BBQ salmon bites in the air fryer are a keeper! They're crispy, juicy, sweet-spicy, and ready in under 15 minutes. Try them today!
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Table of contents:
- BBQ salmon bites in the air fryer are a keeper! They're crispy, juicy, sweet-spicy, and ready in under 15 minutes. Try them today!
- Save this salmon nuggets recipe for later on Pinterest:
- Why you'll love this salmon bites recipe:
- Ingredients:
- How to make a homemade BBQ seasoning rub:
- Substitutions:
- How to make air fryer salmon bites:
- How to know when the salmon is cooked through:
- Recipe pro-tips:
- Serving suggestions:
- Storing and reheating air fryer salmon bites:
- Recipe FAQs:
- Tools needed to make this recipe:
- More salmon recipes
For how much I love salmon, it's been a while since I posted a new recipe of it on here. Satisfying, savory, juicy, and flaky, this quick-cooking seafood is always reliable for an amazing meal. It is ideal for a quick weeknight dinner but also impressive enough for a dinner party.
I figured I'd dive back into the salmon recipe waters with a crispy fan-favorite recipe that can be served for an appetizer as much as it can a meal. These BBQ air fryer salmon bites are a hit, folks.
Present a plate of these sizzling hot and sweetly spiced seafood nuggets and they'll be gone before you can say "dig in." Even my non seafood or salmon eating friends have ranted about how delicious these bites are.
So, heat up your air fryer and grab your spices cause a delicious and healthy dinner will be ready in less than 20 minutes. Enjoy, friends!
Save this salmon nuggets recipe for later on Pinterest:
Why you'll love this salmon bites recipe:
- Hot and crispy - the fat in the salmon crisps up in the heat, making the fish succulent and delicious!
- Quick and easy - with just three steps and less than 15 minutes, this dinner is a winner!
- Versatile - you can serve almost anything with this salmon for a delicious dinner. It's also welcome any time of year since the air fryer doesn't heat up the kitchen like the oven does.
- Naturally gluten-free and dairy-free - no need to worry about substitutions with this recipe. There are no gluten or dairy allergens in the ingredients!
If you're looking for more quick and easy air fryer recipes, check out my crispy air fryer chicken bites, air fryer beer brats, air fryer turkey burgers, or flaky air fryer salmon.
Ingredients:
Salmon - fresh salmon, farm raised or wild, with a good packing date is best. For best results, buy salmon with the skin removed.
Light brown sugar - adds sweetness to the barbecue rub without overpowering the spices. Dark brown sugar can substitute for the light brown sugar in a pinch.
Seasonings - this recipe calls for a handful of pantry staples:
- Smoked paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Mustard powder
- Celery salt
- Salt
- Black pepper
How to make a homemade BBQ seasoning rub:
Thankfully, it is super easy to make homemade BBQ seasoning rubs. All you have to do is mix together the sugar, seasonings, and salt and you are good to go.
In this recipe, we'll save the step of mixing the ingredients together first and just mix them together with the salmon. If you'd like to double or triple the seasoning ingredients and store the remainder for next time you can do that, too.
Substitutions:
If you want to avoid an extra trip to the store or adjust these air fried salmon nuggets to your dietary preferences, you can make any of the following substitutions:
- Salmon - steelhead trout can easily substitute for the wild or farm-raised salmon.
- Brown sugar - to make this sugar processed sugar-free, use coconut sugar or pure cane sugar in place of the brown sugar.
- BBQ seasonings - if you have a pre-made BBQ spice rub blend that you prefer, you can substitute 5 ½ tablespoons of that in place of the recommended seasonings.
How to make air fryer salmon bites:
For the complete recipe and measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1: With the air fryer basket installed, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees for 2-3 minutes.
Step 2: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the BBQ spices until mixed.
Step 3: Pour the BBQ seasoning over the salmon and gently toss the fish in the seasonings until combined.
Step 4: Brush the bottom of the air fryer with oil.
Step 5: Add the salmon nuggets to the air fryer.
Step 6: Air fry the salmon for 7-9 minutes, gently turning the salmon halfway through the cooking time, or until the fish is cooked through and flakes easily.
How to know when the salmon is cooked through:
You know that salmon is cooked through when the salmon has reached a temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit in the center of the thickest chunks of salmon.
You can also know that salmon is cooked through when it easily flakes with a fork and is a light peach color. If the salmon is still an opaque coral color is it not cooked through yet.
Avoid overcooking the salmon, remove the salmon from the air fryer as soon as it has reached 145 degrees and the fish flakes. Since salmon is so delicate, it can overcook easily, becoming tough, dry, and losing its flavor.
Recipe pro-tips:
- Preheat the air fryer. This will help the fish cook quickly and get nice and crispy.
- Do not use non-stick cooking spray. This will leave a sticky residue on the interior of the air fryer basket. Brush oil -- olive, avocado, grape seed, etc. -- on the inside of the basket instead.
- Don't crowd the air fryer basket. The fish needs hot air to circulate in order to cook evenly and get nice and crispy. Cooking the fish in two batches and spacing the fish out as much as possible, or not crowding it in the basket, will help it to do so.
- Make the salmon more spicy by increasing the amount of cayenne pepper in the BBQ seasoning blend. ⅛ teaspoon gives the seasoning just a kick; ½ teaspoon brings more decisive heat.
Serving suggestions:
These BBQ air fried salmon nuggets are a very versatile main dish! Some of my favorite side dishes:
- Steamed rice
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Air fryer green beans
- Roasted Broccoli
- Steamed vegetables
- Garlic Angel Hair Pasta
Storing and reheating air fryer salmon bites:
- Refrigeration: salmon bites are best consumed fresh but if you have leftovers, they keep covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
- Freezing: air fried salmon bites do not freeze well.
- Reheating: with the air fryer basket inserted, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees for 2-3 minutes. Add the leftover salmon nuggets to the air fryer and heat for 2-3 minutes, or until the salmon is just heated through. Note: overheating them will make them overcooked or tough.
Recipe FAQs:
Yes! You can certainly cook raw salmon in the air fryer. For best results, preheat the air fryer for at least 2-3 minutes before adding the salmon to the hot air fryer basket.
Yes, you can make crispy salmon bites in the air fryer with frozen salmon! Just follow the recipe directions and add 1-2 minutes to the total cooking time, or until the salmon is cooked through to 145 degrees Fahrenheit and flakes easily with a fork!
You can tell that salmon is bad by the sell by date and by the smell of the salmon. When purchasing salmon, I recommend purchasing it within 1 day of the packaging date. If you are buying salmon from the fish monger at the grocery store, ask when they received the salmon shipment. Furthermore, you want salmon that smells neutral, if not lightly sweet. If the salmon is overwhelmingly fishy smelling, chances are it is not fresh and won't taste good when cooked.
Tools needed to make this recipe:
- Air fryer: I use and love the Ninja Foodi Tendercrisp and the Instant Pot DuoCrisp
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring spoons
- Silicone spatula
- Pastry brush
- Heat-safe spatula
More salmon recipes
More Air Fryer Recipes
If you made and liked this recipe, don't forget to rate the recipe and let me know how it went for you in the comments! It always makes my day to hear from you!
Elsie S. Stewart says
I tried this recipe and it's really good. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to try the recipe.
Mae's Menu says
Hi Elsie,
Oh thank you so much for your kind words. So glad you liked the recipe!
All the best,
Chelsea