Crispy Air Fryer Salmon Bites with Lemon Garlic Butter Recipe
These Air Fryer Salmon Bites are a quick and delicious seafood snack or appetizer. Tender cubes of salmon are seasoned simply with salt, pepper, garlic, and lemon juice, then cooked to perfection in the air fryer to achieve a light, crispy exterior while keeping the inside juicy and flavorful. Perfect for an easy weeknight treat or to serve at your next gathering.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Salmon Bites
- 1 pound skinless salmon filet, cut into 1-inch cubes
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Instructions
- Prepare the salmon: Pat the salmon filet cubes dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, which helps achieve a crispy texture when air fried.
- Season the salmon: In a mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, lemon juice, and minced garlic. Add the salmon cubes along with kosher salt and black pepper. Toss everything together to evenly coat the salmon pieces with the seasoning mixture.
- Preheat the air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3 to 5 minutes to ensure even cooking.
- Arrange the salmon bites: Place the seasoned salmon cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not overcrowded to allow hot air circulation.
- Cook the salmon: Air fry the salmon bites at 400°F for 7 to 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking to ensure they brown evenly on all sides. The salmon should be opaque and flake easily with a fork when done.
- Serve: Carefully remove the salmon bites from the air fryer, serve immediately as a snack, appetizer, or with your favorite sides and dipping sauces.
Notes
- Cut the salmon into evenly sized pieces for uniform cooking.
- Be careful not to overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure crispiness.
- Use fresh garlic for a more pronounced flavor, or substitute garlic powder if preferred.
- Adjust cooking time slightly based on the size of salmon cubes and your air fryer model.
- Serve with a squeeze of extra lemon or dipping sauce such as tartar or aioli for added flavor.
Keywords: air fryer salmon bites, salmon appetizer, quick seafood bites, healthy salmon snack, air fryer seafood