These air fryer salmon bites are 1 inch cubes of fresh, skinless salmon tossed in a sweet and savory maple syrup and soy sauce marinade with olive oil and coriander. You marinate them for just 5 to 10 minutes, then air fry at 360°F for about 8 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway, until they reach a safe 145°F. They cook in under 15 minutes, take about 30 minutes start to finish, and work as a party appetizer or a rice bowl topper.
These air fryer salmon bites are so flaky, flavorful, and really easy to make. If you need a quick appetizer or a delicious protein addition to a rice bowl, you are in the right place. Seriously, they are so good!
Table of Contents
Why You Will Love These Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- It Is Super Quick: We are talking minimal prep and less than 15 minutes of cooking time.
- The Marinade Is Magic: A sweet and savory mix of maple syrup, soy sauce, and coriander that caramelizes beautifully in the air fryer.
- It Is Super Versatile: Serve these up with toothpicks and teriyaki sauce as a quick party app, or toss them over rice and veggies for a complete meal.
If you love sweet and savory salmon over rice, my Sticky Honey Garlic Salmon Rice Bowls are another easy, flavor packed salmon dinner to try next.
What You Will Need
Special Equipment
- Air fryer
- Large mixing bowl
- Sharp knife (for cutting salmon)
- Kitchen tongs
- Instant read meat thermometer (optional, but recommended)
- Fish tweezers or clean regular tweezers (optional, for pin bones)
The Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh salmon fillets
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds or Everything Bagel Seasoning (optional garnish)
Let Us Get Cooking
1. First Up, the Marinade
First, make the marinade. It is super simple! Just grab a large mixing bowl and add in your olive oil, maple syrup, soy sauce, salt, and ground coriander. Give it a good mix and set it aside. That is literally it!
2. Prepping Your Salmon
Next, grab your fresh salmon fillets and remove the skin, if applicable. You know, whatever you prefer, but skinless works best for bites! Run your fingers over the fillet to feel for any pin bones and pull them out with tweezers. There is no need to rinse the salmon, since rinsing raw fish can splash bacteria around your sink. Then, cut the salmon fillets into roughly one inch sized cubes.
3. Marinate and Chill
When you are done cutting, place the salmon cubes right into the bowl with the marinade. Give the salmon a gentle toss to evenly coat all the cubes. You want every single piece to be super flavorful! Then, cover the bowl and set it in the fridge for at least 5 to 10 minutes. Just let it soak up all that goodness! Keep the salmon in the fridge while it marinates, not on the counter.
4. Preheat the Air Fryer
Now, preheat your air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Time to Air Fry!
When it is nice and hot, lift the salmon pieces out of the bowl and let the extra marinade drip off, then place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer. This is important! They should not overlap so they can cook evenly, you know? You want to get those nice caramelized edges! Air fry the salmon bites for about 5 to 7 minutes. Throw away any leftover marinade, since it touched raw fish.
Love your air fryer? My Air Fryer Chicken and Broccoli is another quick, easy air fryer dinner that comes together fast.
6. Flip and Finish
Carefully flip them over using tongs and air fry for an additional 3 to 5 minutes, or until the salmon bites are fully cooked and flaky. Seriously, you want them nice and tender! If you have an instant read meat thermometer, the thickest bite should reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. Serve It Up!
When the salmon bites are done, carefully remove them from the air fryer with clean tongs and place them in a clean serving dish. You can sprinkle them with sesame seeds or Everything Bagel seasoning, and serve them with a dipping sauce like teriyaki! And they also go great in a rice bowl!
Salmon Bites Rice Bowl Ideas
- Start with a base of jasmine rice
- Add your fully cooked salmon bites on top
- Layer in avocado and your favorite veggies
- Finish with sesame seeds and a drizzle of teriyaki sauce
- For a sushi bowl style, add cucumber and sesame seeds (the salmon in these bowls is fully cooked)
What to Serve With Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- A crisp side like my 5 Minute Korean Cucumber Salad for a refreshing contrast
- A cozy, savory side like my 15 Minute Sesame Noodles
- Steamed or roasted veggies for an easy, balanced plate
- For a fresh bowl idea, check out my Healthy Chipotle Salmon Bowl
- Toothpicks and teriyaki sauce for a quick party appetizer spread
Storing and Reheating Salmon Bites
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days
- If you are making rice bowls, store the rice separately and refrigerate it promptly
- Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for about 2 to 3 minutes until hot all the way through
- Skip the microwave, since it can make the fish rubbery and dry
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FAQs
Do you leave the skin on or off for air fryer salmon bites?
Skin off is definitely recommended! Removing the skin allows you to cut clean and uniform 1 inch cubes so everything cooks evenly. Plus, it lets the marinade coat all sides of the salmon.
How do I know when salmon bites are done cooking?
The exact cooking time can vary, but you will know they are done when the fish turns an opaque light pink and flakes easily with a fork. If you have an instant read meat thermometer, it should read 145 degrees Fahrenheit in the center of the thickest bite. This matters most if you are serving pregnant guests, older adults, or anyone with a weakened immune system, who should only eat fully cooked fish.
How do I keep salmon bites from sticking to the air fryer?
Preheating the air fryer first is a huge help! Also, because we toss the salmon in a marinade that includes olive oil, they naturally resist sticking. Just make sure you place them in a single layer with a little space between each piece.
How do I reheat leftover air fryer salmon bites?
Pop your leftovers back into the air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 2 to 3 minutes until hot all the way through. Try to avoid microwaving them, as that can make the fish super rubbery and dry!
Are air fryer salmon bites crispy?
They get caramelized, slightly crisp edges from the maple syrup and soy sauce, but they are not breaded, so they will not be crunchy like fried fish. The inside stays tender and flaky.
Can I use frozen salmon for air fryer salmon bites?
For the best results, thaw the salmon fully in the refrigerator first, then pat it dry and cut it into cubes. Frozen salmon is hard to cut evenly and will not take on the marinade as well. I have not tested cooking the cubes straight from frozen.
Are these salmon bites gluten free?
Not as written, since regular soy sauce contains wheat. To make them gluten free, swap in a tamari or soy sauce labeled gluten free, and check the label on your Everything Bagel seasoning and any teriyaki sauce you serve with them.
Are these salmon bites keto, low carb, or Whole30?
They are fairly low in carbs, with just 1 tablespoon of maple syrup for the whole pound, which works out to roughly 3 to 4 grams of carbs per serving for 4 servings (estimated). But they are not Whole30, since maple syrup and soy sauce are both off the plan, and strict keto followers should count the carbs for their own brands. I have not tested sugar free swaps.
Are salmon bites okay for kids, toddlers, or babies?
They are a fun, kid friendly bite, but please be careful with little ones. Check the fish carefully for bones, cut the bites into smaller pieces for toddlers, and know that the soy sauce adds sodium and the sesame seeds are an allergen. For babies and toddlers, follow your pediatrician’s guidance on fish, sodium, and allergens, and consider skipping the soy sauce and salt.
Can I make salmon bites in a Ninja Foodi or an air fryer oven?
Yes, this method works in basket style air fryers, a Ninja Foodi, and many air fryer ovens. Cooking times can vary by model and how crowded the basket is, so start checking a little early and use a thermometer to confirm 145 degrees Fahrenheit. I have not tested every model.
Can I meal prep air fryer salmon bites?
Yes. Cook a batch, cool, and store the bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Keep rice in a separate container, and reheat the bites in the air fryer until hot all the way through.
Quick, Flaky and Flavorful Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Course: Appetizers, Main CourseCuisine: Asian-InspiredDifficulty: Easy4
servings10
minutes10
minutes260
kcal10
minutes30
minutesFlaky, sweet, and savory air fryer salmon bites marinated in maple and soy sauce. Perfect for a quick appetizer or tossed into a rice bowl.
Ingredients
- Equipment Needed:
Air fryer
Large mixing bowl
Tongs
Instant-read thermometer
- Ingredients:
1 lb (450g) fresh salmon fillets (skinless)
1 tbsp (15ml) olive oil
1 tbsp (15ml) maple syrup
1 tbsp (15ml) soy sauce
1/4 tsp (1.5g) salt
1/4 tsp (0.5g) ground coriander
1 tsp (3g) sesame seeds or Everything Bagel Seasoning (for garnish)
Directions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, maple syrup, soy sauce, salt, and ground coriander. Whisk together to create the marinade.
- Remove the skin from the salmon fillets (if applicable), check for pin bones, and cut the fish into even 1-inch cubes. Do not rinse the salmon.
- Add the salmon cubes to the bowl with the marinade. Gently toss to ensure every piece is completely coated.
- Cover the bowl and let it sit in the refrigerator for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Preheat your air fryer to 360°F (180°C).
- Lift the salmon out of the marinade, let the excess drip off, and place the bites in the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they do not overlap. Discard the leftover marinade.
- Air fry for 5 to 7 minutes.
- Use tongs to carefully flip each salmon bite, then cook for an additional 3 to 5 minutes until fully cooked, flaky, and caramelized. The thickest bite should read 145°F (63°C).
- Remove from the air fryer with clean tongs, garnish with sesame seeds or Everything Bagel seasoning, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Air Fryer Temperatures: We cook these at 360°F instead of 400°F because the maple syrup and soy sauce can burn easily at higher heats. This lower temp gets them perfectly sticky and cooked through.
- Checking Doneness: The exact cooking time can vary depending on your air fryer brand and how thick your salmon cubes are. Use a meat thermometer to check for 145°F in the thickest bite just to be sure. Pregnant guests, older adults, and anyone with a weakened immune system should only eat fully cooked fish.
- Serving Ideas: Serve these as a party app with a side of teriyaki dipping sauce, or build a quick rice bowl with jasmine rice, avocado, and veggies.
- Storage: Refrigerate within 2 hours. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for a couple of minutes until hot all the way through.
- Raw Fish Handling: Wash your hands after handling raw salmon, do not rinse the fish, and use clean tongs and a clean plate for the cooked bites. Discard leftover marinade.
- Gluten-Free Swap: Use tamari or a soy sauce labeled gluten free, and check your Everything Bagel seasoning and teriyaki sauce labels.
- Allergen Note: Contains fish, soy, and wheat (in regular soy sauce). Sesame seeds and Everything Bagel seasoning are common allergens.
