Air Fryer Salmon Bites – The Almond Eater

July 21, 2025

2

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclaimer.

Shake things up with this Air Fryer Salmon Bites recipe! A simple soy sauce marinade creates flavorful salmon that’s cooked in the air fryer in under 8 minutes! Serve it with your favorite side or as a bowl for a complete meal.

a fork picking up an air fryer salmon bite from a veggie and rice bowl.

There’s no denying that salmon is an excellent source of protein, healthy fats and omega-3’s, and these air fryer salmon bites are my new favorite way to cook it!

Typically, my honey soy salmon is my go-to recipe when I want a quick dinner recipe. But, these salmon bites are so fun, and the air fryer makes them slightly crispy on the outside but tender and flakey inside.

Recipe features

A quick weeknight recipe that’s ready from start to finish in 15 minutes.
Salmon cubes cook nicely in the air fryer, and pair well with your favorite side dish.
The marinade is only 4 ingredients, but still so flavorful.

air fryer salmon bites on top of a cucumber, kale, and rice bowl.

Ingredients

Salmon – Boneless, skinless if you can find it. Otherwise, just remove the skin before dicing, which is what I did.

Soy sauce – This is going to provide a delicious umami flavor, but you can substitute tamari or coconut aminos if you prefer.

Maple syrup – Or substitute honey. The flavor will be slightly different, but still quite good.

Rice vinegar – No substitution.

Sesame oil – I prefer toasted sesame oil because it’s more flavorful.

Instructions

Step 1: Dice the salmon. If you haven’t already, remove the skin from the salmon, Then, cut the salmon into 1″ cubes.

Step 2: Add the marinade. Whisk the soy sauce, maple syrup, vinegar, and sesame oil together, then add the salmon and toss so the salmon is coated.

using a spoon to toss salmon bites in a soy sauce marinade in a glass bowl.

Step 3: Air fry. Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick spray, then add the salmon bites in a single layer, ensuring they’re not overlapping. Air fry at 400° F for 5-7 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Drizzle with extra soy sauce (optional) and enjoy!

Tips

Buy fresh vs. frozen salmon: Ok you don’t have to do this, but it makes it so that you can skip the step of thawing the frozen salmon ahead of time. Instead, the salmon is ready to go when you need it!
If using frozen salmon, be sure to thaw it ahead of time according to the package instructions. I like to remove the salmon from its packaging, transfer it to a plastic bag and let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Or, place it in a bowl of cool water and let it thaw for 30 minutes.

Tip

Soy sauce is salty enough that you shouldn’t need to add any additional salt in the marinade. However, always do a quick taste test of the marinade ahead of time and add salt to taste if you’d like.

Serving suggestions

On a bowl, as pictured above, with rice, kale, cucumber, and green onion. Or, create your own rice bowl using whatever you have in your fridge!

Create a salad—something like my mandarin orange salad or Asian chopped salad—and then top it with the salmon.

Serve it on its own alongside some roasted veggies and diced avocado.

Make it paleo: Use cauliflower rice as a base and coconut aminos instead of soy sauce

Make it Whole30: Same as above, plus omit the maple syrup from the marinade.

Storage

Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Reheating: Reheat salmon leftovers in the air fryer for a few minutes until warmed through. Or, reheat in the microwave.

More air fryer favorites

If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!