet and savory garlic butter glaze. This dish is ready in under 15 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights while delivering crispy skin and moist, flavorful fish.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 to 6 ounce salmon fillets (skin-on)
  • Unsalted butter, melted
  • 4 cloves garlic, fresh minced
  • Freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • Kosher salt
  • Black pepper
  • Dried dill or parsley

Instructions

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 to 5 minutes.
  2. Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, honey, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and dried herbs until smooth.
  4. Brush the glaze generously over the top of each salmon fillet.
  5. Place the salmon fillets in the air fryer basket skin-side down, ensuring they are in a single layer without overlapping.
  6. Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the salmon flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).
  7. Optional: Brush with reserved glaze during the last 2 minutes of cooking.
  8. Remove carefully and serve immediately.

Notes

If cooking frozen salmon, add 2-3 minutes to the cooking time. Ensure the air fryer basket is not overcrowded to allow for proper air circulation. For dairy-free, substitute butter with avocado oil or olive oil. For a spicy kick, add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the glaze.

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 fillet (4-6 oz)
  • Calories: 350
  • Sugar: 5
  • Sodium: 300
  • Fat: 22
  • Saturated Fat: 8
  • Carbohydrates: 6
  • Protein: 25

Keywords: air fryer salmon, weeknight dinner, healthy fish recipe, garlic butter salmon, quick meals, gluten-free dinner