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This air fryer salmon recipe is incredibly easy to make and makes the most tender and juicy salmon fillets. It’s restaurant quality, but takes less than 10 minutes to make!
Salmon is one of those ingredients that never disappoints when it’s cooked right. Done well, it’s tender, flaky, and rich with natural flavor that practically melts in your mouth. I’ve shared a bunch of salmon recipes here, like salmon bites when I want something fun and fast, and salmon patties when I’m in the mood to switch things up. But this simple salmon fillet with garlic butter is the one I probably make the most. It’s easy, it turns out perfectly tender and flaky, and it works with whatever sides I have in the fridge.
The seasoning blend adds bold flavor, and a quick brush of garlic butter takes it over the top. The air fryer locks in moisture while giving the outside just the right finish, so you get juicy, flavorful salmon in minutes. It’s the kind of recipe you can lean on when you want something impressive without putting in a lot of effort.
Why You’ll Love This Tender Air Fryer Salmon Recipe
This is one of my go-to recipes, especially during the week. Here’s why you should make it.
- So easy. Season the salmon, pop it in the air fryer, brush it with garlic butter, and dinner is done. There’s minimal prep, barely any cleanup, and it’s on the table in under 10 minutes.
- Perfectly cooked every time. The air fryer locks in moisture, giving you tender, flaky salmon with a lightly finished exterior. A touch of butter adds rich flavor without overwhelming the fish.
- Easy to serve any way you like. One of my favorite things about this dish is that you can serve it with almost anything. You can serve it with a side of vegetables, put it in a wrap or sandwich, or place it on top of a salad or pasta dish. The possibilities are endless!
Ingredients Needed
Here’s everything you need to make this moist salmon recipe. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page to see the exact amounts of each ingredient.
- Salmon – Make sure to use salmon that is either fresh or fully defrosted.
- Herbes de Provence – You can use your favorite herb blend instead if you prefer.
- Salt
- Black pepper – Always use freshly-ground black pepper.
- Smoked paprika
- Olive oil – You can also use avocado oil.
- Garlic butter – I like to use the garlic butter from my Air Fryer Steak recipe, but you can use any type of flavored butter that you like. You can also just use plain butter.
What is Herbes de Provence?
Herbes de Provence is a common French blend of herbs. You can find it in the spice section at any grocery store. In general, it’s a mixture of dried basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and savory. It’s pretty similar to Italian seasoning.
How to Make Air Fryer Salmon Fillets
- Dry. Use a paper towel to dry your salmon fillets. Double-check to make sure that there are no bones in the fish.
- Add the oil. Pour the oil on your fish, and rub it on both sides.
- Season. Mix the herbs and spices together and sprinkle them on both sides of the fish.
- Cook. Turn the air fryer on to 390F. Cook until the fish can easily be flaked with a fork. This should take 5-8 minutes.
- Melt the butter. While the fish is cooking, melt the butter in the microwave.
- Add the butter. When the salmon comes out of the air fryer, pour the melted butter over it, and serve immediately.
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Tips and Tricks
- Adjust the salt. Herbes de Provence usually doesn’t have salt, but sometimes it does. And if you replace it with a different spice blend, it might be salted. Use less salt if you’re using a salted herb blend, or else your fish will be too salty.
- Use skinless salmon. I’ve found that salmon skin doesn’t get very crispy in the air fryer. The only way to get crispy skin in an air fryer is to cook the fish so long that it’s overcooked. I recommend using salmon fillets that are skinless.
- Really dry it. Make sure to dry the salmon thoroughly with a paper towel before seasoning it. This will give the fish the best texture, and also allow more of the seasoning to stick to the salmon.
- Check the doneness frequently. Salmon can go from undercooked to overcooked very quickly. I recommend air frying the fish for 5 minutes, and then checking the doneness. If it’s not yet done, cook it in 1-minute increments, checking after each time, until it’s done cooking.
What to Serve It With
Here are a few of my favorite recipes to serve with this salmon recipe:
- Keto Mushroom Rice Risotto
- Keto Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Loaded Cauliflower
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Feta & Zucchini
How to Store and Reheat Extras
- Store in the fridge: Keep leftover salmon in an airtight container in the fridge. It will last for up to 4 days. Reheat in a 350F air fryer for 3-5 minutes, until the fish is warmed all the way through. You can also cover the salmon in aluminum foil and reheat in a 300F oven for 10 minutes.
- Can This Recipe Be Frozen? Yes! Store the salmon in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Make sure to defrost or thaw the fish before reheating it.
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Air Fryer Salmon Recipe
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Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 oz Salmon, I used two 4-oz Sockeye Salmon filets
- 1 tsp Herbes de Provence
- 1/4 tsp Natural ancient sea salt
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper
- 1/4 tsp Smoked paprika
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 tbsp Garlic butter, You could swap this for another type of seasoned butter, regular butter, or butter mixed with lemon juice.
Instructions
- Dry your salmon with a paper towel and run your hand over the surface gently to ensure that there are no bones.
- Drizzle the olive oil on the fish and rub it in on both sides.
- Mix the seasonings and sprinkle them on both sides of the fish.
- Turn your air fryer on 390F and cook the salmon for 5-8 minutes. I recommend starting with 5 minutes, checking the fish, and then cooking in 1-minute increments until it flakes with a fork.
- Melt the seasoned butter for 30 seconds in the microwave and pour it over the fish before eating.
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Recipe Notes
Nutrition Details
The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used.
