Air Fryer Frozen Salmon (Ninja Foodi Recipe)

This air fryer frozen salmon is juicy, tender, and unbelievably easy to make. It only takes about 20 minutes to turn frozen fish into a fancy meal. 

It’s not exactly a secret that I use my air fryer a lot. Can you blame me? It’s such a good appliance for easy, flavorful foods that you can make in no time at all.

This air fryer frozen salmon is one of my favorite recipes because it highlights everything I love about air fryers. It takes less than half an hour to make a restaurant-quality piece of fish, you don’t even need to thaw the salmon.

You cook the salmon frozen, and about 20 minutes later you have one of the moistest, butteriest, and most flavorful pieces of fish that you’ve ever eaten. 

The secret to this recipe is to cook the salmon at a lower temperature to thaw it without drying it out. Then you crank up the heat and cook the fish until it’s perfectly tender and flaky. It’s that easy!

But don’t let the simplicity fool you. This keto-friendly salmon dish has so much flavor from my cajun garlic butter sauce. You’ve got to give this one a try. 

Why You’ll Love This Easy Keto Salmon Recipe

Here’s why I know you’ll love this quick dinner:

• So easy. I don’t know many recipes that are as easy as this one. This salmon dish is so simple to prepare that you don’t even need to thaw or defrost the fish. It only has a few ingredients, and it takes less than half an hour to make. What could be simpler? 
• Perfect cook. Perfectly-cooked salmon has an amazing texture. It flakes apart when you use your fork and is so buttery that it melts in your mouth. Unfortunately, it’s very easy to overcook salmon. This recipe takes a lot of the guesswork out of cooking the fish. You’ll end up with salmon that’s cooked to the right level of doneness every single time.
• Very versatile. You can eat this keto salmon with pretty much anything. I usually make it as an entree and serve it with some classic sides. But you can put it on top of pastas and salads, or in wraps and sandwiches. The flavors go well with so many different foods. 

Ingredients Needed

Here’s everything you need to make this easy salmon dinner. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page to see the exact amounts for each ingredient.

• Frozen salmon – I use these skin-on salmon filets. 
• Olive oil
• Cajun garlic butter sauce – Here’s my recipe for this irresistible sauce. 
• Salt 
• Black pepper – This is optional, but really adds a lot of flavor.

How to Make Air Fryer Frozen Salmon

Here’s how to make moist and tender salmon straight out of the freezer. 

• Add oil. Pour the oil on top of the frozen salmon filets. Use a brush to make sure the fish is coated.
• Line the air fryer. Add parchment paper to the bottom of the air fryer basket. 
• Add the fish. Place the salmon skin side down in the air fryer basket.
• Cook. Air fry the fish at 375F for 7 minutes. 
• Season. Brush cajun garlic butter sauce over the top of the salmon filets.
• Finish cooking. Turn the air fryer up to 400F and cook the fish until it easily flakes with a fork. This should take 7-9 minutes.
• Serve. After the fish is done cooking, add the rest of the cajun garlic butter sauce, and season with salt and pepper. Serve with parsley and lemon. 

Tips and Tricks

Here are a few little tricks and tips that will help you when cooking this flaky salmon. 

• Use cake rounds. I use parchment paper in my air fryer to keep the salmon from sticking and to limit the mess. But it can be a pain to cut circles of parchment paper that will fit in the air fryer basket. So I like to use these 8-inch cake rounds, which fit perfectly. 
• Rest the fish. After the salmon finishes cooking, let it rest for at least 5 minutes before eating it. That allows the meat to reabsorb its juices so that it’s amazingly moist when you eat it.
• Go heavy on the seasoning. Salmon can take a lot of seasoning. The salt and pepper in this dish are optional, but I recommend using a good amount of each. And when you serve the fish, it’s best to squeeze a large amount of lemon over the top. It might seem like you’re adding too much, but trust me: salmon can take it!

What to Serve Air Fryer Salmon With

I usually serve this recipe with a few side dishes. Here are some of my favorites for serving with this luscious fish.

• Easy Keto Parmesan Garlic Bread Bites
• Easy Air Fryer Green Beans
• Air Fryer Mushrooms
• Cauliflower Rice Risotto
• Creamy Loaded Cauliflower Casserole 

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

This recipe will last in your fridge for up to 3 days as long as you store it in an airtight container. To reheat the fish, place it skin side down in the air fryer and cook for 5 minutes at 360F. 

Can I Freeze This Dish? 

You can definitely re-freeze this salmon recipe. Let the fish cool completely, then store it in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw or defrost fully before reheating. 

More Healthy Salmon Recipes 

Salmon is one of my go-to proteins. It’s super healthy, incredibly versatile, and so delicious. Here are some more of my favorite easy salmon recipes to make.

• Air Fryer Salmon Fillet
• Lemon Garlic Baked Salmon
• Air Fryer Salmon Bites
• Easy Crispy Skin Pan-Seared Salmon
• Easy Low Carb & Keto Teriyaki Salmon
• Baked Salmon Steak Sheet Pan Dinner