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Tender, flaky, fall-apart bites of salmon get coated in an addictive sweet and savory sauce and paired with rice and veggies in this easy Air Fryer Teriyaki salmon bites recipe.
If you like Asian food or are just looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal, you’re going to love this one! And while you’re at it, also check out my Air Fryer honey mustard salmon recipe to sort out another easy dinner.
I don’t know about you- but I’ve always found cooking salmon to be slightly stressful. It can be so easy to end up overcooking it, and since it’s so delicate, it can fall apart easily too.
But in the Air Fryer- it’s just such a breeze! You simply pop it in and let the hot air do its thing. This method has now officially become my favorite go-to method of cooking. So much so, that I got inspired and also tried making Air Fryer chicken bites and Air Fryer garlic steak bites!
Quick Look At This Recipe
✨ Flavor: Sweet and savory.
⏱️ Prep time: 5 minutes.
🔥 Cook time: 10 minutes.
⏲️ Total time: 15 minutes.
👥 Servings: 2 servings.
🥄 Tools: Air Fryer.
❄️ Freezer friendly: No.
👩🏻🍳 Tip: Line your Air Fryer basket (ideally with silicone Air Fryer liners) before you add the salmon bites in. This helps prevent them from sticking to the basket.
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Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It comes together in just 15 minutes, making it one of the quickest weeknight meals ever- just like my classic Air Fryer salmon.
- It’s an excellent high protein, low carb light dinner that everyone in the family can enjoy. You can customize it too!
- There’s barely any cleanup to do afterwards- all you’ll need is your trusty Air Fryer to do the job.
Recipe Ingredients
- Salmon filets: Choose high quality, skinless salmon filets that are firm and bright in color.
- Ginger + garlic: The flavor builders! I’ve used them for my Air Fryer Teriyaki chicken recipe too!
- Brown sugar: For that hint of sweetness. You can also use honey if you want to.
- Soy sauce: For that beautiful color and umami depth. Use coconut aminos or tamari if you want to make it gluten free.
- Olive oil: To keep the fish nice and moist, and lend it that golden brown caramelization.
- Toppings: I used sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
See recipe card for quantities.
Variations
- If you can, use sesame oil instead of olive oil here- it lends a beautiful authentic Asian flavor and aroma. I used it when I made my Air Fryer stir fry, which is actually also a splendid side to team up with these salmon bites.
- If you have store-bought Teriyaki sauce, feel free to use it instead and simply marinate the salmon bites in the sauce for a bit before you air fry them.
- For a kick of heat, you can add some red pepper flakes into the marinade. Or of course, you can just team them up with my Air Fryer Shishito peppers.
How to Make Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon Bites
- Use a paper towel to pat the salmon filets dry. Cut the filets into 1 inch squares.
- In a medium bowl combine soy sauce, olive oil, water, brown sugar, minced garlic, and grated ginger.
- Place the salmon bites into the mixture and turn to coat all of the salmon. Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to marinate.
- Place the salmon bites in a single layer in the basket of the Air Fryer. Make sure to leave space between each piece for the air to circulate evenly.
- Air fry for 4-5 minutes. Flip and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Check if the the salmon reaches an internal temperature of 140-145°F. Serve immediately with toppings of your choice.
Serving Ideas & Suggestions
These air fried Teriyaki salmon bites pair perfectly with any Asian veggie side. I love serving them with my Air Fryer broccoli or Air Fryer broccolini, depending on what I have at hand. You can, of course, try some Air Fryer edamame or Air Fryer snap peas too- they taste wonderful when paired with these salmon bites.
Don’t forget some steamed rice to complete the meal- and if you have a few extra minutes, try my Air Fryer fried rice to go along with it.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Cut the salmon into even sized chunks to ensure they’re all perfectly cooked at the same time.
- If you’re cooking for a crowd, work in batches. Don’t overcrowd the Air Fryer basket with too many salmon bites.
- Salmon is a delicate fish- so make sure you don’t end up overcooking it. Check the Air Fryer basket at the 5 minute mark to see if it is done.
- Pat the salmon dry before you start cutting it or even marinating it. This is crucial- I realized this when I made my Cheesy Air Fryer Pesto salmon.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can! Simply allow the fish to thaw completely, dab the excess moisture and then use it for the recipe.
Check the Air Fryer at the 5 minute mark. If the salmon bites flake perfectly and have a white center when you poke them with a fork, they’re done!
You can store your leftover air fried Teriyaki salmon bites for up to 2 days in the refrigerator. I wouldn’t recommend storing them for long as they are really delicate.
You can! If you prefer a milder, less fatty fish, try using trout. It soaks up these Asian flavors beautifully!
More Air Fryer Salmon Recipes
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Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon Bites
Ingredients
- 2 salmon filets, 6 ounces each, skin removed
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Use a paper towel to pat the salmon filets dry. Cut the filets into 1 inch squares.
- In a medium bowl combine soy sauce, olive oil, water, brown sugar, minced garlic, and grated ginger.
- Place the salmon bites into the mixture and turn to coat all of the salmon. Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to marinate.
- Place the salmon bites in a single layer in the basket of the Air Fryer. Make sure to leave space between each piece for the air to circulate evenly.
- Air fry for 4-5 minutes. Flip and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Check if the the salmon reaches an internal temperature of 140-145°F. Serve immediately with toppings of your choice.
Notes
- Cut the salmon filets into even sized cubes for more uniform cooking.
- To prevent sticking, line the Air Fryer basket with parchment paper or Air Fryer liners.
- Avoid overcooking. Check the Air Fryer basket at the 5 minute mark.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Delicious, healthy, easy weeknight meal.